Poor sleep is prevalent in adolescents with bipolar disorder, precedes illness onset, and is associated with worse mood symptoms. Furthermore, adolescents with bipolar disorder are at a heightened risk for suicidal behavior. Because many risk factors for suicidal behavior (e.g., prior history of trauma, family history of bipolar disorder) are not modifiable, it is critical to identify novel risk factors for bipolar...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new faculty members: Varad Deshmukh, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Deshmukh received his MD from the University of Queensland School of Medicine – Ochsner Clinical School (Australia). At Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, he completed residency training in psychiatry, serving as chief resident of the adult psychiatry residency training...

People who survive suicide attempts usually come to regret their choice of suicide attempt over constructive alternatives, suggesting that this choice is often an error of decision-making. In a crisis, decisions are often made during a complex sensorimotor interaction, with real or perceived time pressure, and a vast number of options that may become available and vanish dynamically. While there may be many choices...

Most studies examining dopaminergic modulation of metabolism have focused on D 2-like receptors (D 2, D 3, and D 4 receptors) in brain regions associated with metabolic regulation, including striatum and hypothalamus, where D 2 and D 3 receptors mediate appetite, feeding, and central glucose sensing. However, dopamine D 2-like receptors in both the central nervous system and the periphery are key modulators of...

Congratulations to Morgan Faeder, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurology), who has received an Association for Academic Psychiatry Early Career Development Award, which recognizes the achievements and academic promise early-career faculty in psychiatry. Dr. Faeder is an attending psychiatrist with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH)’s consultation-liaison service, providing clinical care for...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new faculty members: Shinnyi (Cindy) Chou, MD, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Chou earned her MD and a PhD in behavioral neuroscience from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She completed her residency training in psychiatry and a child and adolescent psychiatry clinical fellowship at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH). Dr. Chou then conducted...

The most effective treatments for depression include pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, but a pressing need remains for rapid, efficacious treatments. While the administration of ketamine can reduce depressive symptoms within two to 24 hours, these effects dissipate in a brief period following a single infusion. Rebecca Price, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology), and colleagues wanted to see...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new clinical faculty members: Patrick Frailey, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Frailey received his MD From Saint Louis University School of Medicine, then completed psychiatry residency training at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) in the Academic Administrator Clinician Educator track, and served as chief resident for inpatient services. He undertook...

Please join us in welcoming the 2024-2025 Clinical Psychology Intern class! The American Psychological Association-accredited program is led by Tina Goldstein, PhD (Pittsburgh Foundation Endowed Professor in Psychiatry Research and Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Psychology), and Michele Levine, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, and Psychology)...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to two new clinical faculty members: Mark Beuger, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry) Dr. Beuger received his MD from Erasmus University Medical Center at the school of medicine of Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (the Netherlands). He completed an internship in medicine and psychiatry, and residency training in psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH), followed...