Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by cognitive and behavioral deficits that typically emerge before the age of three. While this distinctive developmental trajectory and the selective degradation of particular abilities suggest that ASD arises from impaired developmental processes affecting the maturation of specific neural circuits, the developmental stage at which circuit dysfunction associated with...

We are delighted to announce that Ann Cohen, PhD, has been promoted to Associate Professor of Psychiatry by the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Cohen completed her PhD in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. She then joined Pitt Psychiatry as a postdoctoral fellow working with William Klunk, MD, PhD, an international expert in the field of Alzheimer’s Disease. Upon completion of her...

The Department of Psychiatry is delighted to announce that Meredith Spada, MD, has joined the faculty as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry. Dr. Spada earned her MD from Penn State University in 2014. She completed a residency in adult psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) in the Academic Administrator Clinician Educator (AACE) Track and the Reproductive Psychiatry and Women's Mental Health Area of...

The paper described below was selected as a SLEEP Editor’s Choice. Sleep can play an important role in overall mental and physical health. A multidimensional sleep health score assesses sleep through six dimensions: sleep duration, timing, regularity, efficiency and quality, and daytime alertness. Although this score helps scientists create a nuanced sleep health profile, which is critical to analyzing sleep...

As cannabis use increases, questions remain about its impact on users’ cognitive function. Studies have shown that among adolescents, the use of cannabis—specifically its primary psychoactive ingredient, Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—can be associated with susceptibility to cognitive impairment. Previous research has examined the effects of THC on working memory and other cognitive processes in adolescence, but...

We are delighted to announce that Camellia Herisko, DNP, MSN, RN, PMHCNS-BC, CRNP has been named chair-elect of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Organization of Nurse Leaders, an organization that supports the professional development of nurse leaders through collaboration, advocacy and education. Dr. Herisko is Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President, Operations and Patient Care Services at UPMC Western Psychiatric...

We are delighted to share Pitt Psychiatry news—as well as a few photographic highlights—from the 58th annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP): Mary Phillips, MD, MD (Cantab) (Pittsburgh Foundation-Emmerling Endowed Chair in Psychotic Disorders and Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical and Translational Science) has joined the ACNP Council, a tremendous honor that will allow Dr...

Earlier this month, the most recent class of early-career clinician-educator faculty graduated from the Clinician-Educator Faculty Development Program (CEFDP), an intensive two-year Department of Psychiatry career development initiative. The CEFDP enhances the careers of clinician-educator faculty at the assistant professor level through facilitating mentor-mentee relationships, expanding academic skill sets...

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents in the United States. Yet research has shown that transgender adolescents (adolescents whose true gender identity diverges from the gender assigned at birth) have higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempt than cisgender adolescents (adolescents whose gender identity is the same as the gender assigned at birth). In a recent study published in...

Paula Marie Powe, MD, is medical director of the Matilda H. Theiss Child Development Center, which provides a spectrum of behavioral health services for children from infancy to five years old. Dr. Powe’s clinical practice in infant mental health, which pertains to a child's optimal social and emotional development, is driven by the notion that early trauma informs mental and physical health issues later in life...