The Department of Psychiatry welcomed faculty and postdoctoral researchers to its inaugural Research Resources Revue on March 21st at the University Club in Oakland. The Revue provided a unique venue for Psychiatry faculty and postdoctoral researchers to interact with other investigators at all stages of their careers and to learn more about the wide array of resources available to help them develop their own...

The Department of Psychiatry expresses profound gratitude to Dr. Arnold Zaks and Mrs. Maryanne Walko Zaks, whose recent generous gift will enable the establishment of a research fund in honor of their daughter Laurel, who passed away on March 28, 2008. The Laurel E. Zaks Memorial Research Fund will provide support for Department of Psychiatry research pertaining to depression and suicide. Laurel Zaks earned her BS...

Placebo responses are common in clinical trials of depression treatments. However, how the expectation of treatment benefits patients is not well understood, in part because it is challenging to simulate these expectations in experimental designs. In an article appearing in Translational Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry researchers Assistant Professor Marta Peciña, MD, PhD, and Associate Professor Alexandre...

The UPMC Center for Engagement and Inclusion has selected Loren Roth, MD, MPH, Emeritus Distinguished Service Professor of Psychiatry, as the recipient of the inaugural UPMC Dignity & Respect Lifetime Achievement Award. The award recognizes an individual who incorporates these values into their daily work and also celebrates their outstanding service, leadership, ethics, cultural competency and promotion of...

A recent study in Molecular Psychiatry shares findings that help explain how antipsychotic drugs might contribute to the development of conditions such as diabetes and obesity by influencing dopamine receptors outside of the brain. The study’s lead author, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Cell Biology Zachary Freyberg, MD, PhD, shared how this investigation evolved and considered avenues for further research...

The Department of Psychiatry is pleased to announce results of the 2019 Residency Match for the General Psychiatry, Child, Triple Board, and Family Medicine/Psychiatry tracks. The new class of PGY1 residents was announced and celebrated at the Resident and Fellow Spring Gathering held March 15th. We thank everyone who contributed during the recruitment season. GENERAL PSYCHIATRY Meghan Bisbey - University of...

Don't forget to mark your calendars and join us on October 10, 2019 when the Department of Psychiatry and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) host the 8th Annual Clinician Educator Showcase. This half-day event is an important venue for highlighting clinical innovations implemented by our faculty and staff and for sharing information and strategies on career development, clinical practice, and quality...

One of the greatest challenges associated with treating substance use disorders is the heightened attention users give to drug-associated cues, which can produce intense cravings and lead to relapse. One way to reduce the influence of these cues is through extinction learning, in which the cues are presented when the drug is not available, with the goal of reducing the intensity of the association between cocaine...

Imagine a team that, despite its best efforts, has experienced a terrible patient outcome. Some of them may think, I just completely blew it. Maybe I’m not cut out for this. For those whose daily mission is to serve patients and families, often in stressful, high-pressure situations, access to compassionate support is critical to ensuring the continued ability to deliver high-quality patient care. At UPMC Western...

The Department of Psychiatry is now accepting abstracts for consideration for poster presentations for its 19th Annual Research Day. If you would like to submit an abstract, click here to access the Call for Abstracts and Abstract Submission Form. The deadline for submission is April 8, 2019. Research Day will take place on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at the University Club on the Oakland campus. This full-day event is...