Publications

Depression is associated with disturbances to sleep and the 24-hour sleep-wake pattern, or rest-activity rhythm (RAR). However, there remains a need to identify the specific sleep/RAR correlates of depression symptom severity in population subgroups, such as strained dementia caregivers, who are at elevated risk for major depressive disorder. In a five-year study led by Dr. Smagula’s mentor, Martica Hall, PhD...

Findings of long-term substance use risk for children diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are generally inconsistent. This observational follow-up of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) provided an opportunity to assess long-term outcomes in a large, diverse, carefully diagnosed sample. The multi-site study led by Brooke Molina, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry...

Disruptive behaviors, including aggression, tantrums, and self-injury, are estimated to occur in 20% to 50% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Atypical antipsychotic medications are one of the most common pharmacologic treatments for such behaviors in the ASD population, but significant increases in weight are frequently reported. There also is evidence of an increased risk of diabetes in children...

Dopamine (DA) neurotransmission within the brain's reward circuit has been implicated in the pathophysiology of depression, as well as mechanisms of treatment response. Still, a direct relationship between measures of DA neurotransmission and reward-related deficits in patients with depression has not been demonstrated. In a study led by Marta Peciña, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, investigators used...

Disruptions in circadian rhythms are associated with an increased risk for bipolar disorder, and the circadian protein CLOCK is involved in regulating monoaminergic systems and mood-related behavior. Colleen A. McClung, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Yanhua Huang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry set out to clarify the molecular and synaptic mechanisms underlying this relationship. Working in collaboration...

Alcohol use is responsible for about 4% of all deaths worldwide. Alcohol abuse and dependence are also frequently seen in individuals diagnosed with head and neck cancer. Defining the factors that contribute to this increased risk for these cancers is critical to the ultimate goal of reducing cancer development. Because about 30% of all types of cancers involve the HRAS oncogene, its expression is of importance to...