Publications

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...

Published in Translational Psychiatry Severe worry arises from a complex blend of maladaptive affective and cognitive processes. Contrary to other forms of anxiety, there is no consensus in the field regarding the neural basis of worry. No previous study has looked at cerebral blood flow changes associated specifically with in-scanner induction and reappraisal of worry. In the first study of its kind, Department of...

Published in Molecular Psychiatry Department of Psychiatry members John Enwright, PhD; Dominique Arion, PhD; and David A. Lewis, MD, along with colleagues from other departments, have identified cell type-specific molecular alterations in schizophrenia, which could propel strategies for identifying novel therapeutic targets. The researchers investigated the molecular alterations associated with schizophrenia at the...