Substance use relapse is a major barrier in treating substance use disorders. Withdrawal from substance use often causes sleep disruptions, which can aggravate withdrawal symptoms and increase the likelihood of relapse. A group of investigators, including Pitt Psychiatry scientists Rong Guo, PhD (Scientist, Allen Institute; former Pitt Psychiatry postdoctoral scholar), Yao Wang, PhD (Research Assistant Professor of...

The Psychiatry Research Pathway (PRP) Symposium provides UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital residents engaged in research the opportunity to present their work to an audience of fellow residents, faculty mentors, T32 postdoctoral research program directors, and other members of our academic community. This year, seven residents presented current and/or future research, followed by Q&A and lively discussion among the...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects 2.5% of adults worldwide. Pharmacotherapy is the recommended initial treatment for most adults, but patient adherence can be low due to adverse effects and other concerns. Therefore, the investigation of nonpharmaceutical treatments for ADHD is critical. One option is transcranial direct current stimulation, a noninvasive...

The annual Mindscapes PGH art exhibition merges art and science to promote community awareness of mental illness, and raise funds for local organizations that provide services for individuals with mental illness. Mindscapes 2022 was a hybrid event, with an online sale and an in-person reception at Imagebox gallery in Pittsburgh. The exhibition was organized by Rebecca A. DeGiosio (University of Pittsburgh Center...

Depression is one of the most prevalent and costly mental health conditions. Though effective treatments have been available for decades, remission rates are low, relapse rates are high, and disorder prevalence rates remain notably consistent or increased, with only 12.7% of patients receiving minimally adequate treatment. In recent years, two potential breakthroughs have ignited hopes for turning a corner in the...

Congratulations to Angela Ianni, MD, PhD (PGY3), who has received a 2022 National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Outstanding Resident Award, which recognizes residents with outstanding research and academic potential. Recipients were invited to participate in an award program, held October 2-3, 2022, to meet with NIMH leadership and to learn about the unique resources and research conducted in the NIMH...

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD followed to adulthood have been found to have lifelong impairments in educational, occupational, and interpersonal domains even if symptoms subside. ADHD is commonly identified in childhood, and affective and cognitive characteristics that are identifiable in infancy could be signals of risk for...

Scientists specializing in the field of psychosis research have characterized schizophrenia as a syndrome of brain dysconnectivity. Visual working memory, an executive function that relies upon coordinated activity across distributed brain regions to support various cognitive operations, has consistently exhibited impairments in schizophrenia. Indeed, cognitive symptoms account for significant functional and...

Pitt Psychiatry extends a warm welcome to three new faculty members: Ashley Parr, PhD (Research Instructor in Psychiatry) Dr. Parr earned her PhD in neuroscience, with a focus on neuroeconomics, from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. She then came to the University of Pittsburgh for postdoctoral research training under the mentorship of Bea Luna, PhD (Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology and...

Suicide is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults. Identifying risk factors for suicidal ideation that are modifiable and relevant, such as sleep disturbances and interpersonal stress, is critical for suicide prevention. A group of investigators including Jessica Hamilton, PhD (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University; former postdoctoral...