The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Research

Primary Areas of Research

Neurobiology of bipolar and unipolar mood disorders: These studies utilize tools from brain imaging, neurophysiology, cognitive neuropsychology and genetics to study the mechanisms involved in causation of these illnesses. The brain imaging studies involve magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and spectroscopy (MRS), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and functional MRI (fMRI) to examine the role of fronto-limbic brain circuits in the pathophysiology of these illnesses. With tools from cognitive neuroscience, we also identify neurocognitive abnormalities. These studies entail collaborations with human geneticists to investigate the genetic underpinnings of detectable brain and neurocognitive changes, including studies that focus on unaffected relatives of bipolar patients to look for possible endophenotypes.

Pediatric mood disorders: These studies focus on pediatric bipolar and unipolar mood disorders, and the pediatric high-risk offspring of a bipolar parent. Utilizing similar techniques as those used in the adult studies, the team also investigates the neurobiology of early-onset bipolar and unipolar disorders.

Clinical psychopharmacology and interventions research: Our team is actively involved in developing new treatments for adult and pediatric bipolar and unipolar disorders. The group works on clinical trials with new compounds to treat these illnesses. Some of these trials are done in conjunction with ongoing imaging studies that attempt to unravel the neurobiological causes of treatment response. The team also focuses on new psychosocial interventions that may impact illness course.