Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Archive

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February 12, 2015

Hazy definition may hamper catatonia care

Catatonia, a syndrome characterized by muscular rigidity and a trance-like mental stupor, can at times manifest with great excitement and confusion. And while it is often associated with schizophrenia, it can present in patients with either medical or psychiatric conditions. For this reason, the condition has often confused clinicians.

By Nancy Humphrey
December 18, 2014

Family’s gift bolsters schizophrenia research, treatment

A “transformational” $6.4 million gift from Dallas couple Donald Test Jr., and his wife, Charlotte, who have a very personal connection to the devastating disease of schizophrenia, is supporting Vanderbilt Department of Psychiatry research and treatment into schizophrenia and related disorders.

By Nancy Humphrey
November 11, 2014

Protein “pockets” help ID cancer genes

Vanderbilt investigators have used a computational biology approach to uncover new cancer drivers and biomarkers of anticancer drug response.

By Bill Snyder
October 2, 2014

Trivedi to serve on AHA psychiatry council

Harsh Trivedi, M.D., MBA, associate professor of Psychiatry, vice chair for Clinical Affairs for Vanderbilt’s Department of Psychiatry, and executive director and chief medical officer of Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, has been selected to serve on the American Hospital Association’s Governing Council on Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Services.

By Nancy Humphrey
September 18, 2014

VU study reveals shared pathways in psychiatric disorders

Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder share common genetic underpinnings. Vanderbilt researchers combined high-resolution gene expression studies with gene association data to reveal signaling pathways linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

By Leigh MacMillan
September 11, 2014

Vanderbilt’s Heckers named editor-in-chief of JAMA Psychiatry

Stephan Heckers, M.D., M.Sc., William P. and Henry B. Test Professor of Schizophrenia Research and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, has been named the next editor-in-chief of JAMA Psychiatry, one of nine specialty journals in the JAMA Network.

By VUMC News and Communications
August 29, 2014

Skin biopsy to diagnose depression?

It may be possible to use skin cells as biomarkers to diagnose and manage depression.
By VUMC News and Communications
August 21, 2014

Study examines factors that boost suicide risk for doctors

A retrospective analysis of Tennessee physicians who underwent fitness-for-duty evaluations by Vanderbilt found an “astoundingly” high rate of suicide among physicians who were found unfit to practice, were in solo practice, or if they were taking anti-anxiety drugs.
By Nancy Humphrey
August 5, 2014

Drug discovery clues in network map

Vanderbilt investigators have constructed a network map that could guide the development of new targeted cancer therapies.
By Bill Snyder
July 21, 2014

Reversing stress-induced anxiety

Augmenting the signals of natural “endocannabinoids” in the brain may be a promising approach for treating mood and anxiety disorders.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 28, 2014

Mapping brain circuitry

Vanderbilt investigators have used two types of neuroimaging to establish a “map” of connections for a brain region important in anxiety and addiction.
By Leigh MacMillan
March 20, 2014

Study team able to disrupt ‘building blocks’ of behavior

Researchers at Vanderbilt have been able to alter mouse behavior by silencing gene expression in interneurons, distinct populations of nerve cells that are the main regulators of brain circuits.
By VUMC News and Communications
February 6, 2014

Antioxidants promising for rare disorder

The antioxidant vitamin E prevented the buildup of toxic products in a model of a rare genetic disorder, suggesting new strategies for therapeutic development.
By Bill Snyder