Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

The psychosis study team includes, from left, Neil Woodward, PhD, Maureen McHugo, PhD, Stephan Heckers, MD, MSc, Suzanne Avery, PhD, and Kristan Armstrong, PhD.
August 5, 2021

NIMH support bolsters early psychosis research efforts

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has received an additional $4 million from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to study the evolution of hippocampal dysfunction in the early stage of psychosis.

By Emily Stembridge
July 27, 2021

Pawlikowski named president of Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

Mary Pawlikowski, MA, MEd, interim vice president and chief operating officer for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH), has been named as the hospital’s new president after having held the position of president on an interim basis since November 2020.

By Kathy Whitney
July 26, 2021

Mood and cognition after chemotherapy

Validation of cognitive complaints appears to improve mood in patients with persistent chemotherapy-cognitive impairment, Vanderbilt researchers report.

By Emily Stembridge
July 22, 2021

Resident’s opioid-related efforts become TMA priority

Leah Jesse, MD, a Psychiatry resident, successfully brought an anti-stigma resolution to the floor of the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) House of Delegates meeting in May.

By Emily Stembridge
Members of the co-occurring disorders intensive outpatient program include, from left, Susan Crawford, RN-BC, Amy Hulings, LCSW, Jessica Lavender, LPC-MHSP, and Maria Dixon, LMSW.
April 29, 2021

Program combines treatment for mental health, substance use disorders

For people with co-occurring mental health disorders and substance use disorders, finding integrated care that treats both conditions can be a difficult task. Vanderbilt Behavioral Health is seeking to simplify care for these patients through the co-occurring disorders intensive outpatient program (IOP).

By Emily Stembridge
Warren Taylor, MD, MHSc, and colleagues are exploring why older adults who have successfully been treated for depression experience a recurrence within four to five years.
April 22, 2021

Study to explore treatment for older adults with depression

Older adults with depression face a unique obstacle — dealing with both a mental illness and the challenges that come along with aging. Currently, there are no treatments on the market targeting depression in this specific group.

By Emily Stembridge
April 2, 2021

Study links ADHD pharmacotherapy and retention rates for substance use disorder treatment

Kristopher Kast, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and clinical director of Vanderbilt’s Addiction Consult Service, has discovered a strong association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pharmacotherapy and retention rates for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.
By Emily Stembridge
March 26, 2021

New Clinician Spotlight: Aaron Brinen

Aaron Brinen, PsyD, has joined Vanderbilt University Medical Center from Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia. He began seeing patients on Oct. 1, 2020.
By VUMC News and Communications
March 11, 2021

Youth with ASD have higher body mass index: study

Vanderbilt researchers have concluded that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to have higher body mass index (BMI) percentiles when compared to youth with typical development.
By Emily Stembridge
October 19, 2020

Depression and the brain-age gap

Older depressed adults show accelerated brain aging, according to a new study from Vanderbilt researchers, who suggest that the effects of depression may speed the decline in cognitive functions in older individuals.
By Sarah E. Glass
October 15, 2020

Study explores nicotine patch to treat late-life depression

Backed by nearly $5 million in funding, researchers from Vanderbilt University Medical Center are testing to see whether transdermal nicotine patches can improve mood, forgetfulness and attentiveness in adults over 60 with a diagnosis of depression.
By Kelsey Herbers
October 1, 2020

Pinpointing brain changes in psychosis

Specific regions of the thalamus — a central brain region — are smaller in adults with psychotic disorders and youth at risk for psychotic disorders and are associated with cognitive impairment.
By Leigh MacMillan
June 23, 2020

A connection to schizophrenia

The insula, a small region of the brain involved in diverse brain functions had widespread dysconnectivity in schizophrenia, Vanderbilt researchers found.
By Bill Snyder
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