Department Of Psychiatry
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28 faculty honored at endowed chair investiture
The distinguished faculty members and deans representing eight colleges and schools were presented with medallions that symbolize the attainment of their positions and will become part of their official academic regalia. Chair holders contribute their expertise to real-world challenges, including climate change, political inequality and access to justice, artificial intelligence and ICU trauma. Read MoreApr 11, 2024
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CLASS OF 2024: Military veteran Matthew Nettles combines degrees in medicine and divinity to treat human suffering
WATCH: He's graduating with a degree in medicine and divinity. See the path that brought Matthew Nettles to Vanderbilt and how he plans to use both degrees to better treat those in need. Read MoreApr 9, 2024
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Study links depression scores, white blood cell count
Researchers across four health care systems, including Vanderbilt University Medical Center, have found that increased depression polygenic scores are associated with increased white blood cell count, highlighting the importance of the immune system in the etiology of depression. Read MoreDec 2, 2021
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Brain circuits in schizophrenia
Vanderbilt psychiatrists are probing brain circuit hyperactivity implicated in schizophrenia, with the idea that normalizing the hyperactivity may improve cognitive processes. Read MoreSep 20, 2021
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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. Read MoreOct 19, 2020
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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. Read MoreOct 1, 2020
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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. Read MoreJun 23, 2020
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Study finds ‘frozen’ fear response may underlie PTSD
To explore how fear becomes entrenched, VUMC researchers traveled down the precise neuronal pathways in the brains of mice that trigger fear responses, and which normally extinguish the behaviors once the danger has passed. Read MoreNov 27, 2019
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Relational memory in early psychosis
Studies of relational memory function may reveal novel mechanisms for therapeutic intervention for patients in the early stages of psychosis. Read MoreSep 10, 2019
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Defective transporter linked to autism
A first-of-its-kind mouse model may help reveal mechanistic underpinnings for the altered behaviors of autism spectrum disorder. Read MoreJul 24, 2019
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Working memory in psychotic disorders
Functional MRI studies have revealed that targeting activation of certain brain regions may improve working memory and cognition in psychotic disorders. Read MoreJul 11, 2019
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Early detection of schizophrenia
Inhibited temperament—a tendency to respond to novelty with wariness, fear or caution—may be a risk factor for schizophrenia that could be targeted for preventative interventions. Read MoreJun 24, 2019
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Brain aging occurs at accelerated rate in patients with psychosis
Normal brain aging patterns in patients with a psychotic disorder occur at an accelerated rate, impacting the patient’s cognitive functioning and suggesting treatment intervention in the early psychosis period may improve long-term outcomes. Read MoreMar 7, 2019
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Reversing stress-related anxiety
Inhibiting COX-2 — an enzyme associated with inflammation — could provide a novel therapeutic approach for stress-related psychiatric disorders. Read MoreFeb 14, 2019
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Nicotine patch shows promise in treating late-life depression
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center pilot study of treating late-life depression in nonsmokers with transdermal nicotine (nicotine patch) has yielded some promising results, but the study’s author cautions that more study is needed. Read MoreSep 6, 2018
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Shaping reward circuits
Using techniques to control and monitor the activities of individual neurons, Vanderbilt investigators are probing the brain’s reward circuitry. Read MoreMay 18, 2018
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Bladder pain syndrome no laughing matter for comedian
Local comedian Ashley Corby, 35, overshares with her audience as part of her standup routine, including a 5-minute bit about “shady” rest areas she has visited due to interstitial cystitis (IC), a bladder pain syndrome affecting 3 million to 8 million people in the United States. Read MoreMay 17, 2018
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Brain connections in schizophrenia
Brain imaging studies have implicated the connection between two brain regions in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Read MoreMar 9, 2018
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Gift supports addiction medicine training program
The 2016 Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health, “Facing Addiction in America,” leaves little question about the growing problem of addiction. Read MoreFeb 8, 2018
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Study seeks to aid diagnosis, management of catatonia
Catatonia, a syndrome of motor, emotional and behavioral abnormalities frequently characterized by muscular rigidity and a trance-like mental stupor and at times manifesting with great excitement or agitation, can occur during a critical illness and appear similar to delirium. But the management strategies are vastly different. Read MoreDec 7, 2017