Department of Psychiatry
Mapping brain circuitry
Mar. 28, 2014—Vanderbilt investigators have used two types of neuroimaging to establish a “map” of connections for a brain region important in anxiety and addiction.
Study team able to disrupt ‘building blocks’ of behavior
Mar. 20, 2014—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.
Antioxidants promising for rare disorder
Feb. 6, 2014—The antioxidant vitamin E prevented the buildup of toxic products in a model of a rare genetic disorder, suggesting new strategies for therapeutic development.
Brain-gut connection in autism
Jan. 9, 2014—An association between rigid-compulsive behaviors and gastrointestinal symptoms in autism spectrum disorder may point to a common biological pathway that impacts both the brain and the gut.
Cancer drug enhances cognition
Dec. 16, 2013—The breast cancer drug tamoxifen improves cognitive performance in post-menopausal women.
Autism narrows brain’s reward response
Nov. 27, 2013—MRI brain scans reveal that children with autism spectrum disorders respond to a narrower range of familiar rewards.
Study examines physician behaviors
Sep. 5, 2013—A study of 381 non-Vanderbilt physicians referred to the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Assessment Program has shown that those referred for mental health, substance abuse and improper sexual boundary issues are less likely to receive a fit for duty recommendation than those referred for disruptive behavior.
Study examines problem physician behaviors
Aug. 27, 2013—A study of 381 non-Vanderbilt physicians referred to the Vanderbilt Comprehensive Assessment Program (VCAP) in the Department of Psychiatry has shown that those referred for mental health, substance abuse and improper sexual boundary issues are less likely to receive a fit for duty recommendation than those referred for disruptive behavior.
National Alliance on Mental Illness honors VU’s Street
Jun. 27, 2013—David Street, M.D., assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, has received an Exemplary Psychiatrist award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Autism speeds motion perception
Jun. 7, 2013—Children with autism spectrum disorder are better at perceiving the motion of certain objects than are typically developing children their age.
Clinic helps foster recovery from initial psychotic breaks
Apr. 18, 2013—Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital’s Psychotic Disorders Clinic has become a leader in the region for the initial assessment and treatment of young adults suffering from their first psychotic break.
Gene ‘dose’ may be key to autism
Mar. 4, 2013—Individuals with overexpression of the gene MECP2 have core features of autism spectrum disorder.