Lori Scott, PhD, led a study of whether stressors like social/targeted rejection are associated w/increased likelihood of suicidal ideation/behavior. Findings suggest that clinicians should ask about recent experiences of targeted rejection when assessing risk for suicidal behavior bit.ly/49bXoYv

In a paper published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported regional specificity in dendritic spine alterations. These findings may help explain how both perceptual processing and higher-order cognitive functions are impaired in schizophrenia. bit.ly/4pPGTbA

The Pittsburgh Schizophrenia Conference presents clinical/research findings to psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, policy administrators & patients and families. The program includes art and & by individuals receiving treatment for schizophrenia at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital bit.ly/4s0p4YR

Congratulations to Ann Cohen, PhD, who has been elected to the NIA National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Steering Committee! The NACC serves as the centralized data repository, collaboration, and communication hub for the NIA’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Centers (ADRC) Program. bit.ly/49hIcKw

Congratulations to Nermin Toukhy, PhD, who has received an International Academy of Suicide Research (IASR) Early Career Research Award for the biological studies of suicide. Learn more about Dr. Toukhy here: bit.ly/3KNoFYZ

In JAMA Psychiatry, scientists including Kristen Eckstrand, MD, PhD, discuss the psychiatric and ethical concerns raised by care denial for transgender youth: jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...

Pitt Psychiatry investigators have recently published research studies on mental health in late life in Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Nature Communications, and Neuropsychopharmacology. See more from Minjie Wu, PhD; Tharick Pascoal, MD, PhD; Helmet Karim, PhD; and Carmen Andreescu, MD: bit.ly/3KziYxR

Scientists led by Carla Mazefsky, PhD, created the EASE Program to improve emotion dysregulation in autistic adolescents and young adults. They tested its efficacy this population, and found that EASE resulted in greater declines in emotion dysregulation than a comparison therapy. bit.ly/4rwF84t

At this year's AACAP meeting, Pitt Psychiatry news includes two faculty members who were recognized as distinguished fellows--Abigail Schlesinger, MD, and Rameshwari Tumuluru, MD--and residents received awards and honors: Alexis McCathern, MD, and Kalyan Tripathy, MD, PhD. More: bit.ly/4olzob5

Congratulations to Abigail Schlesinger, MD, who has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry! A child and adolescent psychiatrist, Dr. Schlesinger is a recognized leader in the development of systems of care and provision of integrated behavioral health in primary care. bit.ly/4i9wPXT

Congratulations to Piper Carroll, MD, who has received the Gateway Medical Society 2025 Rising Star Award! The Award recognizes physicians who demonstrate consistent leadership and commitment to clinical excellence, community health & advocacy, and reducing health disparities. bit.ly/3X68mZY

The journal Nature has named Thomas Karikari, PhD, one of three Rising Stars in Aging Research! Dr. Karikari is an internationally recognized expert in plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease. Read more here: bit.ly/3XukLa9

Congratulations to Amy Byrd, PhD, who has received the 2025 YMC Shrink Tank Brilliance Award! Her project focuses on the development of a mobile intervention delivery tool to help parents of kids at risk for aggression to identify when to implement behavioral strategies in real time. bit.ly/4qXipyf

Congratulations to Rebecca Price, PhD, who has been promoted to Professor of Psychiatry! An expert in transformative approaches to the treatment of depression and suicide, Dr. Price's research focuses on how the mind processes information in anxiety, depression, and suicidality. bit.ly/481JkAq

Congratulations to Zachary Freyberg, MD, PhD, who has been honored with a University of Pittsburgh Health Sciences Ascending Star Award! Dr. Freyberg’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of cell signaling, particularly in the context of neuropsychiatric illnesses. bit.ly/3JxsC3E

"Dr. Garrett is an incredible resident who exemplifies professionalism and kindness. Throughout my Psychiatry Clerkship, Sydney demonstrated exceptional clinical skills and a consistent dedication to teaching." Congratulations to Sydney Garrett, MD, on your Professionalism Accolade! bit.ly/4huIPCW

Priyanka Amin, MD, and Joe Zimmerman, MSN, are partners in innovating a culture of safety throughout UPMC Western Behavioral Health. Their collaboration has resulted in a transformational win: Results of a 2025 survey indicated that safety scores have improved across the board --> bit.ly/4oGLWKJ

Congratulations to Heather Joseph, DO, who has been named a UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh RK Mellon Institute Pediatric Research Scholar! Dr. Joseph's research focuses on the identification of early indicators of ADHD risk in infancy and early childhood. bit.ly/3L2C4fO

Big congratulations to Mariana Rieke, Kasey Godard, Cassidy Leasure, Scott Lewis, Bridget Leyland, and Alex Walters from the Department of Psychiatry Office of Grants and Contracts, who have been recognized by the Pitt Health Sciences Research Administration Office! bit.ly/4o2dXMN

Congratulations to Dr. Patrick Buckley, who recently received two prestigious UPMC awards! bit.ly/43jcs4g

One of our favorite events of the year! The Psychiatry Research Pathway Symposium provides UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital residents engaged in research the opportunity to present their work, learn from each other and faculty presenters, and gather for a post-symposium reception. bit.ly/474tq7O

Findings in a new study in Translational Psychiatry suggests that what adolescents’ brains are doing during reward processing, other than directly processing rewards, might interfere with treatment. bit.ly/4nDR9ma

Rui Peixoto, PhD, is an expert in developmental neuroscience and investigates abnormalities in cortical and striatal development associated with autism spectrum disorder. He is senior author of recent papers published in Cell Reports and Molecular Psychiatry. bit.ly/4gV8ioY

Pitt Psychiatry scientists have found that increased screen time in late childhood contributes to heightened depressive symptoms in early adolescence, with much of this effect mediated by shorter sleep duration and significant changes in brain white matter. bit.ly/4nJRBiv

Welcome to the faculty! Dr. Samaras provides care through UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital's geriatric services; Dr. Scott investigates the role of biological rhythms in psychiatric illness; and Dr. Tessier is a psychiatrist with WPH’s outpatient addiction medicine services. bit.ly/4683lp5

Hello from Pitt Psychiatry! We are thrilled to welcome our newest class of clinical psychology interns, Nicolas Camacho, Victoria Guazzelli Williamson, Rowan Hunt, John (Kai) Kellerman, and Claire Klein! Meet them here: bit.ly/3K36eih