Research News

Yale Study: Even in the Healthy, Stress Causes Brain to Shrink

01/09/2012: Experiencing stressful life events, such as a divorce or job loss, can reduce gray matter in critical regions of the brain that regulate emotion and important physiological functions — even in healthy individuals, Yale researchers report in a study published online the week of Jan. 9 in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Read more.

Study Suggests Effective Treatment for Vets with Dual Diagnosis of PTSD and Alcohol Dependence

12/15/2011: Despite the relatively common diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and comorbid Alcohol Dependence (AD) among veterans, very little research into effective clinical therapies in these populations has been undertaken. Recent Yale-led research published in Neuropsychopharmacology suggests that a norepinephrine uptake inhibitor is as effective as current FDA-approved treatments for PTSD while achieving superior alcohol use outcomes.

Compound Shows Promise as Treatment for Symptoms of Schizophrenia

12/12/2011: Yale researchers have published promising data supporting further exploration into a novel treatment for the symptoms of schizophrenia. The study, by authors affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry, the West Haven campus of the Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, and the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit of the Connecticut Mental Health Center, was released online in late November ahead of publication in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.

Tuning Out: How Brains Benefit From Meditation

11/21/2011: New brain imaging research suggests meditation can switch off areas of the brain associated with psychiatric disorders. Judson Brewer, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, is the lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read the article

Yale's Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism (CTNA) Receives $10 million NIAAA Grant Renewal

11/01/2011: The Center for Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism (CTNA) and the Yale Department of Psychiatry are pleased to announced that CTNA has been awarded $10 million from NIAAA to continue its groundbreaking research. This marks the 3rd 5-year iteration of the Center’s mission.

Sociability May Depend Upon Brain Cells Generated in Adolescence

10/03/2011: Mice become profoundly anti-social when the creation of new brain cells is interrupted in adolescence, a surprising finding that may help researchers understand schizophrenia and other mental disorders. Arie Kaffman, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale is senior author of the study. Read more

Drugs Found Ineffective for Veterans’ Stress

08/03/2011: An anti-psychotic drug commonly prescribed to patients with hard-to-treat post-traumatic stress disorder does not ease PTSD symptoms, according to a new study by Yale Department of Psychiatry researchers. The study was published in JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association. Read the New York Times article. Watch the JAMA Report video release.

Talking Research with The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

07/26/2011: Dr. John Krystal, Yale Psychiatry Department Chair, recently spoke about research, advances in understanding the brain's biology, and the vital role of The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD, the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression). Read the interview

Discovery May Pave Way to Quitting Smoking Without Gaining Weight

06/09/2011: A team led by Yale School of Medicine has discovered how nicotine suppresses appetite — findings that suggest that it might be possible to develop a drug that would help smokers, and non-smokers, stay thin. Dr. Marina Picciotto, Professor of Psychiatry, is senior author of the paper recently published in Science. Press Release / Listen to the NPR interview

Yale Researchers Discover Many Genetic Keys Needed to Unlock Autism

06/08/2011: A multi-site study led by Dr. Matthew State, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Yale and the Department’s Deputy Chair for Research, suggests that hundreds of small genetic variations are associated with autism spectrum disorders. The study was published in the June 9 issue of the journal Neuron. Press Release / Video.