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John Krystal, MD

Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology; Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; Chair, Psychiatry; Physician-in-Chief of Psychiatry, Yale New Haven Hospital; Director: NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism; Director, Clinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD

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John Krystal, MD

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Biography

Dr. Krystal is a leading expert in the areas of alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. His work links psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and computational neuroscience to study the neurobiology and treatment of these disorders. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.

He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. He also serves in a variety of advisory and review capacities for NIAAA, NIMH, Wellcome Trust, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Broad Institute, the Karolinska Institutet, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Dr. Krystal previously served on the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Advisory Council (NIAAA), the Department of Defense Psychological Health Advisory Committee, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Advisory Council, and the NIMH Board of Scientific Counselors (chair, 2005-2007). He has led the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (president, 2012), and International College of Neuropsychophamacology (president, 2016-2018).

Currently, he is co-chair of the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders (NeuroForum) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and he edits the journal, Biological Psychiatry (impact factor: 13.382).

Education & Training

  • Residency
    Yale University School of Medicine (1988)
  • MD
    Yale University (1984)
  • BA
    University of Chicago, Behavioral Sciences (1980)

Activities

  • Schizophrenia Treatment
    Taichung, Taiwan, Taiwan (2013-2014)
    Consulting regarding novel treatments for schizophrenia and ketamine-related psychosis.
  • Neuroimaging studies of schizophrenia and related disorders
    Chengdu, Sichuan, China (2012-2014)
    Neuroimaging studies of brain structure and function associated with psychosis
  • Rapid Acting Antidepressant Treatment
    Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan (2012-2014)
    Consulting to a study conducted evaluating the antidepressant effects of ketamine, led by Dr. Tung-Ping (Tom) Su.
  • Studies of the impact of sexual trauma
    Bergen, Hordaland, Norway (2011-2016)
    I am collaborating with Iris Steine, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Bergen, as well has her mentors and colleagues, on studies on the clinical features and neurobiology of sexual trauma and its complications, including PTSD
  • Ketamine Psychosis
    Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China (2010-2014)
    Studying the phenomenology and genetics of ketamine psychosis in relation to schizophrenia
  • Clinical Archives Project Cherite Hospital
    Berlin, Berlin, Germany (2006-2014)
    The Department of Psychiatry at Cherite Hospital in Berlin has long been a home to ethical and compassionate treatment of patients. However, in the period leading up to World War II, its psychiatry leadership involved the hospital in the emerging eugenics movement. This work, contributed to the emergence of the Nazi T4 Program, which introduced forced sterilization and then "euthanasia" for individuals with chronic mental illness. I serve on the External Advisory Board to a historical

Honors & Recognition

AwardAwarding OrganizationDate
Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders ResearchBrain and Behavior Research Foundation2019
Ulf van Euler Memorial LecturerKarolinska Institute2019
Edward H. Ahrens, Jr., Distinguished Investigator AwardAssociation for Clinical and Translational Science2019
E.M. Jellinek Award for Alcohol ResearchE.M. Jellinek Foundation2016
Henri Begleiter Award for Research ExcellenceResearch Society on Alcoholism2015
Paul Hoch Research AwardAmerican Psychopathological Association2014
Exemplary Psychiatrist AwardNational Alliance on Mental Illness2011
MemberU.S. National Academy of Medicine2010
Jack Mendelson Award for Clinical ResearchNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism2010
Stanley Dean Award for Schizophrenia ResearchAmerican College of Psychiatry2010
Anna-Monika Prize in Depression ResearchAnna-Monika Foundation, Munich, Germany2009
Kempf Award for Contributions to Schizophrenia Research through Research and MentorshipAmerican Psychiatric Association2005
Joel Elkes AwardAmerican College of Neuropsychopharmacology2001

Professional Service

OrganizationRoleDate
Neuroscience Forum, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicineCo-Director2018 - Present
International College of NeuropsychopharmacologyPresident2016 - 2018
NIMHNIMH National Mental Health Advisory Council2016 - Present
American College of NeuropsychopharmacologyPresident2011 - 2012

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