Skip to Main Content
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Yale Home

INFORMATION FOR

    John Krystal, MD

    Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology
    DownloadHi-Res Photo

    Additional Titles

    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

    About

    Titles

    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

    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).

    Appointments

    Other Departments & Organizations

    Education & Training

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

    Research

    Overview

    Medical Research Interests

    Alcoholism; Drug Therapy; Genetics; Neurobiology; Neuroimaging; Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Veterans

    Research at a Glance

    Yale Co-Authors

    Frequent collaborators of John Krystal's published research.

    Publications

    2024

    See All Publications

    Clinical Trials

    Current Trials

    See All Current Clinical Trials

    Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

    • activity

      NIMH

      Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMember
    • activity

      Neuroscience Forum, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

      Professional OrganizationsCo-Director
    • honor

      Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research

      International AwardBrain and Behavior Research Foundation
    • honor

      Ulf van Euler Memorial Lecturer

      International AwardKarolinska Institute
    • honor

      Edward H. Ahrens, Jr., Distinguished Investigator Award

      National AwardAssociation for Clinical and Translational Science
    See All Achievements

    Clinical Care

    Overview

    John Krystal, MD, 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, and the Karolinska Institutet.

    Dr. Krystal previously served on the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Advisory Council (NIAAA), the Department of Defense Psychological Health Advisory Committee, 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 Neuroscience Forum (NeuroForum) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a member of the NIMH National Mental Health Advisory Council, and he edits the journal, Biological Psychiatry (impact factor: 11.982).

    Clinical Specialties

    Psychiatry; Addiction Medicine

    Fact Sheets

    Board Certifications

    • Psychiatry

      Certification Organization
      AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
      Original Certification Date
      1991

    Yale Medicine News

    See All News On Yale Medicine

    Are You a Patient?

    View this doctor's clinical profile on the Yale Medicine website for information about the services we offer and making an appointment.

    View Doctor Profile

    Get In Touch

    Contacts

    Email
    Academic Office Number

    Administrative Support