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John Krystal, MD

Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology
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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

  • Adult Psychiatry
  • Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol
  • Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit
  • Dean's Workshops
  • Department of Psychology
  • Diabetes Research Center
  • Division of Neurocognition, Neurocomputation & Neurogenetics
  • Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
  • MR Center
  • Neuroscience
  • Neuroscience Research Training Program (NRTP)
  • Neuroscience Track
  • Psychiatry
  • Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (YCCI)
  • Yale Combined Program in the Biological and Biomedical Sciences (BBS)
  • Yale Medicine
  • Yale Ventures
  • Yale-Drug use, Addiction, and HIV prevention Research Scholars (DAHRS)

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

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