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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 on the neurobiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. His work links psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and computational neuroscience to study the neurobiology and treatment of disorders including alcohol use disorder, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.

Within Yale, he chairs the Department of Psychiatry, serves as Chief of Psychiatry for the Yale-New Haven Health System, co-leads the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (CTSA), co-directs the NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol, and leads the Clinical Neuroscience Division of the National Center for PTSD (VA).

In addition to his roles at Yale, he serves as editor of Biological Psychiatry, Vice-President of the Scientific Council for the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, as a Scientific Advisory Board member of Aligning Research to Impact Autism, and in numerous other advisory capacities for government agencies, academia initiatives, Private Foundations, and pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies. He also co-founded Freedom Biosciences, a company devoted to addressing the limitations of current rapid-acting antidepressants.

Dr. Krystal previously co-chaired (2018-2024) the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He also served on the Department of Defense Psychological Health Advisory Committee, the National Advisory Councils for the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 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).


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

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Clinical Trials

Current Trials

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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

    Barbara Fish Memorial Award for Contributions to Basic, Translational, and Clinical Neuroscience

    International AwardAmerican College of Neuropsychopharmacology
  • honor

    Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat in International Mental Health Award

    International AwardNational Academy of Medicine (USA)
  • honor

    Nasrallah Family Award for Psychiatric Neuroscience

    National AwardAmerican Psychiatric Association
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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