John Krystal, MD
Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of PsychologyCards
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
Publications Overview
- 915 Publications
- 75,768 Citations
- 199 Yale Co-Authors
Administrative Support
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
Publications Overview
- 915 Publications
- 75,768 Citations
- 199 Yale Co-Authors
Administrative Support
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
Publications Overview
- 915 Publications
- 75,768 Citations
- 199 Yale Co-Authors
Administrative Support
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
Psychiatry
ChairDualPsychiatry
ProfessorPrimaryDepartment of Psychology
ProfessorSecondaryNeuroscience
ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Division of Neurocognition, Neurocomputation & Neurogenetics
- Adult Psychiatry
- Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol
- Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit
- Dean's Workshops
- Department of Psychology
- Diabetes Research Center
- 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 Subject Headings (MeSH)
ORCID
0000-0001-6952-1726
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Deepak Cyril Dsouza, MBBS, MD
Joel Gelernter, MD
Ilan Harpaz-Rotem, PhD, ABPP
Ismene Petrakis, MD
Chadi Abdallah, MD
Edward Belk Perry Jr, MD, MHS
Schizophrenia
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Alcoholism
Veterans
Psychiatry
Neuroimaging
Publications
2024
Cerebellar Contributions to Traumatic Autobiographical Memory in People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Blithikioti C, Duek O, Gordon C, Krystal J, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I, Schiller D, Perl O. Cerebellar Contributions to Traumatic Autobiographical Memory in People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Cerebellum 2024, 1-9. PMID: 39180693, DOI: 10.1007/s12311-024-01731-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderFunctional magnetic resonance imagingRight cerebellar lobule VICerebellar lobule VIAutobiographical memoryTraumatic eventsAutobiographical recallStress disorderLobule VIRe-experiencing of traumatic eventsChronic post-traumatic stress disorderDebilitating mental health conditionPTSD pathophysiologyProcessing negative emotionsNegative affective statesCerebellar Crus IIMental health conditionsCerebellar engagementRe-experiencingTrauma exposureCerebellar contributionReactivity paradigmNegative emotionsAffective statesCrus IIMicroglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia.
Bonomi R, Hillmer A, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita G, Carson R, Davis M, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal J, Pietrzak R, Cosgrove K. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2024, 121: e2406005121. PMID: 39172786, PMCID: PMC11363315, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPTSD groupPrefrontal-limbic circuitsNeuroimmune responseAssociated with anhedoniaPosttraumatic stress disorderPositron emission tomography brain imagingTranslocator protein availabilityBrain immune functionAnhedonic symptomsStress disorderPeripheral immune dysfunctionPTSDGroup differencesSeverity of symptomsPsychiatric diseasesTranslocator proteinBrain imagingAdministration of lipopolysaccharideSymptomsMicroglial markersLPS-induced increaseCompared to controlsImmune functionSickness symptomsAnhedoniaDexmedetomidine HCL (BXCL501) as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder and comorbid PTSD: A phase 1b, placebo‐controlled crossover laboratory study
Petrakis I, Nolen T, Vandergrift N, Hirsch S, Krystal J, De Vivo M, Sabados J, Pisani E, Newcomb J, Kosten T. Dexmedetomidine HCL (BXCL501) as a potential treatment for alcohol use disorder and comorbid PTSD: A phase 1b, placebo‐controlled crossover laboratory study. American Journal On Addictions 2024 PMID: 39152094, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.13637.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorderAlcohol use disorderSubjective effects of alcoholEffects of alcoholUse disorderComorbid alcohol use disorderAlcohol cue reactivityPosttraumatic stress disorderCrossover laboratory studyCue reactivityAlcohol cravingNoradrenergic dysregulationStress disorderBlood pressureSubjective effectsEthanol administrationClinically significant adverse effectsPharmacotherapeutic approachesTest daysReceptor agonistsPotential treatmentDouble-blind fashionCravingDrinking alcoholDisordersMedial prefrontal cortex neurotransmitter abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder with and without comorbidity to major depression
Swanberg K, Prinsen H, Averill C, Campos L, Kurada A, Krystal J, Petrakis I, Averill L, Rothman D, Abdallah C, Juchem C. Medial prefrontal cortex neurotransmitter abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder with and without comorbidity to major depression. NMR In Biomedicine 2024, e5220. PMID: 39054694, DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5220.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderMedial prefrontal cortexStress disorderPosttraumatic stress disorder patientsPosttraumatic stress disorder diagnosisChronic psychiatric conditionImpact of psychiatric comorbiditiesComorbid MDDPrefrontal cortexDepressive disorderTraumatic stressorsPsychiatric conditionsMDDPsychiatric comorbiditiesNeurotransmitter abnormalitiesConcentrations of glutamateMetabolite abnormalitiesHealthy controlsDisordersPattern of abnormalitiesParticipantsGlutamateIn vivo protonMetabolic abnormalitiesDepressionFindings of PTSD-specific deficits in default mode network strength following a mild experimental stressor
Averill C, Averill L, Akiki T, Fouda S, Krystal J, Abdallah C. Findings of PTSD-specific deficits in default mode network strength following a mild experimental stressor. NPP—Digital Psychiatry And Neuroscience 2024, 2: 9. PMID: 38919723, PMCID: PMC11197271, DOI: 10.1038/s44277-024-00011-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderMajor depressive disorderConnectivity deficitsConnection strengthPrimary diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorderExperimental stressorsDiagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorderResting-state functional magnetic resonance imagingFunctional magnetic resonance imagingVentromedial prefrontal cortexDMN connectivity strengthStress-induced reductionEffect of groupDMN alterationsPrefrontal cortexDepressive disorderDMN connectivityStressor taskStress disorderBrain region(sAcute stressorFunctional connectivityDMNExploratory analysisDeficitsCONNEX, a Phase III Randomized Trial Program Assessing Efficacy and Safety of Iclepertin in Schizophrenia: Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics
Blahova Z, Ikezawa S, Falkai P, Krystal J, Rangan T. CONNEX, a Phase III Randomized Trial Program Assessing Efficacy and Safety of Iclepertin in Schizophrenia: Recruitment and Baseline Characteristics. BJPsych Open 2024, 10: s72-s73. DOI: 10.1192/bjo.2024.230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVirtual Reality Functional Capacity Assessment ToolComposite T-scoreSchizophrenia Cognition Rating ScaleSchizophrenia Consensus Cognitive BatteryCognitive impairmentGlycine transporter-1 inhibitorStable antipsychotic treatmentN-methyl-d-aspartate receptor signallingConsensus Cognitive BatteryCognitive remediation therapyIncrease synaptic levelsCognition Rating ScaleT-scoreDuration of illnessCo-agonist glycineAntipsychotic treatmentAntipsychotic medicationSchizophrenia treatmentCognitive batteryRemediation therapyCognitive symptomsTreatment researchSchizophreniaImprove cognitionPlacebo-controlled parallel-group trialPost-Roe v Wade psychiatry: legal, clinical, and ethical challenges in psychiatry under abortion bans
Kraguljac N, Bruns D, Appelbaum P, Botello E, King V, Remiszewski N, Widge A, Alpert J, Carpenter L, Grzenda A, Krystal J, McDonald W, Nemeroff C. Post-Roe v Wade psychiatry: legal, clinical, and ethical challenges in psychiatry under abortion bans. The Lancet Psychiatry 2024 PMID: 38795722, DOI: 10.1016/s2215-0366(24)00096-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsRoe v WadeAbortion banDobbs v Jackson Women's Health OrganizationUS Supreme Court rulingLiberalization of abortion lawsSupreme Court rulingPsychiatric careAbortion careConstitutional rightsCourt rulingsLegal landscapeAbortion lawsPsychiatric groundsPatient autonomyEthical conductBanEthical challengesPublic health consequencesEthical responsibilityPsychiatristsMedical necessityPracticing psychiatristsAbortionTopical overviewPersonal viewHuman Brain State Dynamics Reflect Individual Neuro-Phenotypes
Lee K, Ji J, Fonteneau C, Berkovitch L, Rahmati M, Pan L, Repovš G, Krystal J, Murray J, Anticevic A. Human Brain State Dynamics Reflect Individual Neuro-Phenotypes. Biological Psychiatry 2024, 95: s53. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.133.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe Prefrontal Cortex Transcriptomic Landscape of the Comorbidity Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Opioid Misuse
Martinez-Magaña J, Nagamatsu S, Nunez-Rios D, Krystal J, Girgenti M, Group T, Montalvo-Ortiz J. The Prefrontal Cortex Transcriptomic Landscape of the Comorbidity Between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Opioid Misuse. Biological Psychiatry 2024, 95: s69. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.169.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMulti-Omics Mapping in Human Cortical Neurons Reveals Well-Known and Novel Loci of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Nunez-Rios D, Hurd Y, Rompala G, Nagamatsu S, Martinez-Magaña J, Krystal J, Group T, Montalvo-Ortiz J. Multi-Omics Mapping in Human Cortical Neurons Reveals Well-Known and Novel Loci of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Biological Psychiatry 2024, 95: s34. DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.02.087.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Have you had COVID-19?
HIC ID2000033404RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsAlcohol Interaction Study
HIC ID2000030342RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/31/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 65 yearsStudying the Adult Brain
HIC ID2000025671RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2025Recruiting ParticipantsAMPA Receptor Components of the Anti-Depressant Ketamine Response
HIC ID2000021345RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2032Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 65 yearsEfficacy of Psilocybin in OCD: a Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.
HIC ID2000020355RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 55 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity NIMH
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMemberDetailsNIMH National Mental Health Advisory Council2016 - Presentactivity Neuroscience Forum, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Professional OrganizationsCo-DirectorDetailsCo-Director07/01/2018 - Presenthonor Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research
International AwardBrain and Behavior Research FoundationDetails11/01/2019United Stateshonor Ulf van Euler Memorial Lecturer
International AwardKarolinska InstituteDetails10/18/2019Swedenhonor Edward H. Ahrens, Jr., Distinguished Investigator Award
National AwardAssociation for Clinical and Translational ScienceDetails03/07/2019United States
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
Fact Sheets
Depression
Learn More on Yale Medicine
Board Certifications
Psychiatry
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Original Certification Date
- 1991
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News
- August 27, 2024
Deak Receives Two Awards from National Institute on Drug Abuse
- August 23, 2024
Microglia-Mediated Neuroimmune Suppression in PTSD Is Associated With Anhedonia
- August 19, 2024Source: NBC Connecticut
Yale New Haven Doctor Speaks About the Benefits and Dangers of Ketamine
- August 16, 2024Source: HuffPost
Here's What You Should Know About Ketamine As A Treatment For Depression