Rajiv Radhakrishnan, MBBS, MD, FAPA
Associate Professor of PsychiatryDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Co-Medical Director, Yale PET Center
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
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View Doctor ProfileAdditional Titles
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Co-Medical Director, Yale PET Center
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
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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 ProfileAdditional Titles
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
Co-Medical Director, Yale PET Center
Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Contact Info
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Assistant Professor, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Co-Medical Director, Yale PET Center; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health
Appointments
Psychiatry
Associate Professor on TermPrimaryRadiology & Biomedical Imaging
Assistant ProfessorSecondary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Center for Brain & Mind Health
- Interventional Psychiatry Service
- MR Center
- NeuroPET Imaging Program
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
- Psychiatry
- Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
- Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids
- Yale Institute for Global Health
- Yale Medicine
Education & Training
- MHS
- Yale University (2021)
- MD
- St. John's Medical College (2008)
- MBBS
- St John's Medical College, Medicine (2003)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Marijuana Abuse; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Schizophrenia
Public Health Interests
Mental Health; Substance Use, Addiction
ORCID
0000-0002-8220-655X- View Lab Website
Radhakrishnan Lab
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Rajiv Radhakrishnan's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Rajiv Radhakrishnan's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Rajiv Radhakrishnan is interested in exploring.
Deepak Cyril Dsouza, MBBS, MD
Nabeel Nabulsi, PhD
David Matuskey, MD
Irina Esterlis, PhD
Mika Naganawa, PhD
Richard Carson, PhD
29Publications
567Citations
Schizophrenia
Marijuana Abuse
Publications
2025
Cognitive functioning and functional ability in women with schizophrenia and homelessness
Menon J, Kantipudi S, Mani A, Radhakrishnan R. Cognitive functioning and functional ability in women with schizophrenia and homelessness. Schizophrenia Research Cognition 2025, 39: 100338. DOI: 10.1016/j.scog.2024.100338.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsWorld Health Organization Disability Assessment ScaleFrontal Assessment BatteryCognitive functionCognitive dysfunctionScale for Assessment of Negative SymptomsAssessment of Negative SymptomsDisability Assessment ScaleStudies of schizophreniaHigher cognitive dysfunctionPremorbid level of functionCognitive function of womenNegative symptomsAssessment batteryPremorbid levelSchizophreniaCognitive AssessmentCognitive impairmentSemi-structured proformaDementia ScaleLevel of functionAssessment ScalePsychosocial factorsHigher literacy levelsGroup of womenFunctional ability
2024
11C-UCB-J PET imaging is consistent with lower synaptic density in autistic adults
Matuskey D, Yang Y, Naganawa M, Koohsari S, Toyonaga T, Gravel P, Pittman B, Torres K, Pisani L, Finn C, Cramer-Benjamin S, Herman N, Rosenthal L, Franke C, Walicki B, Esterlis I, Skosnik P, Radhakrishnan R, Wolf J, Nabulsi N, Ropchan J, Huang Y, Carson R, Naples A, McPartland J. 11C-UCB-J PET imaging is consistent with lower synaptic density in autistic adults. Molecular Psychiatry 2024, 1-7. PMID: 39367053, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02776-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPositron emission tomographySynaptic densityAutistic adultsBrain regionsAutistic featuresClinical phenotype of autismNon-autistic participantsPhenotype of autismNon-autistic individualsRelationship to clinical characteristicsSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssociated with clinical measuresPost-mortem studiesPositron emission tomography scanPrefrontal cortexClinician ratingsAutism groupNeural basisBrain areasNeural processesBetween-group differencesVolumetric differencesBinding potentialDensity of synapsesAutismEfficacy and Safety of Ketamine/Esketamine in Bipolar Depression in a Clinical Setting.
Santucci M, Ansari M, Nikayin S, Radhakrishnan R, Rhee T, Wilkinson S. Efficacy and Safety of Ketamine/Esketamine in Bipolar Depression in a Clinical Setting. The Journal Of Clinical Psychiatry 2024, 85 PMID: 39361411, DOI: 10.4088/jcp.24m15376.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBipolar depressionAcute seriesRisk of affective switchDiagnosis of bipolar depressionRefractory bipolar depressionAcute phaseMADRS scoreAffective switchIntranasal esketamineManic episodesBipolar disorderCohort of patientsAttending psychiatristsSource of morbidityEsketamineSample of patientsIV ketamineMaintenance treatmentDepressionClinical responseHeightened riskClinical outcomesMania/hypomaniaKetamineKetamine/esketamineSubstance use and spine density: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies
Oliva H, Prudente T, Nunes E, Cosgrove K, Radhakrishnan R, Potenza M, Angarita G. Substance use and spine density: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies. Molecular Psychiatry 2024, 29: 2873-2885. PMID: 38561468, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02519-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSpine densityPrefrontal cortexSubstance useDrug self-administrationHippocampal spine densityEffects of cocaineSubstance use disordersConvergence of findingsSpine density changesSubstances of abuseMeta-analysis of preclinical studiesNucleus accumbensBehavioral sensitizationSelf-administrationBrain mechanismsPreclinical studiesBrain regionsMorphine effectsSynaptic density changesMeta-analysisAmphetamineSynaptic densityCocaineModerate-to-highCortexIn Vivo Synaptic Density in Early Schizophrenia: Are There No Differences or Are They Too Small to Detect?
Radhakrishnan R. In Vivo Synaptic Density in Early Schizophrenia: Are There No Differences or Are They Too Small to Detect? Biological Psychiatry 2024, 95: 605-607. PMID: 38479976, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.01.016.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSynaptic densityA systematic review of approaches to improve medication adherence in homeless adults with psychiatric disorders
Hird R, Radhakrishnan R, Tsai J. A systematic review of approaches to improve medication adherence in homeless adults with psychiatric disorders. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2024, 14: 1339801. PMID: 38260790, PMCID: PMC10800888, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1339801.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsMedication adherenceAssertive community treatmentLong-Acting Injectable MedicationsPsychiatric disordersInjectable medicationsAdherence enhancementCommunity treatmentHomeless adultsSystematic reviewPsychiatric medication adherenceSubstance use disordersFull-text reviewModified therapeutic communityPeer-reviewed journalsInpatient interventionLarge RCTsSelf-designed scaleHomeless individualsOutpatient interventionInpatient carePharmacy clinicObservational studyInclusion criteriaUse disordersPeer-reviewed studies
2023
PET Biomarkers in Psychiatry
Orhii P, Radhakrishnan R, Selvaraj S. PET Biomarkers in Psychiatry. 2023, 81-104. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-43356-6_6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchThe regional pattern of age-related synaptic loss in the human brain differs from gray matter volume loss: in vivo PET measurement with [11C]UCB-J
Toyonaga T, Khattar N, Wu Y, Lu Y, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Matuskey D, Mecca A, Pittman B, Dias M, Nabulsi N, Finnema S, Chen M, Arnsten A, Radhakrishnan R, Skosnik P, D’Souza D, Esterlis I, Huang Y, van Dyck C, Carson R. The regional pattern of age-related synaptic loss in the human brain differs from gray matter volume loss: in vivo PET measurement with [11C]UCB-J. European Journal Of Nuclear Medicine And Molecular Imaging 2023, 51: 1012-1022. PMID: 37955791, DOI: 10.1007/s00259-023-06487-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSynaptic densityAge-related decreaseMagnetic resonance imagingBlood flowAge-related synaptic lossGray matter volume lossSynaptic density lossPositron emission tomography (PET) ligandSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AVivo PET measurementsMedial occipital cortexGray matter volumeAge-related neurodegenerationGray matter regionsCognitive normal subjectsAge-related changesSynaptic lossNerve terminalsWide age rangeOccipital cortexTomography ligandNormal subjectsGM volumeAge-related functional lossesMatter volumeSubstance Use Disorder and Health Outcomes in COVID-19—The Need for a Better Research Method to Determine Substance Use Exposure
Christian N, Zhou X, Radhakrishnan R. Substance Use Disorder and Health Outcomes in COVID-19—The Need for a Better Research Method to Determine Substance Use Exposure. JAMA Psychiatry 2023, 80: 968-968. PMID: 37405794, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2113.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsA leaky umbrella has little value: evidence clearly indicates the serotonin system is implicated in depression
Jauhar S, Arnone D, Baldwin D, Bloomfield M, Browning M, Cleare A, Corlett P, Deakin J, Erritzoe D, Fu C, Fusar-Poli P, Goodwin G, Hayes J, Howard R, Howes O, Juruena M, Lam R, Lawrie S, McAllister-Williams H, Marwaha S, Matuskey D, McCutcheon R, Nutt D, Pariante C, Pillinger T, Radhakrishnan R, Rucker J, Selvaraj S, Stokes P, Upthegrove R, Yalin N, Yatham L, Young A, Zahn R, Cowen P. A leaky umbrella has little value: evidence clearly indicates the serotonin system is implicated in depression. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 28: 3149-3152. PMID: 37322065, PMCID: PMC10618084, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02095-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
M1 Schizophrenia PET Study
HIC ID2000031171RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 yearsImaging cortisol metabolism in liver, adipose tissue and brain with a novel PET radioligand
HIC ID2000029576RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2024Recruiting ParticipantsTesting a Computationally-Informed, Personalized Intervention for Hallucinations
HIC ID2000024774RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date03/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 65 yearsA longitudinal study of the effects of cannabis exposure on neuro-development in adolescents and young adults
HIC ID2000024543RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/31/2021Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge13 years - 25 yearsSleep Dependent Learning in Schizophrenia and Psychosis Risk Syndrome
HIC ID1201009524RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/31/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology (ASCP)
Professional OrganizationsCommittee MemberDetails05/01/2017 - Presentactivity Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)
Professional OrganizationsCommittee MemberDetails07/31/2019 - Presentactivity Journal of Dual Diagnosis
Journal ServiceAssociate EditorDetails09/11/2019 - Presentactivity Yale University Human Investigation Committee (HIC)
CommitteesMemberDetails09/01/2016 - Presentactivity Medical Research Council (MRC), UK
Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsAd-hoc reviewerDetails2019 - Present
Clinical Care
Overview
Clinical Specialties
Addiction Medicine
Board Certifications
Addiction Medicine (Preventive Medicine)
- Certification Organization
- AB of Preventive Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2020
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 ProfileNews
News
- October 02, 2024
Bipolar Disorder Patients Respond to Ketamine, Esketamine Treatment
- April 02, 2024Source: Molecular Psychiatry
Substance Use and Spine Density: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies
- December 18, 2022
Radhakrishnan Named Co-Medical Director of Yale PET Center
- August 30, 2022Source: The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry
Impact of Cannabis Use, Substance Use Disorders, and Psychiatric Diagnoses on COVID-19 Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study