Brian Pittman
Statistician 3Cards
About
Research
Publications
2026
Additional Analyses Do Not Implicate Opioid Signaling in the Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine
Yoon G, Pittman B, Krystal J. Additional Analyses Do Not Implicate Opioid Signaling in the Antidepressant Effects of Ketamine. The International Journal Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2026, pyag011. PMID: 41818343, DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyag011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchNaltrexone/bupropion for binge-eating disorder: A human laboratory investigation of mechanisms
McKee S, Lydecker J, Pittman B, Jastreboff A, DiLeone R, Lavery M, Grilo C. Naltrexone/bupropion for binge-eating disorder: A human laboratory investigation of mechanisms. Drug And Alcohol Dependence Reports 2026, 19: 100428. PMID: 41867954, PMCID: PMC13000475, DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2026.100428.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHuman laboratory studiesBinge-eating disorderRandomized clinical trialsBrain reward systemHunger ratingsHigh-caloric foodPlasma levelsPsychosocial impairmentEating episodesFood cravingsReward systemCravingEating behaviorsEarly treatment responseNaltrexone/bupropionPotential markersTreatment responseSweet snacksClinical trialsDisordersSecondary outcomesEffective treatmentInvestigation of mechanismsEffective therapeuticsSnack foodsLegal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries
Jimenez Chavez C, Peltier M, Mokwuah A, Bin-Mahfouz A, Verplaetse T, Zakiniaeiz Y, Kohler R, Garcia-Rivas V, Banini B, Raval N, Pittman B, McKee S. Legal blood alcohol concentration limits and alcohol-attributable traffic mortality rates: an analysis across 165 countries. EClinicalMedicine 2026, 93: 103794. PMID: 41768275, PMCID: PMC12945517, DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2026.103794.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchGender inequalityTraffic mortality ratesNational incomeWorld Health OrganizationAge-standardized death ratesAlcohol consumptionPer capita alcohol consumptionCountry-level indicatorsHigh alcohol consumptionHealthcare system infrastructureAssistant SecretaryMortality rateStructural factorsAlcohol-impaired drivingRoad traffic deathsMortality burdenPopulation riskGlobal burdenMultilevel analysisStructural conditionsPrimary outcomeBlood alcohol concentration limitBlood alcohol concentrationDeath rateHealth OrganizationHigher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder
Zakiniaeiz Y, Raval N, Riordan W, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Pittman B, Matuskey D, Angarita G, Bonomi R, McKee S, Hillmer A, Cosgrove K. Higher drinking frequency corresponds to lower synaptic density in people with alcohol use disorder. Journal Of Clinical Investigation 2026, 136 PMID: 41528802, PMCID: PMC13038192, DOI: 10.1172/jci199989.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderFrontal cortexUse disorderControl participantsSynaptic densityModerate alcohol use disorderMarker of synaptic densityPositron emission tomographyNondisplaceable binding potentialHigher drinking frequencyChronic alcohol useBrain imaging scansDrinking severityExecutive functionDrinking daysBinding potentialYears of ageBPNDDrinking frequencyAlcohol useStriatumCortexDeficitsSynaptic dysfunctionImaging scans
2025
Comparing single‐ and repeat‐dose psilocybin with active placebo for migraine prevention in an exploratory randomized controlled clinical trial
Schindler E, Gottschalk C, Pittman B, D'Souza D. Comparing single‐ and repeat‐dose psilocybin with active placebo for migraine prevention in an exploratory randomized controlled clinical trial. Headache The Journal Of Head And Face Pain 2025 PMID: 41459830, DOI: 10.1111/head.70024.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchDose of psilocybinDrug administration sessionsEffects of psilocybinAcute subjective effectsAdministration sessionsSubjective effects of psilocybinMigraine frequencyAcute psychedelic effectsSafety of psilocybinBlind integrationAcute effectsWeekly migraine daysDrug sessionsPsilocybin treatmentPsychedelic effectsTherapeutic effectActive placeboConfidence ratingsParallel-group studyPsilocybinPrevention of migraineRandomized controlled clinical trialPulse dose regimenPlacebo effectDrug effectsImaging Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Excitatory Neural Activity in Autism
Naples A, Yang Y, Gravel P, Toyonaga T, Sadabad F, Koohsari S, Pittman B, Gallezot J, Pisani L, Finn C, Cramer-Benjamin S, Herman N, Rosenthal L, Franke C, Walicki B, Rodden I, Hillmer A, Esterlis I, Ropchan J, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Wolf J, Carson R, McPartland J, Matuskey D. Imaging Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Excitatory Neural Activity in Autism. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2025, 183: 58-69. PMID: 41366835, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20241084.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMetabotropic glutamate receptor 5Glutamate receptor 5Positron emission tomographyAutistic groupGroup differencesPositron emission tomography outcomes measurementsExcitatory neurotransmissionNeurotypical control participantsAutism spectrum disorderReceptor 5Receptor availabilityAutism phenotypeAutistic adultsBrain areasBrain regionsExcitatory neural activitySpectrum disorderControl participantsSensory sensitivityMGlu5Neural activityVenous input functionsReceptor densityAutismEEG power spectraMeasuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study
Sadabad F, Volpi T, Honhar P, Tinaz S, Dias M, Toyonaga T, Naganawa M, Gallezot J, Yang Y, Ibrahim W, Pittman B, Cayir S, Radhakrishnan R, Angarita G, Holmes S, Comley R, Carson R, Finnema S, Matuskey D. Measuring Dopamine Transporter Availability and Synaptic Density in Parkinson's Disease: A Dual‐Tracer Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study. Movement Disorders 2025, 40: 2678-2687. PMID: 41040062, DOI: 10.1002/mds.70041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsC-UCB-JDopamine transporterHealthy controlsVentral striatumDisease stageSubstantia nigraSynaptic densityParkinson's diseaseDopamine transporter availabilityPositron emission tomography imaging studiesSynaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2AAssessment of synaptic densityDopaminergic denervationBetween-group differencesTransporter availabilityBinding potentialNigrostriatal regionDisease durationDual-tracerImaging studiesPatientsPET imagingPresynaptic degenerationPD patientsDopamineLamotrigine is not associated with differential clinical outcomes in a real-world sample of patients with unipolar depression receiving ketamine or esketamine
Santucci M, Katz R, Pittman B, Nikayin S, Wilkinson S. Lamotrigine is not associated with differential clinical outcomes in a real-world sample of patients with unipolar depression receiving ketamine or esketamine. Psychopharmacology 2025, 1-9. PMID: 40973876, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-025-06896-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchQuick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self ReportDepressive disorderPsychiatric hospitalInventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self ReportMontgomery-Asberg Depression Rating ScaleSample of treatment-seeking patientsHistory of psychiatric hospitalizationRapid-acting antidepressantsKetamine's antidepressant effectsDepression Rating ScaleExposure to electroconvulsive therapyTreatment-seeking patientsAssociated with differential clinical outcomesDose of lamotrigineMontgomery-AsbergAntidepressant effectsIntranasal esketamineUnipolar depressionElectroconvulsive therapyPsychiatric comorbiditiesKetamine/esketamineRating ScaleSample of patientsClinical outcomesAverage doseBrain White Matter Microstructure in Middle and Older Aged Adults With Bipolar Disorder: A 2-Site Study
Sankar A, Colic L, Marks R, Rajashekar N, Pittman B, Constable R, Sajatovic M, Eyler L, Blumberg H. Brain White Matter Microstructure in Middle and Older Aged Adults With Bipolar Disorder: A 2-Site Study. American Journal Of Geriatric Psychiatry 2025, 34: 580-590. PMID: 41107198, PMCID: PMC12553490, DOI: 10.1016/j.jagp.2025.09.013.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchBipolar disorderEmotion regulationFractional anisotropyUncinate fasciculusWM microstructureCorpus callosumWM fractional anisotropyBrain white matter microstructureWhite matter microstructureAnterior corpus callosumTwo-site studyPosterior corpus callosumOlder aged adultsMood symptomsConsistent with findingsWhite matterNeurodevelopmental alterationsOlder adulthoodStudy of adults ageWM tractsCognitive impairmentLow FAEffect sizeAge interactionOlder adultsEffects of Age and BMI on Histamine H3 Receptor Availability in Healthy Humans
Yang Y, Ibrahim W, Gravel P, Pittman B, Hoye J, Cool R, Sadabad F, Zheng M, Pittenger C, Gallezot J, Carson R, Huang H, Radhakrishnan R, Matuskey D. Effects of Age and BMI on Histamine H3 Receptor Availability in Healthy Humans. Molecular Imaging And Biology 2025, 27: 832-838. PMID: 40938339, DOI: 10.1007/s11307-025-02047-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHigh-resolution research tomographBody mass indexPositron emission tomographyEffects of ageAnterior cingulate cortexPotential confounding effects of ageAge-related declineTwo-tissue compartment modelCingulate cortexReceptor availabilityFrontal cortexParietal cortexOlfactory cortexSubcortical regionsHealthy humansRegional VTCortexConfounding effects of ageCerebellum cortexEmission tomographyTwo-tissueMass indexHealthy individualsInsulaAssessed alterations
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
News
News
- January 20, 2026
Yale Study: Higher Drinking Frequency Corresponds to Lower Synaptic Density in People with Alcohol Use Disorder
- July 29, 2025Source: Journal of Addiction Medicine
The Role of Childhood Trauma in Chronic Pain and Substance Use Among Individuals Receiving Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
- June 26, 2025Source: Alcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research
Pain Interference, Alcohol Use, and Metabolic Health: Insights From a Nationally Representative Study
- February 20, 2025Source: BMJ Mental Health
Chronotherapeutic Intervention Targeting Emotion Regulation Brain Circuitry, Symptoms, and Suicide Risk in Adolescents and Young adults With Bipolar Disorder: A Pilot Randomised Trial