Sarah Lichenstein
Assistant Professor of PsychiatryCards
About
Research
Publications
2026
A qualitative study of same session co-use of nicotine and cannabis among adolescents and young adults
Davis D, Cavallo D, Bold K, Morean M, Kong G, Li W, Ponte V, Franco N, Lichenstein S, Krishnan-Sarin S. A qualitative study of same session co-use of nicotine and cannabis among adolescents and young adults. PLOS ONE 2026, 21: e0340050. PMID: 41499437, PMCID: PMC12779067, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0340050.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSession useCannabis usePsychoactive effectsPsychoactive effects of nicotineCo-use of nicotineCo-usePsychoactive effects of cannabisEffects of cannabisCo-use behaviorsEffects of nicotineYoung adultsCannabis use experienceCannabis effectsCannabisNicotineCannabis vapingCessation effortsSessionsAdolescentsBehavioral patternsMask tasteThroat irritationAYAParticipantsAdultsPrenatal Cannabis Exposure Exacerbates Striatal Reward System Alterations Associated With Early Risk for Psychosis
Lichenstein S. Prenatal Cannabis Exposure Exacerbates Striatal Reward System Alterations Associated With Early Risk for Psychosis. Biological Psychiatry 2026, 99: 102-103. PMID: 41386816, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.10.030.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2025
Impulsivity and neuroticism share distinct functional connectivity signatures with alcohol-use risk in youth
Cheng A, Lichenstein S, Chaarani B, Liang Q, Babaeianjelodar M, Riley S, Luo W, Horien C, Greene A, Banaschewski T, Bokde A, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Gowland P, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot J, Martinot M, Artiges E, Nees F, Papadopoulos Orfanos D, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Holz N, Baeuchl C, Smolka M, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Constable R, Pearlson G, Garavan H, Yip S. Impulsivity and neuroticism share distinct functional connectivity signatures with alcohol-use risk in youth. Molecular Psychiatry 2025, 31: 953-962. PMID: 40913110, PMCID: PMC12815650, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-025-03196-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchFunctional connectivity signaturesNeural signaturesConnectivity signaturesConnectome-based predictive modelingUnique neural mechanismsFunctional connectivity dataStudy of adolescent developmentDimensional traitsNegative affectDimensional phenotypesDefault modeNeural mechanismsNeuroticismAlcohol-useCerebellar networkYouth impulsivityAdolescent developmentCanonical networksAssociated with riskConnectivity dataNetwork anatomyComplex neural networksImpulseRisk behaviorsTraitsIdentification and External Validation of a Problem Cannabis Risk Network
Lichenstein S, Kiluk B, Potenza M, Garavan H, Chaarani B, Banaschewski T, Bokde A, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Gowland P, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot J, Paillère Martinot M, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos D, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Holz N, Baeuchl C, Smolka M, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Pearlson G, Yip S. Identification and External Validation of a Problem Cannabis Risk Network. Biological Psychiatry 2025, 98: 586-596. PMID: 39909136, PMCID: PMC12318113, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.01.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAlcohol use outcomesCannabis useNeural mechanismsSample of treatment-seeking adultsNeural mechanisms of riskTreatment-seeking adultsCannabis use disorderNon-clinical sampleMechanisms of riskFunctional connectivity dataSample of adolescentsTreatment outcomesAssociated with harmful outcomesPoor treatment outcomesAddiction severityUse disorderEmerging adulthoodWhole-brainCannabisCollege studentsBrain developmentConnectivity dataIdentified networksTreatment approachesAdults
2023
Identification of a Composite Latent Dimension of Reward and Impulsivity Across Clinical, Behavioral, and Neurobiological Domains Among Youth
Kohler R, Lichenstein S, Cheng A, Holmes A, Bzdok D, Pearlson G, Yip S. Identification of a Composite Latent Dimension of Reward and Impulsivity Across Clinical, Behavioral, and Neurobiological Domains Among Youth. Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience And Neuroimaging 2023, 9: 407-416. PMID: 38052266, PMCID: PMC11149944, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.11.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderDisruptive behavior disordersAnterior cingulate responsesLatent dimensionsAnticipatory reward processingDeficit hyperactivity disorderSingle latent dimensionRisk-taking behaviorNegative urgencyExecutive functionIndividual differencesNeurobiological domainsReward anticipationCingulate responseReward processingAdolescent brainCognitive developmentNeural substratesHyperactivity disorderDevelopmental trajectoriesEarly adolescenceMultivariate patternsReward processesBehavioral variablesBehavior disorderBrain Networks and Adolescent Alcohol Use
Yip S, Lichenstein S, Liang Q, Chaarani B, Dager A, Pearlson G, Banaschewski T, Bokde A, Desrivières S, Flor H, Grigis A, Gowland P, Heinz A, Brühl R, Martinot J, Martinot M, Artiges E, Nees F, Orfanos D, Paus T, Poustka L, Hohmann S, Millenet S, Fröhner J, Smolka M, Vaidya N, Walter H, Whelan R, Schumann G, Garavan H. Brain Networks and Adolescent Alcohol Use. JAMA Psychiatry 2023, 80: 1131-1141. PMID: 37647053, PMCID: PMC10469292, DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.2949.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestAlcohol use riskAlcohol misuseUse riskAlcohol use disorderMale adolescentsDisorders Identification TestSingle-site studyIntervention effortsWhole-brain patternsMean ageAlcohol use dataLeading causeMagnetic resonance imaging dataMAIN OUTCOMEReward-related processesHigh riskSeparate cohortUse disordersAlcohol consumptionCurrent severityAdolescent neurodevelopmentAlcohol use behaviorsAlcohol useAUDIT scoresDistinct neural networks predict cocaine versus cannabis treatment outcomes
Lichenstein S, Kohler R, Ye F, Potenza M, Kiluk B, Yip S. Distinct neural networks predict cocaine versus cannabis treatment outcomes. Molecular Psychiatry 2023, 28: 3365-3372. PMID: 37308679, PMCID: PMC10713861, DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02120-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsConnectome-based predictive modelingCognitive behavior therapyCognitive behavioral therapySubstance use disordersCannabis abstinenceNeural mechanismsBehavior therapyDistinct neural networksComputer-based trainingCannabis use disorderFMRI scanningNeural predictorsStudy 1Study 2Treatment outcomesContingency managementPrior workComparison subjectsNetwork strengthUse disordersNovel treatment targetsAbstinenceIndependent samplesCocaine abstinenceTreatment responders
2022
Cannabis, connectivity, and coming of age: Associations between cannabis use and anterior cingulate cortex connectivity during the transition to adulthood
Lichenstein S, Shaw D, Forbes E. Cannabis, connectivity, and coming of age: Associations between cannabis use and anterior cingulate cortex connectivity during the transition to adulthood. Frontiers In Human Neuroscience 2022, 16: 951204. PMID: 36438638, PMCID: PMC9692120, DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.951204.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAnterior thalamic radiationAge 20Fractional anisotropyCannabis useAnterior cingulate cortex connectivityLow socioeconomic statusAnterior cingulate cortexSignificant adverse consequencesHigher fractional anisotropyWhite matter microstructureCortex connectivityThalamic radiationWhite matterCingulate cortexMale subjectsNeurobiological consequencesModerate cannabisUnderwent diffusionSocioeconomic statusCannabisLongitudinal studyLongitudinal resultsCingulumAdverse consequencesAdulthoodTHC, CBD, and Anxiety: a Review of Recent Findings on the Anxiolytic and Anxiogenic Effects of Cannabis’ Primary Cannabinoids
Lichenstein S. THC, CBD, and Anxiety: a Review of Recent Findings on the Anxiolytic and Anxiogenic Effects of Cannabis’ Primary Cannabinoids. Current Addiction Reports 2022, 9: 473-485. PMID: 38106452, PMCID: PMC10722902, DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00450-7.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsRegular cannabis usersAnxiogenic effectsSubstance use disordersImpact anxietyEffects of THCAnxiety disordersCannabis usersClinical populationsHealthy participantsAnxietyTHC administrationLegalization of cannabisUse disordersEffects of CBDSex differencesPurpose of ReviewInSummaryFuture researchRecent FindingsRecent literatureCannabisAnxiolytic effectsRecreational cannabisCBD administrationEarlier findingsMost new studiesTherapeutic potential
2021
Systematic review of structural and functional neuroimaging studies of cannabis use in adolescence and emerging adulthood: evidence from 90 studies and 9441 participants
Lichenstein SD, Manco N, Cope LM, Egbo L, Garrison KA, Hardee J, Hillmer AT, Reeder K, Stern EF, Worhunsky P, Yip SW. Systematic review of structural and functional neuroimaging studies of cannabis use in adolescence and emerging adulthood: evidence from 90 studies and 9441 participants. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021, 47: 1000-1028. PMID: 34839363, PMCID: PMC8938408, DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01226-9.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsConceptsAdolescent cannabis usersCannabis-related harmsCannabis usersCannabis effectsAdolescent brain functionOngoing brain developmentFunctional neuroimaging studiesEffects of cannabisAdolescent brainNeuroimaging studiesNeural effectsPotential moderatorsNeural alterationsCannabis policy changesReduced perceptionSystematic reviewCannabis useCerebellar regionsAdolescenceBrain functionPreliminary evidenceFuture researchEarly interventionLong-term goalExtant literature
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Connectivity While Coming of Age
IRB ID2000028368RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date12/31/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 25 years
News
News
- February 06, 2025Source: Biological Psychiatry
Identification and External Validation of a Problem Cannabis Risk Network
- April 22, 2024
Mentorship and Science
- September 08, 2023
WHRY Welcomes New Class of Undergraduate Fellows
- June 08, 2023
Yale Child Study Center welcomes 2023 summer interns