Sherry McKee, PhD
Albert E. Kent Professor of PsychiatryDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Appointments
Psychiatry
Primary
Additional Titles
Director, Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory
Clinical Director, Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic
Director, Yale SCORE Program for Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatry
Contact Info
Appointments
Psychiatry
Primary
Additional Titles
Director, Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory
Clinical Director, Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic
Director, Yale SCORE Program for Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatry
Contact Info
Appointments
Psychiatry
Primary
Additional Titles
Director, Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory
Clinical Director, Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic
Director, Yale SCORE Program for Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatry
Contact Info
About
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Titles
Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory; Clinical Director, Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic; Director, Yale SCORE Program for Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatry
Biography
Dr. Sherry McKee is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale Medical School, Director of the Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory, and Clinical Director of the Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic. Dr. McKee directs a translational program of research focused on treatment development for addictive disorders, with an emphasis on women and more recently criminal justice populations. Her work spans clinical trials, behavioral pharmacology, survey research, and epidemiological research to uncover mechanisms underlying poor outcomes and to translate these finding into improved interventions. Dr. McKee has directed large NIH-funded efforts (P50-ORWH/NIDA; P01-ORWH/NIAAA) focused on developing effective medications for addictive behaviors which are responsive to sex differences. Dr. McKee currently leads the Yale-SCORE on Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder (U54AA027989, ORWH/NIAAA). For this effort, she directs an interdisciplinary team conducting translational cross-species research focused on expediting the development of therapeutics for alcohol use disorder, mentoring junior faculty, and providing a national resource on women and alcohol. Dr. McKee, with in partnership with the of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Service and the Connecticut Department of Correction has developed an integrated system of addiction care for adults returning to their communities following incarceration.
Last Updated on March 26, 2025.
Appointments
Psychiatry
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- All Institutions
- Cancer Prevention and Control
- Center for Nicotine and Tobacco Use Research at Yale (CENTURY)
- Connecticut Mental Health Center
- Division of Addictions
- Division of Law and Psychiatry
- Division of Substance Abuse
- Division of Women's Behavioral Health Research
- Neuroscience Research Training Program (NRTP)
- Psychiatry
- Psychology Section
- Psychotherapy Development Center
- Stress & Addiction Clinical Research Program
- Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory
- Yale Cancer Center
- Yale Medicine
- Yale Translational Center to Develop Gender-Sensitive Treatment for Tobacco Dependence
- Yale Ventures
Education & Training
- PhD
- University of Western Ontario, Clinical Psychology (1999)
- Fellow
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, CT. (1999)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Alcohol-Related Disorders; Criminal Psychology; Psychiatry and Psychology; Substance-Related Disorders; Tobacco Use Disorder
ORCID
0000-0001-8185-9201
Publications
2026
Naltrexone/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 ResearchAltmetricConceptsHuman 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 ResearchAltmetricConceptsGender 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 OrganizationIdentifying clinical correlates of drinking clusters during treatment for alcohol use disorder
Kohler R, Zhou H, Zakiniaeiz Y, Verplaetse T, Garcia‐Rivas V, Peltier M, Banini B, McKee S, Roberts W. Identifying clinical correlates of drinking clusters during treatment for alcohol use disorder. American Journal On Addictions 2026 PMID: 41601244, DOI: 10.1111/ajad.70132.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAlcohol use disorderUse disorderTreatment maintenanceAlcohol consumptionMeasures of depressionThree-cluster solutionBetween-cluster differencesSelf-reported drinkingEnd-of-treatmentDrinking consequencesPhase of treatmentDiscovery of novel treatmentsClinical trialsPhase 2 randomized clinical trialTreatment outcomesClinical correlatesAvailability of treatmentPhase 3 trialDisordersAlcoholNovel treatmentCore demographicsClinical featuresDrinkingLiver functionHigher 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 ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol 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
Women and alcohol: A call to action
McKee S, Earnshaw V, Epstein E, Hughes T, Johnston A, Lee C, McCrady B, Nixon K, Peltier M, Roberto M, Scheer J, Verplaetse T, Werner D, Zakiniaeiz Y, Cosgrove K. Women and alcohol: A call to action. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2025, 50: e70205. PMID: 41287268, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70205.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsClinical and preclinical evidence of sex differences in nicotine-induced enhancement of alcohol self-administration
Garcia-Rivas V, Zakiniaeiz Y, Jimenez Chavez C, Kohler R, Peltier M, Raval N, Verplaetse T, Zhou H, McKee S. Clinical and preclinical evidence of sex differences in nicotine-induced enhancement of alcohol self-administration. Psychopharmacology 2025, 1-14. PMID: 41240074, DOI: 10.1007/s00213-025-06965-x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsNicotine-induced enhancementAlcohol self-administrationSelf-AdministrationSex differencesRates of alcohol use disordersEvidence of sex differencesAlcohol use disorderAlcohol-related behaviorsPreclinical evidencePotential sex differencesNicotine useUse disorderFemale subjectsCo-usePreclinical studiesNicotineTranslation paradigmIntersection of alcoholAlcoholPotential intersectionsClinical studiesTherapeutic strategiesReinforcementInclusion criteriaRationaleAlcoholGenotype‐by‐sex interaction analyses for alcohol use disorder across biobanks
Zhou H, Wang L, Mao Z, Deans P, Kember R, Chen Q, Zakiniaeiz Y, Kohler R, Peltier M, Verplaetse T, Program V, Potenza M, Brennand K, Justice A, Kranzler H, Gelernter J, McKee S, Muralidhar S, Moser J, Deen J, Tsao P, Muralidhar S, Gaziano J, Hauser E, Kilbourne A, Matheny M, Oslin D, Voora D, Gaziano J, Tsao P, Brewer J, Brophy M, Brophy M, Churby L, DuVall S, Pyarajan S, Ringer R, Selva L, Shayan S, Stephens B, Whitbourne S, Assimes T, Hung A, Kranzler H. Genotype‐by‐sex interaction analyses for alcohol use disorder across biobanks. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2025, 49: 2485-2493. PMID: 41017299, PMCID: PMC12638285, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70173.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsExpression quantitative trait lociAlcohol use disorderMillion Veteran ProgramGenotype-by-sexSingle-nucleotide polymorphismsAlcohol use disorder casesAncestry samplesGenetic basisCross-ancestry meta-analysisUse disorderQuantitative trait lociAfrican ancestry samplesPhenome-wide association analysisAlcohol use disorder riskHistory of alcohol addictionSelf-reported historyCross-ancestryTrait lociGenetic variationAssociation analysisMultiple genesLociAlcohol addictionExpression changesBiological underpinningsThe alcohol cue‐exposure paradigm as a screening tool for alcohol use disorder medication development: A critical review
Kirsch D, Grodin E, Leggio L, McKee S, Meredith L, Mereish E, Miranda R, Nieto S, O'Malley S, Schacht J, Ray L. The alcohol cue‐exposure paradigm as a screening tool for alcohol use disorder medication development: A critical review. Alcohol Clinical And Experimental Research 2025, 49: 2412-2426. PMID: 41017297, PMCID: PMC12638288, DOI: 10.1111/acer.70170.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol cue exposure paradigmCue exposure paradigmAlcohol use disorderMedication developmentCore symptomsBehavioral treatmentPharmacotherapy studiesUse disorderPredictive validityAUD pharmacotherapyScreening toolRegulatory approvalAlcoholParadigmIdentification of risk factorsNovel treatmentOutcome measuresCravingLarge-scale studiesRisk factorsNeurobiologyPharmacotherapyClinical applicationDisordersSymptomsEmpirical Derivation and Prediction of Treatment Trajectories in Harmonized AUD Clinical Trial Datasets
Kohler R, Zakiniaeiz Y, Verplaetse T, Chavez C, Peltier M, Zhou H, McKee S, Roberts W. Empirical Derivation and Prediction of Treatment Trajectories in Harmonized AUD Clinical Trial Datasets. Addiction Biology 2025, 30: e70069. PMID: 40700031, PMCID: PMC12285684, DOI: 10.1111/adb.70069.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAlcohol use disorderTreatment response phenotypesAlcohol use disorder treatmentTreatment response trajectoriesAUD-related phenotypesFollow-up analysisBaseline drinkingPhase of treatmentUse disorderAlcohol consumption patternsPhase 2 randomized clinical trialDrinking dataResponse trajectoriesAlcohol usePatient responsePhase 3 trialResponse phenotypesExploratory analysisAlcohol consumptionTreatment trajectoryDrinking ratesNIAAANo significant differenceMild drinkersPatient's clinical needsSex differences in the impact of social determinants of health on substance use disorder treatment outcomes
Chavez C, Peltier M, McKee S. Sex differences in the impact of social determinants of health on substance use disorder treatment outcomes. Biology Of Sex Differences 2025, 16: 56. PMID: 40696464, PMCID: PMC12281950, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-025-00734-3.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSubstance use disordersPredictors of substance useSubstance usePoor treatment outcomesSocial determinants of healthDeterminants of healthUse disorderTreatment outcomesHousing instabilityTreatment programsPolysubstance useSubstance use disorder treatment outcomesSeverity of substance useTreatment Episode Data Set-DischargesSocial determinantsSubstance use disorder treatment programsAssociated with poor treatment outcomesTreatment non-completionCriminal justice involvementSubstance use treatmentClinical severity indicatorsSex-specific effectsMental health conditionsClinical severity factorsNon-abstinence
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
The Effect of Acute Stress and Inflammation on Drinking
IRB ID2000028772RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 65 yearsCombining Varenicline and Guanfacine for Smoking Cessation
IRB ID2000026630RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/30/2020Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18+ yearsMechanistic Evaluation of Guanfacine on Drinking Behavior
IRB ID2000023970RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date09/29/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 70 yearsDoes Propanolol, a Beta Blocker, Attenuate Stress-Induced Drinking?
IRB ID2000022090RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date02/28/2025Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge21 years - 65 years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Div 50, American Psychological Association
09/01/2018 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsChairDetailsChair, Awards Committeeactivity Psychology of Addictive Behavior
08/01/2014 - PresentJournal ServiceAssociate EditorDetailsAssociate Editoractivity National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism
07/01/2014 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsReviewerDetailsReviewer, Loan Repayment Grantsactivity Drug and Alcohol Dependence - Reports
10/01/2021 - PresentJournal ServiceAssociate EditorDetailsAssociate Editoractivity New Haven Re-entry Center
06/01/2021 - PresentAdvisory BoardsMemberDetailsOffice of the Mayor, New HavenNew Haven Re-entry Center
Honors
honor President (2015-2016)
08/01/2015National AwardSociety of Addiction Psychology (Div 50) American Psychological AssociationDetailsUnited Stateshonor Board of Directors (2013-2017)
07/01/2013National AwardResearch Society on AlcoholismDetailsUnited Stateshonor Fellow, Division 50
07/01/2010National AwardAmerican Psychological AssociationDetailsUnited States
News & Links
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News
- January 20, 2026
Yale Study: Higher Drinking Frequency Corresponds to Lower Synaptic Density in People with Alcohol Use Disorder
- September 23, 2025
McKee Awarded ORWH/NIAAA Grant
- July 25, 2025Source: NBC News
Alcohol Use is Up Among Women — and Health Consequences Have Followed
- June 16, 2025Source: Psychology Today
Women With Alcohol Use Disorder Have a Different Disease
Get In Touch
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Office Fax Number
Clinic Fax Number
Mailing Address
Psychiatry
40 Temple Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States