Benjamin Kelmendi, MD
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About
Titles
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Appointments
Psychiatry
Assistant ProfessorPrimary
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Education & Training
- MD
- University of Vermont College of Medicine (2011)
- BA
- Eastern Connecticut State University, Psychology, Biology (2007)
Research
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Benjamin Kelmendi's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Benjamin Kelmendi's research output by year.
Christopher Pittenger, MD, PhD
Stephen Kichuk, MPH
Terence Ching, PhD
Rachael Grazioplene, PhD
Geena Fram
Alex Belser, MPhil, PhD
13Publications
144Citations
Publications
2024
Mechanisms of therapeutic change after psychedelic treatment in OCD
Maloney G, Ching T, Kichuk S, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Mechanisms of therapeutic change after psychedelic treatment in OCD. Psychiatry Research 2024, 336: 115907. PMID: 38615521, PMCID: PMC11190873, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115907.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsObsessive-compulsive disorderMechanisms of therapeutic changeAversive eventsImagery rescriptingPsychedelic treatmentPsychotherapeutic treatmentPsychotherapeutic frameworkSymptom reductionTherapeutic changePsychotherapyNegative emotionsPsychological mechanismsCore beliefsPilot dataNovel treatmentRescriptingEmotionsDisordersSymptomsReprocessingTreatmentBeliefsResistance to first-lineIndividualsInterventionCorrigendum: Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Ching T, Amoroso L, Bohner C, D'Amico E, Eilbott J, Entezar T, Fitzpatrick M, Fram G, Grazioplene R, Hokanson J, Jankovsky A, Kichuk S, Martins B, Patel P, Schaer H, Shnayder S, Witherow C, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Corrigendum: Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2024, 15: 1372373. PMID: 38435972, PMCID: PMC10905264, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1372373.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMethylone is a rapid-acting neuroplastogen with less off-target activity than MDMA
Warner-Schmidt J, Stogniew M, Mandell B, Rowland R, Schmidt E, Kelmendi B. Methylone is a rapid-acting neuroplastogen with less off-target activity than MDMA. Frontiers In Neuroscience 2024, 18: 1353131. PMID: 38389788, PMCID: PMC10882719, DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1353131.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderTreatment of post-traumatic stress disorderFrontal cortexBrain areasMDMA-assisted psychotherapyEffects of methyloneMonoamine uptake inhibitorsNeuroplasticity-related genesMyelin-related genesAntidepressant-likeAnxiolytic effectsBrain substratesStress disorderPsychiatric disordersNeuropsychiatric disordersUptake inhibitorsBrain effectsAvailable pharmacotherapiesMDMAMDDEmotional learningMethyloneAmygdalaGene expression changesDisordersSafety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings
Ching T, Amoroso L, Bohner C, D’Amico E, Eilbott J, Entezar T, Fitzpatrick M, Fram G, Grazioplene R, Hokanson J, Jankovsky A, Kichuk S, Martins B, Patel P, Schaer H, Shnayder S, Witherow C, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Safety, feasibility, tolerability, and clinical effects of repeated psilocybin dosing combined with non-directive support in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, waitlist-controlled trial with blinded ratings. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2024, 14: 1278823. PMID: 38264632, PMCID: PMC10803438, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1278823.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsObsessive-compulsive disorderPrimary outcomeNon-directive supportClinical effectsTreatment-refractory obsessive-compulsive disorderRefractory obsessive-compulsive disorderSingle-dose trialBlinded ratingsWaitlist-controlled trialDose selection strategiesOCD symptom reductionTreatment of OCDEffects of psilocybinSingle-site trialOCD symptomsInstitutional review boardBlinded independent ratersTrials of psilocybinYale-Brown ObsessiveWaitlist control designPrimary endpointMore dosesFuture trialsSingle dosePsilocybin treatment
2023
What Is in a Name? The Many Meanings of “Psychedelic”
O'Donnell K, Roberts D, Ching T, Glick G, Goldway N, Gukasyan N, Hokansen J, Kelmendi B, Ross S, Yaden M, Pittenger C. What Is in a Name? The Many Meanings of “Psychedelic”. Psychedelic Medicine 2023, 1: 187-189. DOI: 10.1089/psymed.2023.0011.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricFrontopolar multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation reduces conditioned fear reactivity during extinction training: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Adams T, Kelmendi B, George J, Forte J, Hubert T, Wild H, Rippey C, Pittenger C. Frontopolar multifocal transcranial direct current stimulation reduces conditioned fear reactivity during extinction training: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Neurobiology Of Learning And Memory 2023, 205: 107825. PMID: 37699439, PMCID: PMC10872945, DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2023.107825.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTranscranial direct current stimulationSkin conductance responsesExtinction trainingDirect current stimulationExtinction learningCurrent stimulationReturn of fearFear extinction paradigmInhibition of fearFear extinction learningExposure-based therapyTreatment of anxietyFear inhibitionThreat cuesSafety learningExtinction paradigmFear reactivityFear processingConductance responsesExtinction trialsFunctional connectivityElectrodermal activityMixed ANOVARelated disordersAnxietySafety, tolerability, and clinical and neural effects of single-dose psilocybin in obsessive–compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover trial
Ching T, Grazioplene R, Bohner C, Kichuk S, DePalmer G, D’Amico E, Eilbott J, Jankovsky A, Burke M, Hokanson J, Martins B, Witherow C, Patel P, Amoroso L, Schaer H, Pittenger C, Kelmendi B. Safety, tolerability, and clinical and neural effects of single-dose psilocybin in obsessive–compulsive disorder: protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-crossover trial. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 1178529. PMID: 37181888, PMCID: PMC10166878, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1178529.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsObsessive-compulsive disorderPrimary endpointPsilocybin effectsNeural effectsRefractory obsessive-compulsive disorderNon-crossover designOpen-label doseStandard care treatmentOpen-label studyVisual analog scale ratingsTreatment of OCDEffects of psilocybinOCD symptomsInstitutional review boardYale-Brown ObsessivePrimary outcomeSingle doseCare treatmentOral psilocybinInformed consentReview boardNeurobiological mechanismsCompulsive ScalePsychological supportTrialsPharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA in humans
Poyatos L, Pérez-Mañá C, Hladun O, Núñez-Montero M, de la Rosa G, Martín S, Barriocanal A, Carabias L, Kelmendi B, Taoussi O, Busardò F, Fonseca F, Torrens M, Pichini S, Farré M, Papaseit E. Pharmacological effects of methylone and MDMA in humans. Frontiers In Pharmacology 2023, 14: 1122861. PMID: 36873994, PMCID: PMC9981643, DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1122861.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsAddiction Research Center InventoryVisual analog scaleSubjective effectsClinical trialsPharmacological effectsAbuse potentialAcute pharmacological effectsCrossover clinical trialSingle oral doseMechanism of actionBlood pressureEffect profileOral doseAnalog scaleOral administrationHeart ratePrevious historyPsychostimulant usePsychomotor performanceOverall onsetPleasurable effectsMDMAPhysiological effectsShort formEarly disappearancePilot study suggests DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) is associated with MDMA-assisted therapy treatment response for severe PTSD
Lewis C, Tafur J, Spencer S, Green J, Harrison C, Kelmendi B, Rabin D, Yehuda R, Yazar-Klosinski B, Cahn B. Pilot study suggests DNA methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) is associated with MDMA-assisted therapy treatment response for severe PTSD. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 959590. PMID: 36815187, PMCID: PMC9939628, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.959590.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderSevere post-traumatic stress disorderTreatment responseClinical trialsRecent phase 3 clinical trialsPhase 3 clinical trialsClinician-Administered PTSD ScaleParent clinical trialKey HPA axis genesHPA axis genesPTSD symptom improvementGlucocorticoid receptor geneFalse discovery rate correctionAdrenal genesPlacebo groupSymptom improvementLarge cohortMethylation changesEpigenetic changesSymptom reductionPTSD ScaleTherapyHPA genesStress disorderPilot studyMethylone, a rapid acting entactogen with robust anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activity
Warner-Schmidt J, Pittenger C, Stogniew M, Mandell B, Olmstead S, Kelmendi B. Methylone, a rapid acting entactogen with robust anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activity. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 13: 1041277. PMID: 36704743, PMCID: PMC9873307, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1041277.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsForced Swim TestAntidepressant-like effectsMajor depressive disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderSingle doseAnxiolytic effectsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressantsFirst-line pharmacological treatmentSerotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressantsAntidepressant-like responsePhase 1 studyDoses of fluoxetineReuptake inhibitor antidepressantsAntidepressant-like activityInitial clinical findingsClinical case seriesOnset of actionDurability of effectMale Sprague-DawleyDose-response relationshipSSRI fluoxetineMost patientsSSRI treatmentInhibitor antidepressantsCase series
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Effects of Repeated Psilocybin Dosing in OCD
HIC ID2000032623RolePrincipal InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date04/30/2026Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 65 yearsObsessions or ideations: First Person Suicide Images study in OCD
HIC ID2000033121RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date08/31/2024Recruiting ParticipantsUsing Neuroimaging to track symptom change in PTSD treatment
HIC ID2000025892RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date07/31/2029Recruiting ParticipantsImaging Synaptic Density in Cocaine and Opiate Addiction In Vivo using 11C-UCB-J PET
HIC ID2000021843RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date01/01/2024Recruiting ParticipantsImaging smoking-induced dopamine release utilizing PET imaging and nicotine patches
HIC ID2000023239RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date05/31/2023Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge18 years - 55 years
Links & Media
News
- May 23, 2024Source: Psychology Today
Psychedelics: Subjectivity in the Therapeutic Response
- January 02, 2024
Duek, Harpaz-Rotem Paper Named '2023 Leading Research Achievement' by BBRF
- June 21, 2023Source: Neuropsychopharmacology
Long term Structural and Functional Neural Changes Following a Single Infusion of Ketamine in PTSD
- June 28, 2022
Revived interest in psychedelic therapies