Amir Garakani, MD, DFAPA
Associate Professor of PsychiatryCards
Appointments
Additional Titles
Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
About
Titles
Associate Professor of Psychiatry
Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
Biography
Dr. Garakani is Chair of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health at Greenwich Hospital in Greenwich, CT. He was formerly Director of Education and an Attending Staff Psychiatrist in the Transitional Living Program at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT. He is Board-Certified in Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine. He received his B.A. in Classics (Latin), cum laude, with Distinction in All Subjects, from Cornell University, in Ithaca, NY, and his M.D. from the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY, where he won the AMA Rock Sleyster Scholarship. He completed his psychiatry residency at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, NY, and a research fellowship at the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Garakani also completed a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at New York University Medical Center. He has won several awards including the American Psychiatric Association (APA)/Lilly Resident Research Award, APA – NY County District Branch Resident Research Award, and travel awards from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America and Society of Biological Psychiatry. He also was an APA/GlaxoSmithKline Leadership Fellow and a Fellow of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. He has participated in NIMH-funded research and is first or co-author on over 90 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He has taught classes to Mount Sinai medical students and residents on psychopharmacology, phenomenology, neuroscience and forensic psychiatry, and supervised psychiatry residents and medical students. He currently supervises Yale medical and physician associate students at Greenwich Hospital. He previously was elected to the Executive Council of the APA NY County District Branch. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Member of the American College of Psychiatrists. He is also a member of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry. He is also on the editorial board as a Clinical Case Discussion Editor for the Journal of Psychiatric Practice, and an Associate Editor for the journals Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice and Frontiers in Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology.
Appointments
Education & Training
- Fellow in Forensic Psychiatry
- New York University Medical Center (2008)
- Research Fellow
- Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2007)
- Resident in Psychiatry
- Mount Sinai Medical Center (2006)
- MD
- SUNY Upstate Medical University (2002)
- BA
- Cornell University, Classics (1998)
Board Certifications
Addiction Medicine (Preventive Medicine)
- Certification Organization
- AB of Preventive Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2018
Addiction Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Addiction Medicine
- Original Certification Date
- 2014
Forensic Psychiatry
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2019
- Original Certification Date
- 2009
Psychiatry
- Certification Organization
- AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
- Latest Certification Date
- 2017
- Original Certification Date
- 2007
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-9749-8372
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Frank Buono, PhD
Melissa C Funaro, MLS, MS
Rani Hoff, MPH, PhD
Deepak Cyril Dsouza, MBBS, MD
John Krystal, MD
Anxiety Disorders
Substance-Related Disorders
Panic Disorder
Depressive Disorder
Forensic Psychiatry
Publications
2024
Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Psychiatric Practice
Kennedy K, Alexander J, Garakani A, Gross L, Mintz D, Parikh T, Pine J, Sumner C, Baron D. Vitamin B12 Supplementation in Psychiatric Practice. Current Psychiatry Reports 2024, 26: 265-272. PMID: 38696105, DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01505-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPsychiatric disordersB12 deficiencyB12 supplementationPsychiatric symptomsB12 levelsPharmacological treatment of psychiatric disordersTreatment of psychiatric disordersRisk factorsAssociated with neuropsychiatric symptomsSevere psychiatric presentationsManifestations of B12 deficiencyMild depressive symptomsVitamin B12 supplementationDepressive symptomsPsychiatric practicePsychiatric presentationsMedical workupNeuropsychiatric symptomsSymptoms of B12 deficiencyAugmentation strategiesPrevent depressionPharmacological treatmentCardinal symptomsDisordersSymptomsLifetime prevalence, comorbidities, and Sociodemographic predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): the National Epidemiology of Iranian Children and adolescents Psychiatric disorders (IRCAP)
Hooshyari Z, Mohammadi M, Salmanian M, Ahmadi N, Khaleghi A, Garakani A. Lifetime prevalence, comorbidities, and Sociodemographic predictors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): the National Epidemiology of Iranian Children and adolescents Psychiatric disorders (IRCAP). European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 2024, 1-14. PMID: 38656607, DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02441-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPrevalence of post-traumatic stress disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderTraumatic eventsAnxiety disordersStress disorderPsychiatric disordersSchool-Age Children-Present and Lifetime VersionKiddie Schedule for Affective DisordersSchedule for Affective DisordersLifetime prevalenceLifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorderType of traumatic eventPredictors of post-traumatic stress disorderRates of PTSDSeparation anxiety disorderGeneralized anxiety disorderK-SADS-PLOppositional defiant disorderPrevalence of PTSDRates of comorbidityAdolescent psychiatric disordersLifetime prevalence ratesPrevalence rates of comorbiditiesDepressive disorderLifetime VersionAntipsychotic agents in anxiety disorders: An umbrella review
Garakani A, Buono F, Salehi M, Funaro M, Klimowicz A, Sharma H, Faria C, Larkin K, Freire R. Antipsychotic agents in anxiety disorders: An umbrella review. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica 2024, 149: 295-312. PMID: 38382649, DOI: 10.1111/acps.13669.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSecond-generation antipsychoticsFirst-generation antipsychoticsGeneralized anxiety disorderStudies of antipsychoticsAnxiety disordersAntipsychotic agentsEfficacy of first-generation antipsychoticsTreatment of anxiety disordersEfficacy of antipsychotic agentsMeta-analysesAntidepressant treatmentNonantipsychotic medicationsAntipsychoticsFirst-line treatmentAnxietyComparing monotherapyUmbrella reviewDisordersQuetiapineSystematic reviewSide effectsAMSTAR-2Off-labelAPA PsycInfoCINAHL Complete
2023
Editorial: Assessing and evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and stress: perspectives from North America
Salehi M, Amanat M, Garakani A. Editorial: Assessing and evaluating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety and stress: perspectives from North America. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 1275415. PMID: 37953933, PMCID: PMC10635498, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1275415.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersAltmetricSubstance Use in Athletes
Dougherty J, Garakani A, Thom R. Substance Use in Athletes. 2023, 211-228. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36864-6_14.ChaptersPsychedelics, With a Focus on Psilocybin: Issues for the Clinician
Garakani A, Alexander J, Sumner C, Pine J, Gross L, Raison C, Aaronson S, Baron D. Psychedelics, With a Focus on Psilocybin: Issues for the Clinician. Journal Of Psychiatric Practice 2023, 29: 345-353. PMID: 37678363, DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000729.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsCommentary: Mania in Medically Ill Patients
Garakani A. Commentary: Mania in Medically Ill Patients. Journal Of Psychiatric Practice 2023, 29: 426-427. PMID: 37678372, DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000731.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsBipolar disorderBehçet's diseasePatient's symptomsManic symptomsMedical settingsMedically Ill PatientsComprehensive medical evaluationPrimary bipolar disorderSecondary maniaIll patientsMedical illnessMedical floorPsychiatric providersCase reportThorough historyEmergency roomEmergency settingMedical evaluationPsychiatric consultationPsychiatric treatmentPatientsFrontal lobeSymptomsDiseaseDisordersDisparities in program enrollment and employment outcomes for veterans with psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders referred or enrolled for VHA vocational rehabilitation
Sprong M, Hollender H, Lee Y, Williams L, Sneed Z, Garakani A, Buono F. Disparities in program enrollment and employment outcomes for veterans with psychiatric and co-occurring substance use disorders referred or enrolled for VHA vocational rehabilitation. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2023, 14: 1200450. PMID: 37520235, PMCID: PMC10382058, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1200450.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsActive alcohol use disorderSubstance use disordersUse disordersVeterans Health Administration medical centersCo-occurring substance use disordersVocational rehabilitationProgram enrollmentCo-occurring alcoholCo-occurring depressionDiagnosis of anxietyCo-occurring diagnosesAlcohol use disorderPost-traumatic stress disorderInstitutional review boardVeteran patientsMedical CenterPsychiatric diagnosisCurrent studyBipolar disorderRehabilitation servicesReview boardStress disorderEffective interventionsAnxiety diagnosesDiagnosisImpact of Substance Use Disorders on Employment for Veterans
Sprong ME, Hollender H, Paul E, Gilbert J, Weber K, Garakani A, Buono FD. Impact of Substance Use Disorders on Employment for Veterans. Psychological Services 2023, 20: 222-231. PMID: 35849362, DOI: 10.1037/ser0000690.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsSubstance use disordersUse disordersImpact of SUDMental health conditionsSerious mental health conditionsVocational rehabilitation programCommunity-based employmentMedical conditionsRehabilitation programAlcohol useHealth conditionsVeteransIllicit drugsVR programClosure statusDisordersPresent studyFindingsTransitional work
2022
Commentary: Psychiatric Symptoms Related to Somatic Illness
Garakani A. Commentary: Psychiatric Symptoms Related to Somatic Illness. Journal Of Psychiatric Practice 2022, 28: 514-515. PMID: 36355593, DOI: 10.1097/pra.0000000000000674.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsAuditory hallucinationsVisual hallucinationsPsychiatric historySomatic illnessPatient's psychiatric historySemicircular canal dehiscencePsychosis presentPsychiatric consultation serviceCharles Bonnet syndromeCanal dehiscenceHypertensive episodesCases of hallucinationsPsychiatric symptomsPsychotic symptomsPsychotic disordersProper diagnosisMedical providersPatientsMedical teamSymptomsConsultation serviceHallucinationsThought disorderIllnessDisorders
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
activity Journal of Psychiatric Practice
Journal ServiceEditorial Board MemberDetailsClinical Case Discussion Editor2020 - Presentactivity Frontiers in Psychiatry - Psychopharmacology section
Journal ServiceAssociate EditorDetails2021 - Presentactivity Psychiatric Research and Clinical Practice
Journal ServiceEditorial Board MemberDetails01/19/2024 - Presenthonor Top Doctors
National AwardCastle ConnollyDetails11/04/2023United Stateshonor Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Regional AwardSUNY Upstate Medical UniversityDetails06/22/2022United States
News
News
- May 21, 2024
Garakani, Buono Awarded Grant from AAPL Institute for Education and Research
- February 28, 2024Source: Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Antipsychotic Agents in Anxiety Disorders: An Umbrella Review
- November 20, 2023Source: WVUE-Fox 8
Supplying a High: Nitrous Oxide Abuse Chokes With Colorful and Dangerous Highs
- June 28, 2022
Garakani Named Outstanding Young Alumnus by SUNY Upstate Medical University