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Kyung-Heup Ahn, MD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry

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Kyung-Heup Ahn, MD

Research Summary

The main area of research interest has been investigating neurochemical underpinning of schizophrenia. More specifically, investigating effects and interactions of various psychoactive chemicals inducing clinical characteristics of schizophrenia or inducing vulnerability to psychosis in human subjects. In this context, I have involved in several challenge studies using ketamine, iomezanil, and amphetamine during my residency training at Seoul National University and postdoctoral fellowship at the VA-Yale schizophrenia research program. I also have some expertise in neuro-imaging studies from experience as a research fellow at Brain Imaging Center at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Currently, I am conducting study, as a PI, investigating interactive effects of GABA and Dopamine system in schizophrenia.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Affective Disorders, Psychotic; Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Selected Publications

  • N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in working memory impairments in schizophrenia: event-related potential study of late stage of working memory process.Ahn KH, Youn T, Cho SS, Ha TH, Ha KS, Kim MS, Kwon JS. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor in working memory impairments in schizophrenia: event-related potential study of late stage of working memory process. Progress In Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 2003, 27: 993-9. PMID: 14499316, DOI: 10.1016/S0278-5846(03)00159-3.
  • White matter hyperintensities in subjects with bipolar disorder.Ahn KH, Lyoo IK, Lee HK, Song IC, Oh JS, Hwang J, Kwon J, Kim MJ, Kim M, Renshaw PF. White matter hyperintensities in subjects with bipolar disorder. Psychiatry And Clinical Neurosciences 2004, 58: 516-21. PMID: 15482583, DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2004.01294.x.
  • Probing GABA receptor function in schizophrenia with iomazenil.Ahn K, Gil R, Seibyl J, Sewell RA, D'Souza DC. Probing GABA receptor function in schizophrenia with iomazenil. Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2011, 36: 677-83. PMID: 21068719, PMCID: PMC3055690, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2010.198.
  • Role of GABA Deficit in Sensitivity to the Psychotomimetic Effects of Amphetamine.Ahn KH, Sewell A, Elander J, Pittman B, Ranganathan M, Gunduz-Bruce H, Krystal J, D'Souza DC. Role of GABA Deficit in Sensitivity to the Psychotomimetic Effects of Amphetamine. Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication Of The American College Of Neuropsychopharmacology 2015, 40: 2822-31. PMID: 25953357, PMCID: PMC4864658, DOI: 10.1038/npp.2015.132.

Clinical Trials

ConditionsStudy Title
Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchFAAH Availability in Psychiatric Disorders: A PET Study
Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchA Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of BIIB104 in Participants With Cognitive Impairment Associated With Schizophrenia (CIAS) (TALLY)
Addictive Behaviors; Mental Health & Behavioral ResearchFatty Acid Amide Hydrolase (FAAH) Inhibitor Treatment of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) (FAAH-I MULTI)
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