Sherry McKee, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry; Director, Yale Behavioral Pharmacology Laboratory; Clinical Director, Forensic Drug Diversion Clinic; Director, Yale Program for Sex Differences in Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatry
Research & Publications
Biography
News
Research Summary
My laboratory has focused on the development of clinical and translational research for addictive disorders, for the purpose of translating these findings into effective therapeutics for women and men.
We have a translational and interdisciplinary team that targets key brain structures, neurochemical systems, HPA-axis activity, neuroimmune function, metabolism, and sex steroid hormones, to identify and develop medications that will be effective for women and men with addictive disorders. Across this work, we incorporate NIH's "sex as a biological variable" (SABV) policy, and have published several reviews and position papers on this topic.
As a relatively newer focus to my research, I develop and implement effective treatments for addiction in criminal justice populations. I lead a federally funded partnership between Yale University, the of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, and the State of Connecticut Department of Correction, implementing an integrated system of addiction care for adults returning to their communities following incarceration.
Coauthors
Research Interests
Criminal Psychology; Tobacco Use Disorder; Substance-Related Disorders; Alcohol-Related Disorders; Psychiatry and Psychology
Selected Publications
- Sex/gender differences in brain function and structure in alcohol use: A narrative review of neuroimaging findings over the last 10 years.Verplaetse TL, Cosgrove KP, Tanabe J, McKee SA. Sex/gender differences in brain function and structure in alcohol use: A narrative review of neuroimaging findings over the last 10 years. Journal Of Neuroscience Research 2021, 99: 309-323. PMID: 32333417, PMCID: PMC7584757, DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24625.
- A Critical Review of Alcohol Administration Guidelines in Laboratory Medication Screening Research: Is It Time to Include Treatment Seekers?Roberts W, Verplaetse TL, Ramchandani VA, McKee SA. A Critical Review of Alcohol Administration Guidelines in Laboratory Medication Screening Research: Is It Time to Include Treatment Seekers? Alcoholism, Clinical And Experimental Research 2021, 45: 15-24. PMID: 33190310, PMCID: PMC7855436, DOI: 10.1111/acer.14514.
- Gender and past year serious psychological distress are associated with past year AUD: Time-varying results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; 2008-2017).Verplaetse TL, Peltier MR, Roberts W, Pittman B, McKee SA. Gender and past year serious psychological distress are associated with past year AUD: Time-varying results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH; 2008-2017). Addictive Behaviors 2021, 116: 106815. PMID: 33450666, PMCID: PMC7887085, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106815.
- Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders.Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Mineur YS, Gueorguieva R, Petrakis I, Cosgrove KP, Picciotto MR, McKee SA. Sex differences in progestogen- and androgen-derived neurosteroids in vulnerability to alcohol and stress-related disorders. Neuropharmacology 2021, 187: 108499. PMID: 33600842, PMCID: PMC7992136, DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108499.
- Sex and alcohol use disorder predict the presence of cancer, respiratory, and other medical conditions: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III.Verplaetse TL, Peltier MR, Roberts W, Burke C, Moore KE, Pittman B, McKee SA. Sex and alcohol use disorder predict the presence of cancer, respiratory, and other medical conditions: Findings from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III. Addictive Behaviors 2021, 123: 107055. PMID: 34311184, PMCID: PMC8419091, DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107055.
- Changes in excessive alcohol use among older women across the menopausal transition: a longitudinal analysis of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation.Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Roberts W, Moore K, Burke C, Marotta PL, Phillips S, Smith PH, McKee SA. Changes in excessive alcohol use among older women across the menopausal transition: a longitudinal analysis of the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation. Biology Of Sex Differences 2020, 11: 37. PMID: 32665024, PMCID: PMC7362573, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-020-00314-7.
- Oral Contraceptives and Cigarette Smoking: A Review of the Literature and Future Directions.Allen AM, Weinberger AH, Wetherill RR, Howe CL, McKee SA. Oral Contraceptives and Cigarette Smoking: A Review of the Literature and Future Directions. Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal Of The Society For Research On Nicotine And Tobacco 2019, 21: 592-601. PMID: 29165663, PMCID: PMC6468133, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntx258.
- Alcohol Abstainer Status and Prazosin Treatment in Association with Changes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Veterans with Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.Verplaetse TL, Ralevski E, Roberts W, Gueorguieva R, McKee SA, Petrakis IL. Alcohol Abstainer Status and Prazosin Treatment in Association with Changes in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Veterans with Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Alcoholism, Clinical And Experimental Research 2019, 43: 741-746. PMID: 30698839, PMCID: PMC6443463, DOI: 10.1111/acer.13969.
- Sex differences in stress-related alcohol use.Peltier MR, Verplaetse TL, Mineur YS, Petrakis IL, Cosgrove KP, Picciotto MR, McKee SA. Sex differences in stress-related alcohol use. Neurobiology Of Stress 2019, 10: 100149. PMID: 30949562, PMCID: PMC6430711, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2019.100149.
- Intersection of stress and gender in association with transitions in past year DSM-5 substance use disorder diagnoses in the United States.Verplaetse TL, Moore KE, Pittman BP, Roberts W, Oberleitner LM, Smith PH, Cosgrove KP, McKee SA. Intersection of stress and gender in association with transitions in past year DSM-5 substance use disorder diagnoses in the United States. Chronic Stress (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) 2018, 2 PMID: 29527591, PMCID: PMC5841251, DOI: 10.1177/2470547017752637.
- Female Sex and Gender in Lung/Sleep Health and Disease. Increased Understanding of Basic Biological, Pathophysiological, and Behavioral Mechanisms Leading to Better Health for Female Patients with Lung Disease.Han MK, Arteaga-Solis E, Blenis J, Bourjeily G, Clegg DJ, DeMeo D, Duffy J, Gaston B, Heller NM, Hemnes A, Henske EP, Jain R, Lahm T, Lancaster LH, Lee J, Legato MJ, McKee S, Mehra R, Morris A, Prakash YS, Stampfli MR, Gopal-Srivastava R, Laposky AD, Punturieri A, Reineck L, Tigno X, Clayton J. Female Sex and Gender in Lung/Sleep Health and Disease. Increased Understanding of Basic Biological, Pathophysiological, and Behavioral Mechanisms Leading to Better Health for Female Patients with Lung Disease. American Journal Of Respiratory And Critical Care Medicine 2018, 198: 850-858. PMID: 29746147, PMCID: PMC6173069, DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201801-0168WS.
- Sex Differences in Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy Comparative Efficacy: A Network Meta-analysis.Smith PH, Weinberger AH, Zhang J, Emme E, Mazure CM, McKee SA. Sex Differences in Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy Comparative Efficacy: A Network Meta-analysis. Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal Of The Society For Research On Nicotine And Tobacco 2017, 19: 273-281. PMID: 27613893, PMCID: PMC5939704, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntw144.
- Gender differences in the real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation medications: Findings from the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey.Smith PH, Zhang J, Weinberger AH, Mazure CM, McKee SA. Gender differences in the real-world effectiveness of smoking cessation medications: Findings from the 2010-2011 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2017, 178: 485-491. PMID: 28715776, PMCID: PMC6779031, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.05.046.
- From sexless to sexy: Why it is time for human genetics to consider and report analyses of sex.Powers MS, Smith PH, McKee SA, Ehringer MA. From sexless to sexy: Why it is time for human genetics to consider and report analyses of sex. Biology Of Sex Differences 2017, 8: 15. PMID: 28473910, PMCID: PMC5415751, DOI: 10.1186/s13293-017-0136-8.
- Sex disparities in substance abuse research: Evaluating 23 years of structural neuroimaging studies.Lind KE, Gutierrez EJ, Yamamoto DJ, Regner MF, McKee SA, Tanabe J. Sex disparities in substance abuse research: Evaluating 23 years of structural neuroimaging studies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2017, 173: 92-98. PMID: 28212516, PMCID: PMC5581940, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2016.12.019.
- Sex Differences in Varenicline Efficacy for Smoking Cessation: A Meta-Analysis.McKee SA, Smith PH, Kaufman M, Mazure CM, Weinberger AH. Sex Differences in Varenicline Efficacy for Smoking Cessation: A Meta-Analysis. Nicotine & Tobacco Research : Official Journal Of The Society For Research On Nicotine And Tobacco 2016, 18: 1002-11. PMID: 26446070, PMCID: PMC5942618, DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntv207.
- A translational investigation targeting stress-reactivity and prefrontal cognitive control with guanfacine for smoking cessation.McKee SA, Potenza MN, Kober H, Sofuoglu M, Arnsten AF, Picciotto MR, Weinberger AH, Ashare R, Sinha R. A translational investigation targeting stress-reactivity and prefrontal cognitive control with guanfacine for smoking cessation. Journal Of Psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) 2015, 29: 300-11. PMID: 25516371, PMCID: PMC4376109, DOI: 10.1177/0269881114562091.
- Varenicline reduces alcohol self-administration in heavy-drinking smokers.McKee SA, Harrison EL, O'Malley SS, Krishnan-Sarin S, Shi J, Tetrault JM, Picciotto MR, Petrakis IL, Estevez N, Balchunas E. Varenicline reduces alcohol self-administration in heavy-drinking smokers. Biological Psychiatry 2009, 66: 185-90. PMID: 19249750, PMCID: PMC2863311, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.01.029.
Clinical Trials
| Conditions | Study Title |
|---|---|
| Addictive Behaviors | Combining Varenicline and Guanfacine for Smoking Cessation |
| Mental Health & Behavioral Research | Mechanistic Evaluation of Guanfacine on Drinking Behavior |
| Alcohol Addiction; Mental Health & Behavioral Research | Does Propanolol, a Beta Blocker, Attenuate Stress-Induced Drinking? |
| Addictive Behaviors; Mental Health & Behavioral Research; Obesity & Weight Control | Behavioral and Pharmacologic Treatment of Binge Eating and Obesity: Acute Treatment |