Jennifer Buenzle Dwyer, MD, PhD
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About
Biography
Dr. Dwyer completed her MD and PhD (Pharmacology) at the Univ. of California, Irvine, where she studied the development of the dopamine system in adolescence. She works clinically with children and adults, with a broad interest in how the brain and mind develop over time. She studies treatment-refractory adolescent depression, and hopes to better predict who will respond to different types of treatments, ranging from intensive psychotherapies to novel pharmacotherapeutics (e.g. ketamine).
Appointments
Child Study Center
Assistant Clinical ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MD
- University of California Irvine School of Medicine (2013)
- PhD
- University of California Irvine School of Medicine, Pharmacology (2010)
- BA
- University of Virginia, Neuroscience (2005)
Research
Overview
Medical Research Interests
Adolescent Development; Adolescent Psychiatry; Affect; Biological Psychiatry; Child Psychiatry; Depressive Disorder; Psychopharmacology
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Jennifer Buenzle Dwyer's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Jennifer Buenzle Dwyer's research output by year.
Michael Bloch, MD, MS
Angeli Landeros-Weisenberger, MD
Victor J. Avila-Quintero, MD
Gerard Sanacora, PhD, MD
Jessica Johnson, DNP, APRN, PMHNP (BC)
Zheala Qayyum, MBBS
21Publications
1,388Citations
Publications
2024
Exploring Predictors of Ketamine Response in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression
Lineham A, Avila-Quintero V, Bloch M, Dwyer J. Exploring Predictors of Ketamine Response in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression. Journal Of Child And Adolescent Psychopharmacology 2024, 34: 73-79. PMID: 38170185, PMCID: PMC11262580, DOI: 10.1089/cap.2023.0047.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsConceptsDepression symptom improvementTreatment-resistant depressionChildren's Depression Rating ScaleReuptake inhibitor medicationsDepression Rating ScaleSymptom improvementAntidepressant responseInhibitor medicationKetamine responseAdolescent treatment-resistant depressionRapid-acting antidepressant agentsSelective serotonin reuptake inhibitor medicationsSerotonin reuptake inhibitor medicationsKetamine’s antidepressant responseCurrent depressive episodeSevere depressive symptomsGreater symptom improvementAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosisFuture therapeutic useAntidepressant medicationMedication trialsCrossover trialAntidepressant agentsClinical variablesDepressive episode
2023
The Relationship Between Acute Dissociative Effects Induced by Ketamine and Treatment Response in Adolescent Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression
Lineham A, Avila-Quintero V, Bloch M, Dwyer J. The Relationship Between Acute Dissociative Effects Induced by Ketamine and Treatment Response in Adolescent Patients with Treatment-Resistant Depression. Journal Of Child And Adolescent Psychopharmacology 2023, 33: 20-26. PMID: 36799961, DOI: 10.1089/cap.2022.0086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTreatment-resistant depressionDepression symptom improvementAcute dissociative symptomsAntidepressant responseSymptom improvementRapid-acting antidepressant agentsSignificant associationDissociative symptomsLikelihood of responseDissociation symptomsMagnitude of associationDissociative effectsKetamine groupPediatric patientsCrossover trialPediatric populationAntidepressant agentsKetamine responseAdolescent patientsAdult studiesDepression responseSecondary data analysisTreatment responseDepressive symptomsTrial design
2022
Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial
Dwyer J, Landeros-Weisenberger A, Johnson J, Londono Tobon A, Flores J, Nasir M, Couloures K, Sanacora G, Bloch M. Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial. FOCUS The Journal Of Lifelong Learning In Psychiatry 2022, 20: 241-251. PMID: 37153136, PMCID: PMC10153503, DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.22020004.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreatment-resistant depressionDepression Rating ScaleIntravenous ketamineClinical trialsAdolescent treatment-resistant depressionAdult treatment-resistant depressionPlacebo-controlled clinical trialSignificant short-term efficacySerious adverse eventsPrimary outcome measureSingle intravenous infusionChildren's Depression Rating ScaleCrossover clinical trialShort-term efficacyMajor depressive disorderSingle ketamine infusionSymptoms 24 hoursLater time pointsKetamine’s safetyAdverse eventsAntidepressant medicationKetamine infusionPediatric populationSignificant morbidityIntravenous infusion
2021
Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial
Dwyer JB, Landeros-Weisenberger A, Johnson JA, Londono Tobon A, Flores JM, Nasir M, Couloures K, Sanacora G, Bloch MH. Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2021, 178: 352-362. PMID: 33653121, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20010018.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTreatment-resistant depressionDepression Rating ScaleIntravenous ketamineClinical trialsAdolescent treatment-resistant depressionAdult treatment-resistant depressionPlacebo-controlled clinical trialSignificant short-term efficacySerious adverse eventsPrimary outcome measureSingle intravenous infusionChildren's Depression Rating ScaleCrossover clinical trialShort-term efficacyMajor depressive disorderSingle ketamine infusionSymptoms 24 hoursLater time pointsKetamine’s safetyAdverse eventsAntidepressant medicationKetamine infusionPediatric populationSignificant morbidityIntravenous infusion
2020
Glutamate Systems in DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders: Their Role and a Review of Glutamate and GABA Psychopharmacology
Nasir M, Trujillo D, Levine J, Dwyer JB, Rupp ZW, Bloch MH. Glutamate Systems in DSM-5 Anxiety Disorders: Their Role and a Review of Glutamate and GABA Psychopharmacology. Frontiers In Psychiatry 2020, 11: 548505. PMID: 33329087, PMCID: PMC7710541, DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.548505.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsGlutamate systemDSM-5 anxiety disordersAnxiety disordersEvidence-based pharmacological treatmentNovel pharmacological agentsSpecific glutamate receptorsPotential alternative treatmentReuptake inhibitorsPharmacological treatmentGABAergic systemGlutamate neurotransmissionClinical trialsGlutamate receptorsAnxiety disorder treatmentPharmacological agentsAlternative treatmentDisorder treatmentDisordersAnxiety symptomsPotential targetPotential roleMedicationsSignificant proportionTreatmentGlutamateHormonal Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder: State of the Art
Dwyer JB, Aftab A, Radhakrishnan R, Widge A, Rodriguez CI, Carpenter LL, Nemeroff CB, McDonald WM, Kalin NH. Hormonal Treatments for Major Depressive Disorder: State of the Art. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2020, 177: 686-705. PMID: 32456504, PMCID: PMC7841732, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19080848.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsHypothalamic pituitary thyroidMajor depressive disorderMajor depressionDepressive disorderEffective treatmentGlucocorticoid receptor antagonist mifepristoneCorticotropin-releasing factor antagonistProgesterone derivative allopregnanoloneEstrogen replacement therapyTreatment of depressionNovel effective treatmentsCommon psychiatric disordersMore effective treatmentsNumber of hormonesWorld Health OrganizationTraditional antidepressantsAdjunctive treatmentAntagonist mifepristoneCNS effectsReplacement therapyDisease burdenGonadal axesPreclinical studiesFactor antagonistsHormonal treatmentAnnual Research Review: Defining and treating pediatric treatment‐resistant depression
Dwyer JB, Stringaris A, Brent DA, Bloch MH. Annual Research Review: Defining and treating pediatric treatment‐resistant depression. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2020, 61: 312-332. PMID: 32020643, PMCID: PMC8314167, DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13202.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsTreatment-resistant depressionMajor depressive disorderAdolescent treatment-resistant depressionRisk factorsAdolescent major depressive disorderPsychotherapy treatment trialSecond-line treatmentSignificant risk factorsPediatric clinical trialsSecond leading causeSignificant health problemEvidence-based psychotherapiesCent of adolescentsMedication switchAdequate medicationSubstantial morbiditySymptom improvementInterventional treatmentMedication augmentationTreatment trialsCare treatmentClinical trialsDepressive disorderDiagnostic difficultiesLeading cause
2019
Prenatal nicotine sex-dependently alters adolescent dopamine system development
Dwyer JB, Cardenas A, Franke RM, Chen Y, Bai Y, Belluzzi JD, Lotfipour S, Leslie FM. Prenatal nicotine sex-dependently alters adolescent dopamine system development. Translational Psychiatry 2019, 9: 304. PMID: 31740669, PMCID: PMC6861272, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-019-0640-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDopamine systemStriatal dopamine transporter bindingNorepinephrine transporterCocaine-induced locomotor activityGestational day 4Role of D2Postnatal day 32Dopamine transporter bindingCatechol-O-methyl transferaseElectronic nicotine delivery systemsCocaine-induced behaviorsPublic health initiativesSex-independent effectsNicotine delivery systemsG protein couplingNaïve damsMaternal smokingNicotine patchClinical deficitsDopamine turnoverOsmotic minipumpsPlasma levelsNeurobehavioral deficitsPregnant damsReceptor expressionAntidepressants for Pediatric Patients.
Dwyer JB, Bloch MH. Antidepressants for Pediatric Patients. Current Psychiatry 2019, 18: 26-42f. PMID: 31511767, PMCID: PMC6738970.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2018
A Developmental Perspective of Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Tourette Syndrome
Dwyer JB. A Developmental Perspective of Dopaminergic Dysfunction in Tourette Syndrome. Biological Psychiatry 2018, 84: e33-e35. PMID: 30115244, DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.07.008.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
Brain Emotion Circuitry-Targeted Self-Monitoring and Regulation Therapy (BE-SMART)
HIC ID0407026910RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date06/30/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge16 years - 24 years
News
News
- April 23, 2021
Dwyer, Wilkinson Awarded NIMH Grants to Study Ketamine, Esketamine
- April 09, 2021Source: American Journal of Psychiatry
Efficacy of Intravenous Ketamine in Adolescent Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Randomized Midazolam-Controlled Trial
- August 21, 2020
Back to School Town Hall Focuses on Children's Social-Emotional Health
- August 19, 2020Source: WNPR
Yale Health Experts Say Behavioral, Mental Health Support Key For Back To School