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INFORMATION FOR

    John Krystal, MD

    Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology
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    Additional Titles

    Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation

    Chair, Psychiatry

    Physician-in-Chief of Psychiatry, Yale New Haven Hospital

    Director: NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism

    Director, Clinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD

    About

    Titles

    Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology

    Co-Director, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation; Chair, Psychiatry; Physician-in-Chief of Psychiatry, Yale New Haven Hospital; Director: NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcoholism; Director, Clinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD

    Biography

    Dr. Krystal is a leading expert on the neurobiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders. His work links psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and computational neuroscience to study the neurobiology and treatment of disorders including alcohol use disorder, depression, PTSD, and schizophrenia. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.

    Within Yale, he chairs the Department of Psychiatry, serves as Chief of Psychiatry for the Yale-New Haven Health System, co-leads the Yale Center for Clinical Investigation (CTSA), co-directs the NIAAA Center for the Translational Neuroscience of Alcohol, and leads the Clinical Neuroscience Division of the National Center for PTSD (VA).

    In addition to his roles at Yale, he serves as editor of Biological Psychiatry, Vice-President of the Scientific Council for the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, as a Scientific Advisory Board member of Aligning Research to Impact Autism, and in numerous other advisory capacities for government agencies, academia initiatives, private foundations, and pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies. He also co-founded Freedom Biosciences, a company devoted to addressing the limitations of current rapid-acting antidepressants.

    Dr. Krystal previously co-chaired (2018-2024) the Forum on Neuroscience and Nervous System Disorders of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. He also served on the Department of Defense Psychological Health Advisory Committee, the National Advisory Councils for the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the NIMH Board of Scientific Counselors (chair, 2005-2007). He has led the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (president, 2012), and International College of Neuropsychophamacology (president, 2016-2018).


    Last Updated on January 03, 2025.

    Appointments

    Other Departments & Organizations

    Education & Training

    Residency
    Yale University School of Medicine (1988)
    MD
    Yale University (1984)
    BA
    University of Chicago, Behavioral Sciences (1980)

    Research

    Overview

    Medical Research Interests

    Alcoholism; Drug Therapy; Genetics; Neurobiology; Neuroimaging; Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Veterans

    Research at a Glance

    Yale Co-Authors

    Frequent collaborators of John Krystal's published research.

    Publications

    2025

    See All Publications

    Clinical Trials

    Current Trials

    See All Current Clinical Trials

    Academic Achievements & Community Involvement

    Activities

    • activity

      NIMH

      2016 - PresentPeer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsMember
    • activity

      Neuroscience Forum, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

      07/01/2018 - PresentProfessional OrganizationsCo-Director
    • activity

      International College of Neuropsychopharmacology

      07/01/2016 - 07/01/2018Professional OrganizationsPresident
    • activity

      Studies of the impact of sexual trauma

      01/02/2011 - 10/31/2016Research
    • activity

      Ketamine Psychosis

      01/01/2010 - 01/01/2014Research
    View full list of activities

    Honors

    • honor

      Barbara Fish Memorial Award for Contributions to Basic, Translational, and Clinical Neuroscience

      12/08/2024International AwardAmerican College of Neuropsychopharmacology
    • honor

      Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat in International Mental Health Award

      09/28/2023International AwardNational Academy of Medicine (USA)
    • honor

      Nasrallah Family Award for Psychiatric Neuroscience

      05/21/2023National AwardAmerican Psychiatric Association
    • honor

      Sir John Gaddam Memorial Lecture and Medal

      12/06/2022International AwardBritish Pharmacologic Society
    • honor

      Colvin Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Mood Disorders Research

      11/01/2019International AwardBrain and Behavior Research Foundation
    View full list of honors

    Clinical Care

    Overview

    John Krystal, MD, is a leading expert in the areas of alcoholism, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and depression. His work links psychopharmacology, neuroimaging, molecular genetics, and computational neuroscience to study the neurobiology and treatment of these disorders. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients.

    He is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. He also serves in a variety of advisory and review capacities for NIAAA, NIMH, Wellcome Trust, Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the Broad Institute, and the Karolinska Institutet.

    Dr. Krystal previously served on the National Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Advisory Council (NIAAA), the Department of Defense Psychological Health Advisory Committee, and the NIMH Board of Scientific Counselors (chair, 2005-2007). He has led the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (president, 2012), and International College of Neuropsychophamacology (president, 2016-2018).

    Currently, he is co-chair of the Neuroscience Forum (NeuroForum) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, a member of the NIMH National Mental Health Advisory Council, and he edits the journal, Biological Psychiatry (impact factor: 11.982).

    Clinical Specialties

    Psychiatry; Addiction Medicine

    Fact Sheets

    Board Certifications

    • Psychiatry

      Certification Organization
      AB of Psychiatry & Neurology
      Original Certification Date
      1991

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