News from the Department

David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, provides comment on research on the psychotherapeutic effects of psychedelics.

The city of Philadelphia is working on efforts to reduce overdose deaths in 2020. This opinion piece highlights suggestions from experts on how to best approach the opioid crisis. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is included here.

In this edition of Medical Monday, Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses the growing use of social media, the warning signs of addiction and how to unplug.

Studying gene expression in human brain tissue grown in the lab could offer insight into disorders such as autism. Sergiu Pasca, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted about the early stages of human brain development.

About eight percent of adults and a third of children grind their teeth, especially while sleeping. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explains why some lifestyle habits may be to blame.

This podcast explores the opioid epidemic and features Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Students simply aren't getting enough sleep. In this segment of Medical Monday, Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses how it's become an important public health issue.

This piece discusses how doctors have been increasingly prescribing benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, in recent years. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment here.

Involving parents in therapy boosts mental wellness among children and teens at risk for bipolar disorder, a Stanford-led study has found. Manpreet Singh, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

Cambia Health Foundation has announced the sixth cohort of scholars accepted into its Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program, including Ranak Trivedi, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, for her project, entitled: "South Asian Family Approaches to Diseases (SAFAD): A Program to Enhance Caregiving among South Asian Women Living with Breast Cancer."

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article on how to switch from staying up late to becoming a morning person.

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics claims that teens who misuse prescription opioids are more likely to participate in other risky behaviors resulting in adverse health outcomes. Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed about symptoms and prevention of opioid dependence.

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article on hypnic jerk, the sudden jolt some people experience as they are falling asleep.

Pinterest is extending their collection of emotional well-being activities to Pinners in nine additional countries, including the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Singapore, India, the Philippines, Hong Kong and New Zealand. This more compassionate search experience was created with the help of emotional health experts at Brainstorm, the Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, founded by Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Nearly a third of people with an inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis, suffer from anxiety or depression. In this piece, Mira Zein, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses the triggers for stress and how to cope with the illness.

The article takes a look at some of the most significant breakthroughs in mental health in the last 10 years and areas that need improvement going forward. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

A paper, entitled "A randomized placebo-controlled pilot trial shows that intranasal vasopressin improves social deficits in children with autism," co-authored by Karen Parker, Antonio Hardan, Kyle Hinman, Jennifer Phillips, and Lawrence Fung in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, together with colleagues in the Departments of Pediatrics and of Comparative Medicine, was recognized by SPECTRUM as one of the top 10 most notable papers in autism research in 2019!

The sprint in technological development and transformation of the world into a digitalized hub engenders the need to adapt to the fresh innovations. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this piece.

Women are more likely to experience serious complications from alcohol use, including an increased risk of alcohol-related death. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this piece.

Jacob Towery, adjunct clinical instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses how to practice self-care and how it can benefit both individuals and the people around them.

According to the CDC, one third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep at night. Jamie Zeitzer, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, comments on the efficacy of technology to help our sleep deficit.

The segment looked at the concept of dry January — taking a break from alcohol during the first month of the year. Keith Humphreys discussed the health benefits and options for staying sober.

Researchers are working to develop a wearable sensor to measure stress, anxiety and depression based on changes in cortisol levels and other parameters. Leanne Williams, professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted here.

Network functional connectivity analyses based on electroencephalography, or EEG, effectively differentiate between responses to an antidepressant vs. placebo, according to results of a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial published in JAMA Psychiatry. Amit Etkin, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is featured here.

New research supports the idea that economic distress led to an increase in opioid abuse, but some say the origins of the epidemic are far more complicated. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this piece.

The article looks at the implications of the new law mandating later start times for all public middle schools and high schools in California. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, comments on the potential benefits and implementation of the legislation.

The attitude toward inclusion for people with neurodiverse brain function is changing, for the better. Slowly but surely the capabilities and talents of those considered neurodiverse are being recognized and sought after, rather than simply accommodated. Championing this movement is the Stanford Neurodiversity Project (SNP), led by Dr. Lawrence Fung.

Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and medical director of Addiction Medicine, is quoted in this article about serotonin syndrome, a potentially life-threatening side-effect of anti-depressants that increases serotonin levels in the brain.

As sleep research at Stanford turns 50, a new generation of scientists are using biomedical techniques to unravel its mysteries. The work of William Dement, the Lowell W. and Josephine Q. Berry Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, emeritus; Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences; Emmanuel Mignot, the Craig Reynolds Professor and director of the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine; Rebecca Bernert, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and founding director of the Suicide Prevention Research Laboratory at Stanford, are featured in this piece.

The reality show ‘The Biggest Loser’ is being rebooted, switching the focus from losing massive amounts of weight to living a healthier lifestyle. But critics say the program still promotes unrealistic weight loss. Sarah Adler, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences with the Stanford Eating Disorder and Weight Control Clinic, is quoted in this piece.

New research into MDMA, or Ecstasy, has teased apart its addictive and pro-social qualities, taking a step toward developing drugs for therapy. Boris Heifets, assistant professor of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine, and Robert Malenka, the Nancy Friend Pritzker Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and deputy director of the Stanford Neurosciences Institute, are co-authors of the paper. This work was covered by Discover Magazine, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News, The Scientist, Scientific American and in a Stanford Medicine news release.

A growing industry concern over mental burnout is leading engineers to seek out healthier work environments. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

The article looks at wellness trends of 2019 that are full of unsubstantiated promises and dangerous side effects. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted here.

Half of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and three-quarters begin by age 24. In other words, mental illness is a disease of youth — one with profound long-term implications for children, their families and their communities. California’s children’s hospitals – and, especially, emergency departments – serve an increasing number of youth in crisis every year. To learn more about CCHA’s recommendations, including allcove, a special initiative of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, read the white paper, “Improving Behavioral Health Care for Children in California: A Call to Action.”

The default mode network, which controls the brain at rest, does not switch off in children with Type 1 diabetes when they focus on a task, a study led by Stanford scientists has shown. Bruce Buckingham, professor emeritus of pediatrics, and Lara Foland-Ross, a senior research associate at the Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research at Stanford, share lead authorship, and Allan Reiss, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is senior author.

Ever wonder why some people thrive in the face of adversity? It turns out that skill is teachable. In this episode of Untangle, Dr. Manpreet Singh teaches us 10 things you can do to build resilience in your life.

In this article, Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides input on how moderation may be more effective than abstinence from alcohol to treat unhealthy drinking habits.

In this edition of Medical Monday, Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Clinic, discusses how to avoid overindulging in alcohol during the holiday season and setting healthy drinking limits.

Some researchers want buying-shopping disorder, in which people overshop to the point where it negatively affects their life, to be classified as a legitimate mental illness. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Stanford Impulse Disorders Clinic, is quoted in this article.

This podcast explored the signs and symptoms of sleep paralysis and ways to treat it. Clete Kushida, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine, was featured.

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explains why people feel tired after eating a hearty Thanksgiving dinner.

Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides tips on what patients should do before seeing a psychiatrist for the first time or switching to a new provider.

David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor and director of the Stanford Center on Stress and Health, explains how excessive worrying or overthinking can take a mental and physical toll on your body in this article.

Gateways between marijuana and other addictive substances are real — and they swing in both directions, writes Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, in this opinion piece.

This Spotlight piece highlights the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) coordinating office, run by Drs. Mark McGovern and Heather Gotham and their team from Stanford.

Sarah Adler, clinical assistant professor psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed about the different methods of intermittent fasting and pros and cons of the popular weight loss trend.

We are thrilled to celebrate faculty members and trainees in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences who have been included in Clarivate Analytics Web of Science's 2019 Highly Cited Researcher’s list – a testament to the ongoing breadth, scope and impact of their work.

David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor and director of the Stanford Center on Stress and Health, is interviewed about the possible causes for ongoing fatigue, and how it could be a sign of a more serious medical problem.

This piece focuses on how scientists are working to unravel the mysteries of sleep. Clete Kushida, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Chief of the Division of Sleep Medicine, provides comment here.

Between 40 and 70 percent of caregivers report depression, and between 11 and 23 percent report that caregiving has negatively impacted their physical health as well. But physicians who know the risks are in a unique position to offer support and resources to their patients’ caregivers. Ranak Trivedi, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed.

Po Wang, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and clinic chief of the Bipolar Disorders Clinic, discusses the symptoms and treatment of bipolar disorder in this article.

The platform continues to demonstrate that treating users like people doesn’t have to be so hard. Stanford experts from the “Brainstorm” lab, who worked with Pinterest on the tools, are mentioned here.

A discovery about how a neural circuit located deep in the brains of female mice changes in response to estrogen could offer insight into human brains. Nirao Shah, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, led the study and is quoted in this post.

Pinterest is expanding their compassionate search experience to better support people who are feeling sadness, pain or other emotions related to the urge to self-harm. Brainstorm, the Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation, worked with them on the new tools.

The company has gotten better at removing distressing content. Now it wants to help users feel better. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor and founder and director at Brainstorm - one of the groups that worked with Pinterest - provides comment.

Five researchers were awarded grants from the National Institutes of Health to study opioid misuse and pain treatment - including Luis de Lecea, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Nolan Williams, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

Stanford experts have created four short videos to help lawyers at the U.S. border learn to sensitively interview migrant children and teens about traumatic experiences. Ryan Matlow, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is mentioned in this article.

Ryan Matlow, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article on the trauma inflicted onto detained migrant children.

Having a history of childhood trauma was associated with an increased risk of a number of mental and physical health problems later on in life. Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

You might want to nag or scold, but positive reinforcement is more effective. Hear what Jacob Towery, adjunct clinical instructor, has to say about effective parenting strategies.

A recent study in JAMA Pediatrics, reveals that the brains of pre-kindergarten children who spend more than an hour per day of screen time without parental interaction are associated with underdeveloped areas that control language and self-regulation. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, comments on the findings.

Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and medical director of Addiction Medicine, is interviewed about the use of medical marijuana in place of opioid painkillers for chronic pain, and the potential side effects associated with medical marijuana.

Sergiu Pașca, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science, is featured by Nature Medicine for his pioneering work in developing 3D brain-region-specific organoids, assembloids and cellular models of neuropsychiatric disease from stem cells.

Mental health experts explain why watching scary movies may help some people cope with their anxiety symptoms. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, describe how horror movies may be a helpful distraction.

Michelle Pfeiffer recently revealed more about an “inappropriate” and “uncomfortable” #MeToo encounter from her past, and she inadvertently aided in destigmatizing self-blame in the process. Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

A 2017 Stanford Medicine magazine article on sex differences in the brain remains popular, and this post provides additional information. Nirao Shah, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is mentioned here.

Couples with competing sleeping habits can be problematic. This pieces offers guidance on how to cope with it and quotes Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

This opinion piece looks at the role of the courts in the opioid crisis. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

A yearslong effort to open a first-of-its-kind youth mental health center in Palo Alto reached a major milestone on Tuesday: approval of a lease for a physical space on Middlefield Road. This will be the future home of allcove, a walk-in mental health clinic inspired by Australian centers that provide support services, education and other wellness resources at little to no cost to youth ages 12 to 25. It's expected to open by May. More info: https://www.allcove.org/

How listening for stories saved my career in medicine: Scope@10,000 Throughout her medical career, listening to her patients has helped psychiatrist Shaili Jain, clinical associate professor (affiliated) of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, transcend the job's challenges.

Improved nutrition — and access to healthy foods — can reduce the effects of sleep deprivation in physicians, new Stanford Medicine research suggests. Maryam Hamidi, associate director of scholarship and health promotion at the Stanford Medicine WellMD Center and a co-author of the study, is quoted in this article.

This article looks at whether falling asleep to the TV is a healthy bedtime ritual. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, comments on the sleep habit.

The adult Cystic Fibrosis Center at Stanford was able to offer mental health services, as well as screening for anxiety and depression by embedding Yelizaveta Sher, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, into their team. Initiating these services was made possible by a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Mental Health Coordinator Grant Award, and this article covers the year-long campaign to secure sustainable funding.

Researchers have identified a new gene mutation associated with short sleepers. Jamie Zeitzer, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, who was not involved with the study, is quoted in this article.

Specialized cognitive behavioral therapy therapy helps patients with psychosis manage symptoms of schizophrenia, including delusions and hallucinations. Kate Hardy, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences who specializes in CBTp at our INSPIRE Clinic and is involved in training efforts, provides comment.

Looking back on her medical training, Jessica Gold, former psychiatry resident at Stanford, realizes it was the little things - like watching a resident console a scared patient - that mattered.

Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and chief of the Stanford Addiction Dual Diagnosis Clinic, provides comment in this piece looking at whether or not there are benefits to drinking kombucha.

California becomes the first state to mandate later school start times. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed live about what the newly passed bill means for sleep-deprived students.

A series of deadly fires in San Antonio, TX has led to 4 deaths related to hoarding disorder. Carolyn Rodriguez, director of the Hoarding Disorders Research Program and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed about the common signs of hoarding and options for treatment.

A new study in The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association found a link between sleeping for long periods of time (along with chronic insomnia symptoms) and declines in memory, executive function and processing speed. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, comments on the findings.

The Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute has announced its third round of seed grants to six interdisciplinary teams of researchers who collectively span departments from neurosurgery to music. Among the recipients is the project entitled "Quantifying auditory-vocal affect in human social communication." which includes Karen J. Parker, Jonathan Berger, Michael Frank, and Daniel Bowling on the research team.

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) was the featured speaker at the recent Stanford Health Policy Forum. During the conversation, introduced by Dean Lloyd Minor, and Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Lofgren spoke candidly about the most vexing issues in U.S. policy.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is proud to announce Manpreet K. Singh, MD, MS, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine, as the recipient of the 2019 Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation Award for Research in Depression or Suicide for her paper, “Limbic Intrinsic Connectivity in Depressed and High-Risk Youth," published in the October 2018 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP). Dr. Singh presents her paper at AACAP’s 66th Annual Meeting on October 17, 2019.

This piece discusses the lawsuits against Purdue Pharma, the American opioid drug-maker. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted here.

This piece, written by Leanne Williams, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of Stanford’s Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness, discusses the neuroscience of mental health.

This autumn Stanford's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will, for the third time, co-host a gathering of groundbreaking scientists and influential supporters of human health with the collective goal of bringing the best brain science to the aid of the world as quickly and responsibly as possible. Watch videos from the 2018 Summit and learn about the upcoming Summit here.

Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, declared bankruptcy as part of a tentative deal to settle more than 2,000 lawsuits alleging that they and other opioid manufacturers worsened the US opioid epidemic. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, was featured in this documentary.

Stanford researchers increased how long teens slept with light therapy, used to reset their circadian clocks, combined with cognitive behavioral therapy to motivate them to go to bed earlier. Senior author Jamie Zeitzer, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

A poor night of sleep can have an adverse effect on your workout. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, explains why the timing of exercise can make a big difference in quality of sleep.

Ryan Matlow, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of community research programs for Stanford Medicine's Early Life Stress and Pediatric Anxiety Program, is quoted int his article about children’s welfare.

Keith Humphreys,the Esther Ting Memorial Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, founded the Stanford Network on Addiction Policy to help bring more science to debates over drug policy. He talked to Stanford News about why he started SNAP and how it works.

This Spotlight Q&A features Omar Sahak, Stanford psychiatry resident, who failed his first college biology class but forged his own path to medicine.

Understanding how the opioid epidemic arose in the United States could help to predict how it might spread to other countries. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

This segment will focus on benzodiazepines, a class of prescription medications that are widely prescribed for anxiety. Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and chief of the Stanford Addiction Dual Diagnosis Clinic, will be featured. "This Is Life with Lisa Ling" airs Sunday at 10 p.m on CNN.

The podcast looks at the impact the internet has made on mental health...helpful or harmful. Elias Aboujaoude, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, participates in a roundtable discussion on how the web is changing social interaction.

Christiane Brems, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses the missions and official launch of the special initiative program YogaX (yogaxu.com) with OM Magazine in this article.

One of the four Stanford recipients, Corey Keller, an instructor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, received the Early Independence Award, which promotes independent research by junior investigators by allowing them to forgo the traditional postdoctoral training period. Keller plans to use his award to uncover new methods of improving brain stimulation treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Winners of NIH's "Speaking Up About Mental Health!" essay contest, which explored stigma and social barriers in seeking mental health treatment, have been announced. Two youth advisors from the youth advisory group (YAG) for allcove, a project currently in planning by the Stanford Center for Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing, were recognized by the essay contest: Winner: "Find Your Center" by Sahithi and Honorable Mention: "Peer Programs: A Solution for Youth by Youth" by Samskruthi.

This article discusses how fitness junkies are making marijuana a part of their workout routines. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

The largest private funder of suicide prevention research, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), recently announced 26 new grants totaling over $6.2 million. Details for two new grants in our department were shared, including "Opiate Suicide Study in Patients with Major Depression" PI Alan Schatzberg, Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and "Pilot Study to Identify Modifiable Transdiagnostic Suicide Attempt Risk Factors" PI Carolyn Rodriguez, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.