News from the Department

Since schools closed in March due to COVID-19, many families have struggled to help their children adjust to distance learning. Grace Gengoux, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article.

Public health professionals say that the coronavirus’ spread can be controlled through testing, isolating, contact tracing and quarantining. In this podcast, WPR explores why the country’s mindset stands in the way of this strategy, and what the end of COVID-19 might more realistically look like. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed as a guest.

Amy Alexander, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and colleagues report that women, children and society receive numerous benefits from 12 weeks of paid maternity leave.

Sundari Chetty, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article that discusses how the brain has a natural ability to recover from stress.

Experts share advice on how parents can help their kids learn how to bounce back during the coronavirus pandemic in this HuffPost piece. Victor Carrion, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

Millions of dollars pour into cannabis research each year at universities across the world. And that funding is increasingly coming from the cannabis industry itself, potentially raising conflict-of-interest questions. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article that discusses research partnerships and funding.

Manpreet Singh, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, draws inspiration from her sister — who was born prematurely with congenital heart disease and Down syndrome — as she strives to instill hope in people who feel hopeless.

Changing lifestyle habits can improve well-being tremendously, and even on a budget, we can consume the right foods and make better choices. Shebani Sethi Dalai, clinical instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides details in this opinion piece. *author does not endorse photo or headline chosen by newspaper

Teens and young adults with cancer face biological and psychosocial challenges distinct from those of other cancer patients. Emily Ach, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this post.

In this article, Carolyn Rodriguez, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, reflects on a Young Investigator Award from the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation that supported the launch of her career as an independent investigator.

Subtle abnormalities occur in key brain structures of children diagnosed with pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome, a disease characterized by abrupt, severe behavioral problems, according to a new study from the School of Medicine. Margo Thienemann, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is a co-author on this study.

As grocery shopping goes from an everyday chore to an often frantic and frustrating endeavor, family squabbles about food—planning for it, preparing it and eating it—are emerging. Douglas Rait, chief of the Couples and Family Therapy Clinic and clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

A week before Ramadan, the Khalil Center held an online Muslim mental wellness summit in cooperation with Stanford University’s Muslims & Mental Health lab. Such events usually attract a few hundred attendees, but thousands flocked to this online summit. Rania Awaad, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

COVID-19 has had major impacts on the economy, the way we live our daily lives, and our mental health. The research on mental health during COVID-19 has mostly focused on frontline healthcare workers, with good reason, but all of us are experiencing some level of increased stress right now. Leanne Williams, founder of the Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness (PMHW) and professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and her lab have focused their work on what happens in times of extreme negative stress, such as the current situation. Learn more in this article from Leanne Williams, Laura Hack, and Lauren Whicker.

As COVID-19 upends students’ college experiences, some students with eating disorders are suffering from heightened triggers. Kristine Luce, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed in this article.

This week, faculty of Stanford’s Human Rights in Trauma Mental Health Program (HRTMHP), of which the Center for Human Rights and International Justice is a core collaborator, will launch a series of online trainings focused on best practices for working with survivors of severe trauma through a partnership with the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD). Daryn Reicherter, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Ryan Matlow, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are featured in this article.

Working on the front lines of COVID-19 can harm the mental health of health care workers. David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor in Medicine and medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, is quoted in this article.

Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article focusing on mental health issues among coronavirus healthcare workers.

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of a hormone called vasopressin were lower in babies who went on to develop autism than in those who did not. Karen Parker, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, shares senior authorship of the paper, and Ozge Oztan, research scientist in psychiatry and behavioral sciences is the study’s lead author.

For millions of people in recovery or looking for help for alcohol use, in-person group meetings can be a source of relief. But social distancing measures that were put in place to help curb the coronavirus have disrupted the support networks people rely upon for help. Keith Humphreys, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

Rania Awaad, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab, discusses the unique impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Ramadan.

Signals from the brain’s fear center make it more difficult for anxious and stressed children to regulate their emotions, a first-of-its-kind brain scanning study from Stanford shows. Vinod Menon, the Rachel L. and Walter F. Nichols professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is senior author of the study; Victor Carrion, the John A. Turner, Endowed Professor for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, is co-author of the study; researcher Stacie Warren and postdoctoral scholar Yuan Zhang share lead authorship.

The statewide shelter in place order to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus is continuing into its second month, and the drastic change can take an emotional toll. Californians are finding news ways to manage stress and take care of themselves during the pandemic. Shashank Joshi, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed in this podcast.

Around the world, experts are now warning that the coronavirus pandemic could be an unprecedented traumatic event. Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed in this podcast.

In a recent webinar, Stanford mental health experts offered tips for handling the unique stressors faced by health care workers treating patients during the coronavirus pandemic. Mickey Trockel, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Cheryl Gore-Felton, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are quoted in this post.

In this article and podcast, Victor Carrion, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, unmasks the sometimes hidden hallmarks of stress and discusses techniques to recognize and lessen its effects at every age.

Carolyn Rodriguez, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article that discusses factors that tie into hoarding disorder.

Douglas Rait, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, helps groups of Stanford Biodesign Innovation fellows hone their ability to work as a team, fueling their projects.

This post highlights a recent 1:2:1 podcast with Victor Carrion, the John A. Turner, MD, Endowed Professor for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, in which he offers advice for parents about how to talk to children about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Developed in partnership with Stanford Medicine, Thriving Mind shares tools that can help manage coronavirus anxiety, build human connection in a time of isolation, eat well and move, even when we’re unable to leave our home. Leanne Williams, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is mentioned in this article.

Stanford researchers have launched a survey to document the impact of coronavirus on family caregivers and shed light on the experiences of parents, guardians and older siblings whose responsibilities have increased in the past few weeks. Ranak Trivedi, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, created the survey to collect the stories and perspectives of individuals in the Stanford community and beyond.

The coronavirus pandemic has become an unprecedented event in history. It has strained the communities and businesses we love, not to mention the people that fill them. Recently, the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 45 percent of adults say the worry and stress of COVID-19 has negatively impacted their mental health. And as the effects of the crisis continue to play out, there may be heightened moments of loneliness and fear. But even homebound, it’s still possible—and essential—to take care of your mental health, no matter your budget or situation. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted.

Genetics and brain biology may shed light on anorexia’s beginnings and how to improve treatment. In this article, James Lock, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses the most studied and most effective strategy to date, called family-based treatment (FBT).

Experts on physician wellness collaborated on a framework that health care leaders can use to support workers on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tait Shanafelt, the Jeanie and Stew Ritchie Professor, chief wellness officer at Stanford Medicine, and director of the WellMD Center, and Mickey Trockel, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are co-authors of the study.

Tali Ball, instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and Aliza Goldberg, doctoral candidate in clinical psychology at the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium, provide tips on how to stay engaged with meaningful social activities, even when you feel anxious - in this recent post featured by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

Stanford Medicine researchers used high doses of magnetic stimulation, delivered on an accelerated timeline and targeted to individual neurocircuitry, to treat patients with severe depression. Senior author Nolan Williams, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted here.

Researchers like Pablo Paredes, an instructor in radiology and psychiatry and behavioral services, are working on solutions to alleviate the added stress for many people who are now being asked to work from home while balancing family life.

About 2.5% of the population meets the diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder, a complex and difficult-to-treat condition. Carolyn Rodriguez, director of the hoarding disorder research program and associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed much of the world into a new normal – one that may be filled with feelings of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety. With standard ways to cope unavailable this can be a very difficult time - Shaili Jain, clinical associate professor (affiliated) is interviewed in this podcast.

Shebani Sethi Dalai, clinical instructor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is interviewed here by The Daily about metabolic psychiatry - which focuses on treatment of metabolic dysfunction and investigates the influences of nutrition, inflammation and insulin resistance on psychiatric outcomes.

This piece features a Stanford course led by Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and colleagues, called - PSYC 240: Designing for the 2 Billion: Leading Innovation in Mental Health, America’s first university course on mental health innovation. This course empowers students of all backgrounds to confront contemporary challenges related to the U.S mental health crisis through curiosity, creativity, and strategy.

A lot of people are dreaming right now of escaping to the mountains or by the lake, but for some that may be their only option. In this piece, Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses the health benefits from staying home and of companionship with a partner.

SFARI Investigator Karen Parker, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discusses her preclinical and clinical research on the neuropeptides arginine vasopressin and oxytocin as potential biomarkers and treatment strategies for autism spectrum disorder.

In this essay, Daniel Mason, novelist and clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, describes how he turned his students’ last assignment into an exercise for staying well.

With the rampant spread of the coronavirus, upending of routines, and general uncertainty about when we’ll return to normal, it can be hard not to feel anxious. In thinking about all of this, know that you’re not alone, it is completely okay to feel anxious at this unprecedented time. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor, and colleagues from the Brainstorm Lab, discuss steps you can take to lower your stress levels.

Researchers have developed a method for building nanoscale structures with genetically reprogrammed cells. Karl Deisseroth, the D.H. Chen Professor and professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Zhenan Bao, the K. K. Lee Professor and professor of chemical engineering, share senior authorship.

From reducing stress to getting better sleep, here are the best ways to strengthen your immune system. Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor, is quoted.

In this opinion piece, Victor Carrion, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, shares how we can ward off coronavirus fears, anxiety, anger and feelings of frustration during the current coronavirus pandemic.

In many places, schools and day cares are closed. Here are some tips on how to entertain your little ones, and on how to talk to them about Covid-19. Victor Carrion, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

Social media isn’t known for its positive influence on mental health, but Nina Vasan, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and colleague Gowri Aragam, are working to change that. During their upcoming session at Elevate by Psych Congress in Las Vegas, Nevada, they will talk about their efforts to leverage social media for better mental health.

Cells are the building blocks of all living organisms. Preliminary evidence suggests we can also manipulate them to build in ways that are outside their typical purview. Karl Deisseroth, the D.H. Chen Professor and professor of bioengineering and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is co-author of the study.

As news of COVID-19 continues to dominate headlines, David Spiegel, the Jack, Samuel and Lulu Willson Professor in Medicine and medical director of the Center for Integrative Medicine, offers tips on handling the day-to-day disruptions to our lives.

In this piece, Victor Carrion, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, shares his advice with Stanford Children’s Health about how families can prepare their children for the continued news coverage and conversations around COVID-19.

In this USA Today opinion piece, Rania Awaad, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, underscores the need to increase awareness and clarity of services available to refugees and asylum seekers, and encourage them to seek proper health care.

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article on why some people don’t dream.

Alcoholics Anonymous, the worldwide fellowship of sobriety seekers, is the most effective path to abstinence, according to a comprehensive analysis conducted by Keith Humphreys and his collaborators. Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted here and in articles from CNN.com, Inverse, Newsweek, USA Today, USNews.com, and VICE.com. The research is also highlighted in a Stanford Medicine press release and in a 1:2:1 podcast.

Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in Allure's recent piece that focuses on what you need to know about sleep deprivation and its effects.

American drug overdose deaths fell for the first time in 28 years in 2018 but remain near record highs, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Keith Humphreys, the Esther Ting Memorial Professor and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article.

Are you grumpy and slow to start in the morning? It could be the sound of your alarm. KCBS Radio's Rebecca Corral reports on new sleep research out of Australia. Rafael Pelayo, clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, was interviewed.

This article discusses ketamine as a treatment for depression and some of the questions researchers are pursuing related to how it works and what other options there might be. Carolyn Rodriguez, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, who has studied treating obsessive-compulsive disorder with ketamine, provides comment.

Part 1 of this feature series includes a conversation with Anna Lembke, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, on the most impactful players and products of the 30-year crisis.

The Subcommittee on Health of the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a legislative hearing in March entitled, "Combatting an Epidemic: Legislation to Help Patients with Substance Use Disorders." Smita Das, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provided testimony on behalf of the American Psychiatric Association, advocating for education and training for treating substance use disorders and evidence-based policy to help align systems of care and improve access to needed treatments.

Older adults who reported hypersomnolence were more likely to have several other medical conditions, according to findings of a longitudinal study that will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting this spring. Maurice Ohayon, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is mentioned.

47% of workers surveyed say the election has affected the way they work. Jennifer Douglas, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is quoted in this article.

In this radio show produced by the School of Engineering, Shaili Jain, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, discussed how a revealing father-daughter conversation led to a career dedicated to studying and treating severe trauma and stress-related disorders.