News Mentions for the week of January 30, 2023

The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) announces the Deeda Blair Research Initiative for Disorders of the Brain’s second round of awards to drive innovation in mental health research. Congratulations to Neal Amin, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, a 2023 award recipient, selected for his project to develop a molecular differentiation atlas of the human brain with 3D stem cell models to investigate neurons implicated in psychiatric disorders!

News consumers who want to stay engaged and aware of current events can find it difficult to process traumatic news stories in way that best protects their mental health. Debra Kaysen, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment in this article.

Long hours on the job can temporarily ease the symptoms of depression and anxiety. But you’re better off leaving the office and facing your feelings head-on. Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

Advocates and physicians alike have noted the special role that peers have in extending empathy and trustworthiness to patients, particularly those who have reasons to distrust traditional health care workers. Kyle Lane-McKinley, program manager in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, writes this article for Psychiatric News.

If researchers can successfully use biomarkers to predict which antidepressants will work best for people, it could be a major step toward much-needed clinical action for patients. Leanne Williams, the Vincent V.C. Woo professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and, by courtesy, of psychology, is quoted on the subject in this article.

Researchers have found that oxytocin, commonly known as the "love hormone" may not be crucial for the social behaviors it's known for. Nirao Shah, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and of neurobiology, and by courtesy of obstetrics and gynecology, is featured.

Each year the Moonshots series highlights new frontiers where breakthroughs in science and technology are being used to solve some of the biggest problems of our time. The Stanford Center for Precision Mental Health and Wellness, led by Leanne Williams, the Vincent V.C. Woo Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Ruth O’Hara, the Lowell W. and Josephine Q. Berry Professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and senior associate dean for research in the School of Medicine, is featured.

When you board a flight, you enter a bubble free from the expectations of ever-present WiFi, email and conference calls. But for how much longer? Anna Lembke, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, provides comment.

Many children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty communicating and establishing social bonds with others. A good deal of brain research seeking to explain why this might be the case has focused on the visual system and the processing of visual signals, as manifested, for example, in the interpretation of facial expressions or the ability to maintain eye contact. Now, a research team that has turned its attention to sounds and the processing of vocal signals has reported its results. Daniel Abrams, clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and Vinod Menon, the Rachael L. and Walter F. Nichols, MD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, are featured.