https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-rss/?orgId=122314&title=Latest+News A selection of the latest research, academic, and other newsworthy developments at Interventional Psychiatry Service en-us Copyright 2026 Yale School of Medicine Thu, 14 May 2026 23:55:16 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/cbt-after-esketamine-can-prevent-relapses-in-patients-with-major-depression-suicidal-ideation/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/cbt-after-esketamine-can-prevent-relapses-in-patients-with-major-depression-suicidal-ideation/ A new Yale-led study found that administration of cognitive behavioral therapy after a course of esketamine treatment can be effective in preventing relapse in patients with major depression and suicidal ideation. Samuel Wilkinson, MD, is lead author of the study, published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Wed, 06 May 2026 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/dix-kozar-honored-by-american-association-for-geriatric-psychiatry/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/dix-kozar-honored-by-american-association-for-geriatric-psychiatry/ Ebony Dix, MD, left, assistant professor of psychiatry, and Victoria (Tia) Kozar, MD, right, second-year resident in the Yale Psychiatry Residency Program, were recognized with awards at the annual meeting of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Mon, 04 May 2026 04:00:00 Z https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/well/getting-older-getting-weird.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/well/getting-older-getting-weird.html "When we’re younger, we’re still trying to find ourselves. That journey can mean exploring different identities and spending energy trying to convince everybody of the person we wish we were,” said Ebony Dix, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, in an interview with The New York Times. Fri, 01 May 2026 04:00:00 Z https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/feeling-sad-how-to-beat-the-winter-blues/3711128/ https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/feeling-sad-how-to-beat-the-winter-blues/3711128/ “During the winter months, we’re robbed of exposure to sunlight. In order to have vitamin D metabolized, you need sunlight. So people have low vitamin D levels, which is linked to depression,” said Robert Ostroff, MD, co-medical director of Interventional Psychiatry Service at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital and clinical professor of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:00 Z https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ps.20250169 https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.ps.20250169 In this column, Marcus Hughes, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, advises that, as psychedelic mental health treatments advance, balanced racial-ethnic patient representation in these studies is important to allow for appropriate generalization of these studies’ efficacy and safety data. Tue, 10 Feb 2026 05:00:00 Z https://www.wfsb.com/2026/01/07/health-experts-say-dry-january-can-bring-measurable-benefits-just-31-days/ https://www.wfsb.com/2026/01/07/health-experts-say-dry-january-can-bring-measurable-benefits-just-31-days/ One week into the new year, thousands of people across the country are participating in “Dry January,” a challenge to cut out alcohol for the entire month. “It’s a way of resetting after holiday spirits get a little bit out of hand and people tend to overdrink and overeat,” said Robert Ostroff, MD, co-medical director of interventional psychiatry at Yale New Haven Psychiatric Hospital. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 Z https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e302083 https://mentalhealth.bmj.com/content/28/1/e302083 Greg Rhee, PhD, associate professor adjunct in psychiatry, is first author of a paper in BMJ Mental Health that reviews the effects of electroconvulsive therapy on all-cause mortality and suicide deaths in severe unipolar or bipolar depression using longitudinal studies. Thu, 18 Dec 2025 05:00:00 Z https://www.wtnh.com/news/health/its-world-mental-health-day/ https://www.wtnh.com/news/health/its-world-mental-health-day/ On World Mental Health Day on October 10, Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, spoke to WTNH-TV News 8 about mental health as the seasons change, and his work with ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. Fri, 10 Oct 2025 04:00:00 Z https://www.newsweek.com/depression-rates-increase-america-2127097 https://www.newsweek.com/depression-rates-increase-america-2127097 "The increase (in adults suffering from or being treated for depression) is alarming, and it is important that we keep an open mind and explore all possible causes," Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, told Newsweek in a recent interview. Tue, 16 Sep 2025 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-ohio-state-study-mobile-phone-app-reduced-suicidal-behavior-among-high-risk-patients/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-ohio-state-study-mobile-phone-app-reduced-suicidal-behavior-among-high-risk-patients/ A mobile phone app designed to deliver suicide-specific therapy reduced suicidal behavior among high-risk psychiatric inpatients, according to a new study by scientists at Yale School of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine. Fri, 08 Aug 2025 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/department-of-psychiatry-honors-residents-fellows-faculty-staff-at-2025-annual-commencement-ceremonies/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/department-of-psychiatry-honors-residents-fellows-faculty-staff-at-2025-annual-commencement-ceremonies/ The Yale Department of Psychiatry honored 21 residents at the annual Yale Psychiatry Residency Program commencement ceremony June 17 at the New Haven Lawn Club. Mon, 14 Jul 2025 04:00:00 Z https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/07/02/ssri-heat-intolerance/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/07/02/ssri-heat-intolerance/ Psychiatrists John Krystal, MD, and Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD spoke to The Washington Post about how SSRIs -- serotonin reuptake inhibitors -- can cause heat intolerance and how to stay safe on hot days. Mon, 07 Jul 2025 04:00:00 Z https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/health/ketamine-effects-anesthetic-elon-musk.html https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/06/health/ketamine-effects-anesthetic-elon-musk.html Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, spoke to The New York Times about the benefits and possible dangers associated with the use of ketamine to treat depression, suicidal ideation and chronic pain. Thu, 19 Jun 2025 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/new-clinical-trial-aims-to-treat-depression-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/new-clinical-trial-aims-to-treat-depression-in-people-with-parkinsons-disease/ A new clinical trial launched by scientists at Yale School of Medicine and University of California San Francisco may offer hope to people with Parkinson’s disease who suffer from depression. Thu, 24 Apr 2025 04:00:00 Z https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/9670cb74-9756-42ac-8b39-b99272bf5517.pdf https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/9670cb74-9756-42ac-8b39-b99272bf5517.pdf In a “taper,” patients encounter difficulties of two kinds: withdrawal, and the relapse of underlying conditions, explained Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, and director of the Yale Depression Research Program, in a story in The New York Times. Tue, 18 Mar 2025 04:00:00 Z https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39937491/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39937491/ Researchers, including first author Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, and senior author Greg Rhee, PhD, associate professor adjunct in psychiatry, wrote in JAMA Psychiatry about the need to conduct clinical trials to prevent suicide. Fri, 21 Feb 2025 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/new-device-at-yale-interventional-psychiatry-service-shortens-tms-delivery-time-for-most-patients/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/new-device-at-yale-interventional-psychiatry-service-shortens-tms-delivery-time-for-most-patients/ A new device acquired by Yale Interventional Psychiatry Service has dramatically reduced the amount of time patients have to sit while undergoing transcranial magnetic stimulation for major depressive disorder. Mon, 10 Feb 2025 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-led-study-will-compare-effectiveness-of-iv-ketamine-and-esketamine-nasal-spray/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-led-study-will-compare-effectiveness-of-iv-ketamine-and-esketamine-nasal-spray/ Patients are now being recruited for a study to compare the effectiveness of IV ketamine and esketamine nasal spray (otherwise known as Spravato) for people who suffer from treatment-resistant depression. Wed, 15 Jan 2025 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/five-faculty-elected-to-associate-membership-of-acnp/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/five-faculty-elected-to-associate-membership-of-acnp/ Gustavo A. Angarita, MD, MHS; Joao P. De Aquino, MD; Matthew Girgenti, PhD; Elizabeth Goldfarb, PhD; and Rajiv Radhakrishnan, MD, have been elected to Associate Membership of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Fri, 13 Dec 2024 05:00:00 Z https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/e079b71b-93c2-49b7-82bb-6257be8bf480.pdf https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/e079b71b-93c2-49b7-82bb-6257be8bf480.pdf Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, spoke to The New York Times about some common questions and misconceptions about antidepressants. Sanacora is director of the Yale Depression Research Program. Mon, 09 Dec 2024 05:00:00 Z https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/electroconvulsive-therapy https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/electroconvulsive-therapy A Yale psychiatrist answers questions about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), a psychiatric treatment that involves sending electrical currents through the brain. Wed, 23 Oct 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-study-bipolar-disorder-patients-respond-to-ketamine-esketamine-treatment/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/yale-study-bipolar-disorder-patients-respond-to-ketamine-esketamine-treatment/ A small sample of patients with bipolar disorder displayed noteworthy improvement in their depressive symptoms after being treated with the rapid-acting antidepressant intravenous ketamine and the nasal spray esketamine, according to a new Yale led-study. Mia Santucci, BA, postgraduate associate, and Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, are lead and senior authors, respectively. Wed, 02 Oct 2024 04:00:00 Z https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/6ddd603e-6e8f-4c1e-8456-ed1a7192ef19.pdf https://image.message.yale.edu/lib/fe3815707564047e721779/m/1/6ddd603e-6e8f-4c1e-8456-ed1a7192ef19.pdf Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, spoke to The Wall Street Journal about ketamine's effect on the brain and why it can work as an antidepressant. Tue, 20 Aug 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/recognizing-outstanding-teaching-at-ysm/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/recognizing-outstanding-teaching-at-ysm/ Announcing the winners of the 2024 Yale School of Medicine teaching awards. Mon, 20 May 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp2310179 https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMp2310179 Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry; and Sina Nikayin, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, are featured in the first episode of a four-part Double Take video miniseries on depression from the New England Journal of Medicine. Thu, 02 May 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-is-long-covid https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/what-is-long-covid As of April 2024, an estimated 5.3% of all adults in the United States reported having Long COVID, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mon, 15 Apr 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/purpose/202404/what-i-want-my-patients-to-know-ketamine-for-depression https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/purpose/202404/what-i-want-my-patients-to-know-ketamine-for-depression Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and associate director of the Yale Depression Research Program, writes in Psychology Today about the history of ketamine, its use to treat depression, and how it compares to esketamine. Wed, 03 Apr 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02519-3 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-024-02519-3 Henrique Oliva, MD, PhD, postdoctoral associate; Gustavo A. Angarita, MD, MHS, assistant professor of psychiatry, and Yale colleagues conducted comprehensive meta-analysis on spine density as it relates to substance use. The findings were published in Molecular Psychiatry. Tue, 02 Apr 2024 04:00:00 Z https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2024/03/21/exp-elon-musk-ketamine-therapy-depression-gerard-sanacora-intv-032103aseg2-cnni-health.cnn https://www.cnn.com/videos/health/2024/03/21/exp-elon-musk-ketamine-therapy-depression-gerard-sanacora-intv-032103aseg2-cnni-health.cnn Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry and director of the Yale Depression Research Program, spoke to CNN about the use of ketamine to treat anxiety and depression. Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/searching-science-for-lifes-purpose/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/searching-science-for-lifes-purpose/ Samuel T. Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, is author of the new book "Purpose: What Evolution And Human Nature Imply About the Meaning of Our Existence?" Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 Z https://time.com/6837497/problem-with-achievement-essay/ https://time.com/6837497/problem-with-achievement-essay/ Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, writes about achievement and maintaining relationships in Time. Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 Z https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2305772120 https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2305772120 John Krystal, MD, Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor of Translational Research and Professor of Psychiatry, of Neuroscience, and of Psychology; and Irina Esterlis, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, are first and senior authors, respectively, of a review published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Perspective that considers what scientists have learned from studies of ketamine and to suggest future directions for the optimization of rapid-acting antidepressant treatment. Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/sanacora-wilkinson-receive-dollar126m-award-for-ketamine-study/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/sanacora-wilkinson-receive-dollar126m-award-for-ketamine-study/ Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD (left), George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, and Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, have received $12.6 million in funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for the study, “Comparative Effectiveness of Racemic Ketamine versus S-Ketamine (Spravato) for Depression.” Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/wilkinson-rhee-awarded-nih-research-project-grants/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/wilkinson-rhee-awarded-nih-research-project-grants/ Samuel Wilkinson, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, and Greg Rhee, PhD, assistant professor adjunct of psychiatry, have been awarded two grants through the National Institutes of Health Research Project Grants Program. Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 Z https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37405764/#full-view-affiliation-1 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37405764/#full-view-affiliation-1 Sina Nikayin, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry, and Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD, George D. and Esther S. Gross Professor of Psychiatry, are co-authors of a viewpoint in JAMA Psychiatry that explores how expectations influence outcomes of psychedelic drug therapy. Thu, 06 Jul 2023 04:00:00 Z https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/ketamine-handle-with-care/ https://websites4-live-prod.ysmdevs.com/psychiatry/news-article/ketamine-handle-with-care/ Off-label, unsupervised use of ketamine has skyrocketed since regulatory changes were put in place at the height of the COVID pandemic. Yale psychiatrist Gerard Sanacora, a worldleader in ketamine research and clinical use, discusses some of the risks patients may be taking. Mon, 10 Apr 2023 04:00:00 Z https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2797209 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/article-abstract/2797209 Yale researchers Greg Rhee, PhD; John H. Krystal, MD; Gerard Sanacora, MD, PhD; and Samuel Wilkinson, MD, conducted a meta analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry to determine if ketamine is as effective as electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depressive episode. Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 Z