Psychiatry Department News

Department Chair Attends White House for $12 Billion Women's Health Initiative Executive Order

Sheldon Benjamin, M.D. Wins Lifetime Service Award at the AADPRT Meeting

UMass Chan Psychiatry Department To Host The 18th Annual Brain Bee

DNA Damage And Neurological Inflammation In The Brain With Opioid Abuse Disorder

A recently published study describes the inflammation and neurological DNA damage in the brain with opioid abuse disorder.  This research paper entitled Single Nuclei Transcriptomics In Human and Non Human Primate Striatum In Opioid Use Disorder was published in Nature Communications on January 15, 2024. 

The authors include UMass Chan Medical School's Ryan Logan, Ph.D. 

Read The Study 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45165-7

Recent Study On Trauma And Autism Spectrum Disorder Published in Frontiers in Psychiatry

Category: UMass Chan Medical School

A study entitled Trauma and Psychosocial Adversity In Youth With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry on January 26, 2024.  This study, written by Sarah J. Palmer, M.D. and Yael Dvir, M.D explores the effects of different sources of trauma and their impact on this population.

Read The Study

The Research Team At Lifeline For Moms Is Awarded $21 Million To Study Equity In Mental Health Care In Perinatal Medicine

Category: UMass Chan Medical School,People,Topic

The research team at Lifeline For Moms has just won a $21 Million Award to study mental health care equity in perinatal medical care. 

Read More and Watch The Video

New Psilocybin Study Beginning

By: Bennett Wechsler, M.D.

Read About The Study  

How A Health Psychologist Can Help You Through A Difficult Illness

Dealing with a debilitating disease can significantly affect mental health. Fear, anxiety, and the oppressive burden of pain can send anyone into a severe depression or suffer from acute stress. Over the last 35 years, an area of psychology known as health psychology has emerged to help patients cope and work through these challenges.

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iSPARC Celebrates 30 Years As A Massachusetts DMH Research Center of Excellence

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The Psychiatry Department Held Its First Research Day In 5 Years

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UMass Chan Child Specialist Training Ukrainian Doctors Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Category: People

Zlatina Kostova, PhD, is an instructor in psychiatry,  a clinical psychologist,  and a director of training at Lifeline for Kids, a trauma-informed care training center at UMass Chan for families and clinicians. She currently training 130 Ukrainian clinicians trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy, or TF-CBT. 

Read The Story  

Recent Research On An Old Study Sheds Light On Frontal Lobe Damage And Social Deficits

Recent research of an old case describes how frontal lobe damage can affect social behavior.  The study examined JP, who was very polite, but just couldn't stop stealing the cars he fancied.

Read The Study   

Ryan Logan, Ph.D., Wins The National Institute of Health's HEAL Director's Trailblazer Award

Ryan Logan, Ph.D., wins the inaugural NIH HEAL Initiative Director's Trailblazer award.  

 Read The Story   

How To Increase Cancer Patients And Their Families' Use Of Psychosocial Services

Having cancer is a very distressing time. It’s not only upsetting for the patient, but also for their loved ones and family. Recent research has found that despite mandated screenings for psychosocial services, many of these patients do not pursue them, according to Timothy Sannes, PhD. 

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New Study Shows The Risks of Premature Labor In Women Using SRIs

According to a recent study co-authored by Kimberly Yonkers, M.D., Katz Family Chair of UMass Chan Medical School's Psychiatry Department, there is a correlation between the use of Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs) and preterm premature rupture of fetal membranes (PPROM).  

Read The Study

Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital Celebrates 100 Years of The Psychology Internship

Find Out More

Edward Tronick, Ph.D., Wins The Sigourney Award

Congratulations to Edward Tronic, Ph.D.,  for receiving The Sigourney Award.  Only 5 people a year are selected for this prestigious award, which is given to those who are recognized for advancing psychoanalytic thought internationally.  

Read About The Sigourney Award 

Study Shows Follow-Up Care Lacking After Youth and Young Adults Receive Acute Psychiatric Services

With the rise in adolescent and child mental health issues, a recent study reveals the lack of follow-up care for this at risk population. Several UMass Chan Medical School's Department of Psychiatry researchers worked on this study including Maryann Davis, Ph.D., Brian Skehan, M.D., Ph.D, and Julie Hugunin, B.S (pictured at the left)

Read The Study

New Study Shows The Benefits of Sibling, Parent, and Caregiver Support In Youth Mental Health Treatment

“Among families of youth with behavioral challenges, our data show that peer support for family members is greatly enhanced when parent mentors and clinicians are added to the mix. We are stronger together!" said Emily Rubin (pictured here), one of the the researchers for the study published in a recent edition of Healthcare.

Read The Research

Babies Feel Your Love Even When You Are Wearing A Mask.

Renowned researcher Dr. Ed Tronick details the research which shows that masks do not interfere with a baby's healthy development. 

 Read The Article 

Dr. Danielle Rynzcak Describes The Path and Benefits of Board Certification In Forensic Psychology

Dr. Danielle Rynczak's recent article "The Path to and Benefits of Board Certification in Forensic Psychology," in the ABPP's summer edition of The Specialist is listed below.

Dr. Rynczak: Path to and Benefits of Board Certification In Forensic Psychology.pdf

Three Doctors Receive The Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award

Congratulations to Kimberly Yonkers, MD, DLFAPA,  Nancy Byatt, DO, MS, MBA, FACLP, DFAPA and Xiaoduo Fan, MD, MPH, MSc, DFAPA for winning the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Distinguished Fellows award.  

Read About The Massachusetts Psychiatric Society

Key program links pediatricians to psychiatric services for youth during pandemic mental health crisis

Amid a growing mental health crisis among young people, experts at UMass Chan Medical School are working on the front lines to support pediatricians across Massachusetts who are caring for struggling children and their families.

In a new Voices of UMass Chan podcast, Yael Dvir, MD, associate professor of psychiatry and pediatrics and Bruce Waslick, MD, associate professor of psychiatry at UMass Chan-Baystate, discuss how the Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program, also known as MCPAP, has been providing primary care providers with quick access to psychiatric consultations since 2004.

Listen To The Podcast

New $12.3 million NIMH grant explores MISSION recovery model for opioid addiction and mental illness

After the Pandemic: What Will the ‘New Normal’ Be in Psychiatry?

By: Psychiatric News

Psychiatrists foresee a new hybrid practice blending phone, video, and in-person visits driven by patient need and preference rather than payment policy.

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Pandemic fuels demand for child psychiatric services

By: Worcester Telegram and Gazette

WORCESTER – The number of children and adolescents seen at the UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus for behavioral health needs, including intentional medication overdoses and other suicide attempts, tripled last month, leaving the hospital with a waiting list for beds to treat them...

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Anthony Rothschild named editor-in-chief of Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology

By: UMass Chan Medical School Communications

UMass Chan Medical School psychopharmacology expert Anthony Rothschild, MD, will become an editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology on Jan. 1, journal publisher Wolters Kluwer has announced...

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Anxiety in the time of the pandemic

By: Worcester Telegram and Gazette

Why don't doctors seek mental health treatment? They'll be punished for it

By: Washington Post

In It Together

By: WGBH

Seven State Mental Health Hospitals Receive Vital PPE with Help from UMass Chan Medical School

By: Spectrum News 1

Congratulations to our colleagues who won positions in the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society elections

UMass Chan Medical School secures PPE donations for Department of Mental Health hospitals

By: Susan E.W. Spencer, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Patients With SMI in the Age of COVID-19: What Psychiatrists Need to Know

By: JEFFREY L. GELLER, MD, MPH, MARGARITA ABI ZEID DAOU, MD

UMass Memorial Health Care using telehealth to hold virtual appointments with patients

By: Boston 25 News

UMass Chan Medical School child trauma expert co-authors COVID-19 resource for supporting children’s well-being

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Nancy Byatt co-leading national study of mental health care for pregnant and postpartum women

By: UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Program aims to train OB-GYNs to spot signs of depression in moms

Dr. Eisenstock receives 2020 American Heart Association “Heart of Gold” Award

Shriver’s Autism Insurance Resource Center receives grant from Flutie Foundation

By: UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Brian Denietolis, PsyD, named Senior Program Director of the WRCH Adolescent Continuing Care Units

UMass Chan Medical School hosts 14th annual Central Massachusetts Brain Bee

By: UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Nancy Byatt receives John C. MacQueen Lecture Award

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Sheldon Benjamin selected as director by American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

‘A Lifeline’ For Doctors Helps Them Treat Postpartum Depression

By: Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR

Tips on quitting vaping

By: UMass Memorial Health Care Health Watch

Experts Worry E-Cig Bans Could Backfire: Here’s Why

By: Shawn Radcliffe

UMass Chan Medical School improving employment prospects for youth with mental health disabilities

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Dr. Xiaoduo Fan is recipient of the 2020 Kun-Po Soo Award

Dr. Harrington interviewed on Worcester News Tonight

Gina Vincent, PhD, along with colleagues, published articles in Law and Human Behavior and The Conversation.

Dr. Byatt participates in advisory workgroup meeting on Peripartum Mental Health

Dr. Madelyn Hsiao-Rei Hicks Publishes Article in Psychiatric Times

New Psych Beds at UMass

By: Cam Jandrow, Worcester News Tonight

Drs. Ahn and Ziedonis publish two articles in Psychiatric Clinics of North America

Convocation 2019: Chancellor Collins launches strategic plan, 'IMPACT 2025'

By: Lisa M. Larson, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Congratulations!  Mai-Lan Rogoff, MD is awarded the Chancellor's Medal for Distinguished Teaching.

Dr. Anthony Rothschild and colleagues publish article in the New England Journal of Medicine

Xiaoduo Fan appointed to PCORI advisory panel on health care delivery and disparities research

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Continuation of combination drug therapy for psychotic depression reduces relapse risk, JAMA study shows

By: Sarah Willey, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Tiffany Moore Simas named fellow of premier leadership program for women in medicine

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Aging baby boomers becoming new face of cannabis

By: Susan Spencer, Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Anthony Rothschild, colleagues warn of dangers of marijuana use among public

By: Sarah Willey, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Gold Humanism Honor Society at UMass Chan Medical School inducts 24 students

By: Megan Bard, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Congratulations to Dr. Cezar Cimpeanu!  Dr. Cimpeanu is 1 of 4  UMass faculty to be inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society  this year.  Faculty are chosen for their commitment to  teaching and their kind and compassionate treatment of patients,  families, students and colleagues.  Read more in UMass Chan News.

UMass Memorial explores telemedicine for addiction, with $200K award

By: Susan Spencer, Telegram & Gazette Staff

Educational Recognition Awards honor teachers at UMass Chan Medical School

By: Sandra Gray, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Grant will help expand perinatal mental health and substance use disorder center created at UMass Chan

By: Sarah Willey, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

UMass prize will fund telemedicine initiative

By: Grant Welker, Worcester Business Journal

Can genetic testing help doctors better prescribe antidepressants? There’s quite a debate.

By: Ilana Marcus, Washington Post

Professionals working to fight health effects of loneliness among seniors.

By: Livia Gershon, Worcester Business Journal

AACAP Marilyn B. Benoit, MD, Child Maltreatment Mentorship Award

LISTEN: New developments in depression research with Anthony Rothschild

By: Sarah Willey, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Dr. Jeffrey Geller named president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association

By: UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Better strategies to ID people at risk for opioid-related overdose deaths needed, study suggests

By: Sarah Willey, UMass Chan Medical School Communications

Psychiatry Department Leadership Announcements

Vice Chair for Research Anthony J. Rothschild, MD

Vice Chair for Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Yael Dvir, MD

Vitamin D supplementation in bipolar depression: A double blind placebo controlled trial

Study conducted by Wendy Marsh, MD, MSc et al., to explore whether vitamin D supplementation reduces bipolar depression, shows there was no significant difference lessening in depressive symptoms. Read the summary in MDLinx Journal of Psychiatric Research.