Overview of Current Research

Neuropsychiatric disorders, and behavioral issues that impact on medical treatment, have a big impact on quality of life and often on mortality as well. Research that improves our treatment and understanding of these problems is an important part of improving public health. The Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior has expanded its research effort substantially in recent years. Research is being conducted in several areas at MCGHI and Veterans Administration sites. External research funding has steadily increased from about $1.5 million in 2001-2002 to $4.5 million in 2004-2005. This funding comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), foundations, intramural MCG awards, and other sources. Department members also serve on grant review committees for NIH and the Veterans Administration.

Several studies focus on the neurobiology and treatment of affective disorders. In a pharmacogenetic study, Dr. Adriana Foster is collaborating with members of the Pathology Department to test a new method for identifying patients who metabolize antidepressants at an abnormal rate. This approach may help individualize treatment in the future. Trials of novel antidepressants are being conducted by Dr. Henry Hobby.  Lithium treatment is also under investigation by Dr. Gowdha. Dr. Simon Sebastian is studying the sleep disturbance in bipolar disorder. 

 

Research in psychosis includes several funded trials, most involving antipsychotics. Premarketing as well as postmarketing studies are underway. In a study by Dr. Peter Buckley that is competitively funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, a new formulation of the antipychotic drug risperidone is being compared to other antipsychotics. Laboratory studies of oxidation and fatty acids in animals provide the basis for a clinical trial of fatty acids and antioxidants as adjunctive treatments for schizophrenia.  Non-treatment studies of psychotic disorders are also underway. One study headed by Dr. Brian Kirkpatrick, which is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, examines the risk for diabetes in people with schizophrenia who have never taken antipsychotic drugs. Other work focuses on the genetics of schizophrenia, and on non-genetic risk factors. A shortened telomere is a predictor of mortality in the general population; the telomere is a non-coding structure on the chromosome. Department researchers have found that schizophrenia is associated with a shortened telomere, which may be related to the increased mortality associated with schizophrenia. 

 

The Department also has a number of studies in behavioral medicine. Dr. John Arena is studying biofeedback, while Dr. Lara Stepleman is investigating the recognition and treatment of depression in primary care and in multiple sclerosis.  Research by Dr. Amy House on women’s health focuses on the effects of traumatic stress on physical and mental health.  

 

Several mental health problems in children and adolescents are

under investigation. The results of Dr. Donna Londino suggest that use of antipsychotics may be an effective treatment for Asperger’s syndrome. Dr. Londino is also conducting a spectroscopy study of Asperger’s syndrome; this study may point to other novel treatment approaches. Dr. Sandra Sexson is directing a study of EEG in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Family interventions to prevent recidivism in juvenile criminal offenders are being investigated by Dr. Bernard Davidson.

Eating disorders are an important cause of morbidity and are associated with an increased mortality. Dr. Christian Lemmon is involved in several studies of eating behavior and eating disorders in collaboration with the Georgia Prevention Institute.

Several basic scientists also hold joint appointments in Psychiatry, and several translational clinical projects are underway. Dr. Sahebarao Mahadik is studying neurotrophic factors and oxidation/reduction abnormalities in schizophrenia. Dr. Anilkumar Pillai is studying neurotrophic factors as possible factors for the development of novel treatments for psychosis. Drs. Alvin Terry (cholinergic mechanisms and antipsychotics), Lin Mei (neuregulin1 and ErbB receptors), Clare Bergson (calcyon), and Almira Vazdarjanova (plasticity) are other basic scientists with close ties to the Department who are interested in translational work related to schizophrenia. 

 

MCG is pursuing a federally funded Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA). These awards, which are a major initiative of the National Institutes of the national Institutes of Health, provide funding for research infrastructure for campus-wide use. MCG will apply for a CTSA in a consortium with the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of south Carolina. As part of this effort, the Department has come into more contact with the Psychiatry Departments at the two other schools, and these relationships are likely to strengthen over time. The director of the CTSA will be Dr. Kathleen Brady, a psychiatrist at MUSC.

The Department has also developed a number of other local, national and international collaborations. Active collaborations are being conducted nationally, as well as in Spain, Italy, and Finland.

 

The increased emphasis on research is reflected by the activities of the Department’s trainees. Several medical students have worked with faculty members on research projects. Residents have also published papers in competitive journals and won regional and national research and travel awards. A research fellowship in psychotic disorders is also available.

The ability to compete successfully for external funding is an important measure of the quality of biomedical research. In fiscal year 2007, the Department had a total of $468,353 in Federal grants, $3,704,963 from pharmaceutical companies, and $920,595 in other grants, for a total of $5,093,911.