Depression Research Program

Directed by Sudhakar Selvaraj, MBBS, DPhil (Oxon), MRCPsych, the Depression Research Program is primarily focused on understanding the biological mechanisms underlying the depression, stress and suicidal behavior to improve treatment and facilitate functional recovery. Our team is currently investigating biomarkers of diagnostic subtypes and treatment response, novel treatment strategies to improve functional recovery using clinical, pharmacological and brain neurophysiological and imaging techniques.

Current projects include:

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) study in Major Depressive Disorder
  • Brain MRI imaging and neurophysiology based biomarkers (EEG/MEG) of diagnosis and treatment response to antidepressant treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and ketamine.
  • Novel treatment strategies in postpartum and perinatal depression.
  • Effects of stress and inflammation on brain processing of emotion, motivation and reward in depression and bipolar disorder.
  • Early intervention in suicide prevention in mood disorders

For further reading, see these articles:
https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/2020/01/09/selvaraj-wins-inaugural-award/

https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/2019/02/15/research-shows-alternative-treatment-for-depression-can-help-improve-symptoms/

https://www.uth.edu/news/story.htm?id=f2dab2b9-bdbf-49e4-aea1-418ffdcd4417

Contact Us
Phone: 713-486-2627
Email: utmooddisorders@uth.tmc.edu

Behavioral and Biomedical Sciences Building
1941 East Road
Houston, Texas 77054