Mitochondrial hypothesis and its relationship to bipolar disorder
Written by: Giselli Scaini The “mitochondrial hypothesis” suggests that bipolar disorder is triggered, in part, via dysfunction of the cell’s powerhouses. This can be intimately linked to a wide range of processes associated with treatment outcomes and disease progression or…
A year in review: from Dr. Soares
Written by: Jair C. Soares, MD, PhD The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is dedicated to the mission of education, research, and patient care. Each year we train students, residents, and fellows of today to become the mental health…
UTHealth-HCPC Program Shows Promise for Psychosis
Written by: Alia Warner, Ph.D. Individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI), such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, often experience substantial disability and associated distress in their lives. The treatment of SMI comes at a high cost to health care systems,…
What is test anxiety and how can we support students when they experience it?
Written by: Leslie K. Taylor, PhD As the first day of school approaches, parents and children gather their backpacks as educators finalize lesson plans and ready their classrooms. The new school year offers a fresh start for students as well…
Using extracellular vesicles to study bipolar disorder
Written by: Dr. Gabriel R. Fries, PhD In the search for ways to better understand bipolar disorder and develop better treatment for patients, researchers around the world are focusing on the investigation of so-called “biomarkers”. These biological markers can be…
Psychopathology, Life, and Society: On being a psychiatrist in the XXI century
Written by: Marsal Sanches, MD, PhD, FAPA In a recent article published in Academic Psychiatry(1), the authors discuss the progressively increasing trend in applications for psychiatry residency over the last few years. Among United States medical graduates, applications rose 289%…
Ketamine – Could it Bridge Treatment Gaps in Postpartum Depression?
Written by: Sudhakar Selvaraj, MD, PhD Maternal depression is a seriously disabling form of mood disorder that occurs in 1 in 8 women during or after pregnancy. Symptoms may include depressed mood, anxiety, guilt, sleep difficulties, suicidal thoughts, and diminished…
Am I aging faster than I should be?
Written by Dr. Gabriel Fries The concept of “accelerated aging” was first introduced after researchers started studying biological markers of aging and realized that sometimes the age that is detected in the laboratory does not concur with the actual age…
How can families prepare for hurricane season?
Written by Dr. Leslie Taylor It’s the end of the school year and many children and families are ready for days at the swimming pool, having cookouts or planning for vacation. Summer also marks the beginning of hurricane season, with…
Vicarious Trauma
Written by: Jennifer B. Hughes, PhD At times, it can feel nearly impossible to find the motivation to keep showing up to work week after week, especially after working long hours or dealing with crises and looming deadlines. As health…