Psychiatry Advances

Dr. Zachery Freyberg MD,PHD is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. He is an expert in Cellular Biology as well as being an outstanding psychiatric clinician. This podcast discusses the role of Dopamine transmission across the brain and within other organ systems of the body e.g. that of the pancreas. Weight gain is discussed as this relates to metabolic disturbance in patients taking anti-psychotic medications that affect insulin control and diabetes.

Andrea Goldschmidt PHD is Associate Professor of Psychiatry. This Podcast focusses upon the causes and treatment of excessive weight gain, loss of control of eating in youth and adolescents. The major topic of discussion relates to “binge eating “, the emotional and environmental causes of such eating disorders, such as uncontrolled urges, eating without feeling hungry, particularly after school. This is translational research. Gaps in present knowledge about these disorders are noted.

Carla Mazevsky PHD, is the Nancy J Minshew Endowed Chair in Autism Research, Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology and Translational Research at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an expert in key emotional aspects of Autistic people at all ages. This Podcast presents and focusses upon the challenges of overcoming/treating this unifying concept/reality among autistic people relating to “emotional dysregulation”. This is a fundamental/measurable concept and is characteristic of autistic people.

Annie Cohen PHD is Associative Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. This Podcast updates ongoing research and manifestation of Alzheimer’s Disease, its diagnosis (Amyloid, Tau deposition), biomarkers that may influence severity and early detection/diagnosis, also how social determinants of health affects early detection, e.g. access, extent of cardiovascular disease, residence, neighborhoods.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry is involved in efforts to promote and implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In this podcast, four faculty members offer brief presentations and discuss the importance of DEI. Guests include Sarah Pederson, PhD; Paul Pikonis, PhD; Piper Carroll, MD; and César Escobar-Viera, MD, PhD. They discuss linking the Department of Psychiatry to the Pittsburgh community; the psychiatry residency training curriculum; departmental surveys; and LGBTQ+ health matters.

Carmen Andreescu is Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. This podcast focusses on severe worry and anxiety in aged persons. Not all worry in aged persons is pathological. Severe worry includes dramatic effects on patient’s psychology, brain, and aging. These are characterized here as well as appropriate intervention/treatment noted. The value of Transcranial Stimulation(TMS) is noted.

Dennis Daley PhD is Professor of Psychiatry and former Chief Addiction Medicine Services at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. For more than 30 years Dr. Daley provided clinical services to persons with SUDs. His teaching and recovery materials are used throughout the US. This Podcast emphasizes that families of persons with SUDs are harmed and in need of psychological assistance because of their loved one’s serious problems. Family assistance strongly promotes and retains SUD patients in treatment.

Brant P. Hasler, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology. He is the PI of multiple NH research grants. These investigate changing adolescent sleep patterns, late bedtimes, early arising and consequent increased risk for substance abuse. Dr. Hasler is both a researcher and a clinician/mentor. Dr. Hasler’s “three-phase” research investigations involve home/school physiological monitoring, sleep studies as well as clinical interventions to change these patterns.

Dr. Jamie Tew is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry. This Podcast describes his personal evolution from being a full-time clinical educator into his becoming a lead clinician administer at the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Presently he is Associate Chief of Clinical Services for Inpatient care, Quality, and Director of WPH’s Clinician Educator Faculty Development Program. This Podcast is especially pertinent for early Academic clinical faculty during subsequent periods of their growth and change.

Peter Franzen PhD. Is Associate Director for Education of the University of Pittsburgh Sleep and Chronobiology Center. This Podcast discusses teenagers shortened sleep during critical high school years, when teenagers must attend school at early times. These sleep changes affect teenager reactivity, emotion, stress, pleasure( anhedonia) cognition and substance use. Consequent to sleep research findings this Podcast also discusses controversial school based interventions to prevent negative outcomes.