Author Archives: samweiss

In this paper we identified an undescribed channel (GluD1) in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) that leads to cell depolarization and alters the function of excitatory transmission. The BNST is an area of the brain involved in stress and anxiety which suggests that changes in this channel’s...

This study extends existing knowledge regarding cultural adaptations for suicide prevention interventions among Black youth, suggesting the need for deep-structure adaptations that focus on building trust, fostering transparent communication, and surrounding the youth with a supportive community that values their input and decision-making.

Polygenic scores for depression derived from genome-wide association studies (DEP-PGS) have been previously linked to individual-level stress exposure in youth, but it remains unclear if DEP-PGSs are also associated with neighborhood-level adversity in preadolescent youth. Findings indicated that youth with greater DEP-PGSs were more likely to live in neighborhoods marked...

Our understanding of emotions can be affected by traumatic experiences, but people respond in different ways. This study looked at whether the type of trauma, specifically whether it involved another person (like an assault) or not (like a car accident), helps explain these differences. We followed over 2,200 trauma survivors...

Knowledge of sex differences in risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can contribute to the development of refined preventive interventions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine if women and men differ in their vulnerability to risk factors for PTSD. Our findings indicate mechanisms to which men...

Little prior research has linked blood biomarkers of traumatic brain injury with brain imaging assessment of white matter tracts. In the current study, we discovered two TBI biomarkers in white matter microstructural integrity, as assessed by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) gathered 2 weeks post trauma. The blood biomarker GFAP was associated...

Chapel Hill, N.C. — August 12, 2025 — The UNC Department of Psychiatry’s IMPACTT-NC program (Improving Adolescent Child health Through Telepsychiatry in NC) and UNC Children’s is proud to announce the launch of UNC-GIFTS — a collaborative partnership with Granville County Public Schools and Granville Vance Public Health — aimed...

A remotely-delivered telehealth intervention using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) improved mental health outcomes and psychological flexibility in adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a degenerative condition affecting vision. After participating in a 6-week intervention, individuals with NMOSD and their caregivers reported better psychological functioning and ability to cope...

We find that these GLP-1 receptor agonist medications blunt the interoceptive effects of alcohol (i.e., the feelings one experiences when drinking) in rats. This could could contribute to reduced alcohol drinking that individuals report while on these medications.