Category: Research Publications

Two-hit models of neurodevelopmental disorders have the power to reveal underlying vulnerability that may not be detected in studies employing only genetic or environmental alterations. In this review, we summarize existing literature that investigates detrimental interactions between prenatal stress and genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on behavioral...

Investigation of the extent to which rashes associated with Bartonella infection are associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety and schizotypy.

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals face higher rates of stressors driving disproportionate health risks. Although psychiatric conditions are important to consider in the context of greater health-promoting efforts for TGD youth, any mental health concerns may or may not be related to gender identity or associated dysphoria. Nevertheless, it...

Persistent chronic stress can influence how the brain reacts to traumatic and stressful events; however, it was unclear how neighborhood-level stress impacts brain structure and function. Using AURORA neuroimaging data, we found neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage, derived from U.S. Census data, had specific associations with threat-related neurobiology which varied with different...

Using rsfMRI data from over 100k individuals across private and public datasets, we identified replicable unique patterns of brain connectivity.

This paper presents a novel method for detecting ovulation in peripubertal adolescents and provides an openly accessible R-script to determine ovulatory status based on hormone profiles (estrogen, progesterone and LH) across the menstrual cycle.

Alcohol’s impairing effects on inhibitory control (a behavioral index of impulsivity) may partly account for heavy drinking and alcohol-related harms. This meta-analysis combined data from 69 human laboratory studies to establish the overall magnitude of alcohol’s effects on inhibitory control.

This study finds that lower levels of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) in the brain predict reduced sensitivity to negative effects of alcohol, greater urges to drink, and greater hazardous drinking in youth. These findings extend preclinical work by implicating the endocannabinoid system in relation to alcohol use disorder risk.

An invited review article on novel neurosteroids for the treatment of postpartum depression.

Task‐shifted, teacher‐led care may begin to bridge the child mental health care gap in low‐ and middle‐income countries by improving mental health literacy. We explore the perceived impact of RESEED (Responding to Students’ Emotions through Education) as a first step in programming for teachers to learn about mental health concepts...