About

Dr. Schiller’s research focuses on the impact of ovarian hormones on behavior and brain function in women. Her previous work demonstrated that estrogen and progesterone play a role in bulimia nervosa, smoking behavior, and postpartum depression. She is currently using functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine how estrogen and progesterone provoke changes in neural circuits responsible for depression. This research may improve our understanding of how hormonal changes during pregnancy and the postpartum period precipitate the onset of major depression in some, but not all, women. She also hopes that by contributing to our knowledge of the biological basis of postpartum depression, this work may also serve to reduce the stigma and self-blame associated with mental illness in women.