In the News

Aaron Brinen, Psy.D. in the Division of Psychology was interviewed for an important story on holiday stress that appeared in US News & World Report. See: https://health.usnews.com/wellness/articles/how-to-relieve-holiday-stress Also, he was interviewed on Channel 5 on a similar topic of feeling down during the holidays.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences celebrated its 75th anniversary on Nov. 11 with an afternoon program that highlighted its contributions to professional education, research, and clinical care. “We wanted to recognize the important role of the department in the training of physicians and psychologists at Vanderbilt, showcase innovation in our clinical services, and highlight some of our research accomplishments,” said Stephan Heckers, MD, MSc, the William P. and Henry B. Test Professor of Schizophrenia Research and Chair of the Department.

A new prescribing alert helps physicians quickly understand how and why they should offer a naloxone prescription to a patient at high risk for an opioid overdose. The alert contains key facts about the patient’s history, such as previous overdoses and whether a benzodiazepine has also been prescribed. The alert has led to a dramatic increase in naloxone prescribing, which was described in a recent article in Anesthesia & Analgesia.

The Vanderbilt Kennedy Center (VKC) Nicholas Hobbs Discovery Awards and Director’s Strategic Priorities Grants have been announced for the 2022-23 award cycle. Projects address spatial processing, repetitive movements, adaptation of an intervention for Spanish-speaking families, and improving diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for autistic individuals with co-occurring intellectual disability.

Process must be customized to meet needs of individuals who have trouble naming and sharing emotions. Recently, emergency departments nationwide have seen a drastic upswing in young autistic people presenting with suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Kristopher A Kast, M.D., assistant professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, program director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program, and clinical director of the Addiction Consult Service, recently served as author of a newly-published paper in the Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.

Peter Martin, M.D., professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, has published his latest book, Historical Vocabulary of Addiction. This book is intended for all psychiatrists and others who are interested in mental disorders, especially those who have not viewed patients who suffer from addictive disorders as typically in their bailiwick. 

Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital (VPH) has launched a new social work fellowship which will prepare master’s degree-level graduates for social work in the behavioral health field. Click here to read the VUMC Reporter article.

Vanderbilt University recently honored several faculty members for their years of service and bestowed on them the title of emeritus or emerita faculty. Among them were 15 from the School of Medicine.

The Vision of Hope Award Gala, now in its eighth year, advocating with leaders and bringing together a mix of behavioral healthcare leaders with Tennessee’s generous philanthropic community.