UT Physicians opens doors to new interventional psychiatry clinic | |
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Joao de Quevedo cuts ceremonial ribbon, officially opening the clinic.
Photo Credit: Shyam Tailor/UTHealth Houston
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Written by: Vicki Powers
The new UT Physicians Interventional Psychiatry Clinic provides services for patients with treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions in one location. Its goal is to embrace current interventional psychiatry services while also expanding and developing new services.
“We are taking a more patient-centered approach for services and providing a single point of contact,” said João de Quevedo, MD, PhD, director of the Center of Interventional Psychiatry, and professor in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “This helps patients navigate through treatments in a more user-friendly way.”
The clinic will serve patients with the most severe forms of depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder who have not found success through traditional forms of medication and psychotherapy. The multidisciplinary team will assess needs and build an interventional psychiatry plan.
For de Quevedo, giving patients access to these resources is the most exciting part of opening this clinic.
“We want to not only be involved in clinical care, but also in research and education,” de Quevedo said. “We plan to help develop new interventional treatments and begin a fellowship in interventional psychiatry in July 2024 to spread this model.”
The new clinic location will be led by psychiatrists, psychologists, researchers, educators, advanced care providers, and staff. Support services include:
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
- Esketamine intranasal therapy
- Ketamine intravenous therapy
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
- Magnetic seizure therapy (MST)*
- Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)
- Deep brain stimulation (DBS)*
*under research protocols
The UT Physicians Interventional Psychiatry Clinic, 7000 Fannin St., Suite 1620, opened July 17. The clinic’s operating hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 713-486-2621 to make an appointment.
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Hurry! Early bird special ends today! (August 31) | |
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Registration for the 2023 UTHealth Houston Addictions Conference, titled “The Kids Aren’t Alright: Youth Substance Use Prevention and Treatment,” is now open! The conference will be held at the InterContinental Houston-Medical Center, 6750 Main St., Houston, TX 77030 on Friday, August 25.
The conference will provide practitioners with the latest advances in the epidemiology and etiology of the disorder, as well as prevention and treatment of substance use in youth. Clinicians will be introduced to the opportunities for treatment and challenges associated with adolescent substance use, including consideration of unique neurobiological and social concerns in this age group.
A special research blitz will showcase ongoing studies on prescription stimulants in youth, the e-cigarette epidemic, and cannabis use in youth.
Early bird registration is being extended through Monday, July 31, at 11:59 p.m. Visit https://go.uth.edu/23AddConf and use code “EARLYBIRD20ADD” at checkout to receive the discount. After July 31, there will be no other discounts offered, so sign up early!
We hope to see you all at the 2023 UTHealth Houston Addictions Conference!
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(Photo from: Shyam Tailor/UTHealth Houston) | |
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On Friday, July 21, the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences hosted a community summit to inform the public of the various programs created by Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC).
TCMHCC was created by the 86th Texas Legislature to leverage the expertise and capacity of the health-related institutions of higher education to address urgent mental health challenges and improve the mental health care system in this state in relation to children and adolescents.
In 2021, the Texas Legislature approved federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Specific programs include:
- Child Psychiatric Access Network (CPAN)
- Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine (TCHATT)
- Adolescent Substance Use Disorders (ASUD)
- Building Resilience in Youth after Traumatic Experiences (BRYTE)
- Youth Aware of Mental Health (YAM)
- Community Psychiatry Workforce Expansion (CPWE)
About 50 people, mostly professionals in the field, some not-for-profit organizations, and other providers attended in person with another 50 joining virtually. Presenters, all from TCMHCC programs, were happy to share information with attendees. There was ample time for discussion, questions, and interactions with the various programs.
“I was very impressed to see the level of involvement and excitement of all the teams,” Cesar Soutullo said, MD, PhD, vice chair and chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. “We share a common goal, to help these kids and adolescents. As I mentioned on the sessions, don’t underestimate the power of a child wanting to improve and overcome adversity and how individual people can be the catalyst of that change.”
Read more about the TCMHCC programs here.
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Spotlight:
UTHealth Houston study on seasonality of teen suicidality in JAMA Network Open
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Written by: Halle Jones
The incidences of teen suicidality including self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts increased nationally between 2016 and 2021; were at seasonal high peaks in April and October; and were at their lowest when schools were shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research at UTHealth Houston.
The study was published this month in JAMA Network Open. It was authored by Youngran Kim, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health; Scott D. Lane, PhD, professor and vice chair for research in the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston; and Trudy Millard Krause, DrPH, professor in the Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health at the School of Public Health and co-director at the Center for Health Care Data.
“There is a clear pattern of suicidality related to the academic calendar. When that pattern was disrupted during COVID-19 and a change in the school calendar occurred, it clearly affected suicidal behavior,” Kim said.
“We were initially motivated to determine if there was an increasing trend in youth self-harm and suicide ideation or attempt over the past five years, and we did in fact confirm a year-over-year increase — except 2020,” said Lane, who is also director of research for the UTHealth Houston Behavioral Sciences Campus. “In 2020, we were provided with a rare natural experiment, in which the entire school system was shut down across the country. It was an opportunity to examine seasonality corresponding to the school calendar. It just happened that the school closure occurred during months in which suicidality normally peaks. In fact, we observed a decline in the spring when schools were closed, where we otherwise would predict an increase.”
In the cross-sectional study, researchers looked at 73,123 emergency department visits and hospitalizations that occurred among more than a million youth and adolescents each year for suicidality between 2016 and 2021. The national database is administrated by Krause.
Among these events, nearly 66% were females with the average age of 15. From 2016 to 2019, there was an increase in incidence from 760 per 100,000 to 1,006 per 100,000. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a temporary decrease to 942 per 100,000 and then a jump to 1,160 per 100,000 in 2021.
“There was a linear trend where the increase was consistent from 2016 to 2019, and then a drop in 2020. However, the rebound in 2021 did not resume along that trend line, it actually overshot it,” Lane said. “We found a post-COVID increase in suicidality beyond what would be expected, and it was particularly salient in females.”
During pre-COVID-19 years and 2021, seasonal patterns showed peaks in April and October with a dramatic low in the summer months. consistent with the school calendar. However, for the spring of 2020, during the time when schools were shut down, April and May had the lowest rates.
Given the findings, researchers suggest interventions during the peak months of April and October, especially for adolescent females, could help in protect against seasonal increases in suicidality.
“If I were a provider or a public health official interested in suicidality, I might emphasize programs that recognize the increased risk in adolescent females post-COVID,” Lane said. “Or at least have specialized interventions that are aware of the uniqueness of female suicidality in youth.”
A limitation of the study is that the data only looked at the suicidality in youth with health insurance. who presented to an emergency department or were directly hospitalized. The data did not include those who were uninsured or had federal or state-supported health insurance. Also, while suicidality is among the best predictors of completed suicide, the study did not measure completed suicides because those records do not go to the insurance database used in the report.
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Giridharan receives award from AHA | |
Vijayasree Vayalanellore Giridharan, PharmD, PhD, received a $395,272 Second Century Implementation Science Award from the American Heart Association (AHA). Her project is titled "Neuropsychiatric Consequences on COVID-19 Survivors - Role of Vascular Damage and Gut Microbiome."
Patients with COVID-19 often report symptoms such as headaches, confusion, and loss of smell. Through the nose and via blood, coronavirus can reach the brain. How it affects the brain is still not clear. Data shows that COVID-19 survivors exhibit elevated levels of depression and stress. The research will look at how mental issues caused by COVID-19 can be reduced, and what the possible factors are that might affect the brain after COVID-19. This study will also investigate the reason for COVID-19-induced depression.
COVID-19 infection not only affects the respiratory system but also presents a range of gastrointestinal issues in many patients. Disturbances in gut commensals have been reported following COVID-19 infection. Additionally, studies have indicated that COVID-19 can cause damage to blood vessels, facilitating its spread to various organs throughout the body. In light of these findings, this study will test the association between gut health and blood markers in COVID-19 patients. The outcomes from this study hold significant potential for real-world applications, as the knowledge gained may be effectively translated into practical interventions and treatment strategies for COVID-19 survivors. By bridging the gap between research and clinical practice, goals aim to improve the overall well-being and quality of life for those impacted by COVID-19.
Giridharan is an instructor in the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Her area of focus centers on understanding the pathophysiology behind infection-induced long-term behavioral consequences.
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Save the date:
Registration is opening soon!
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Registration is opening very soon for the 2023 UTHealth Houston Mood Disorders Conference - Mood Disorder Challenges: Emerging Systems and Individual Solutions. The Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences will collaborate with the National Network of Depression Centers to put on this two-day conference.
The conference will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 13-14 at InterContinental Hotel, 6750 Main St., Houston, TX 77030.
Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States, affecting more than 17 million American adults. Despite the numerous treatment options currently available, approximately 30% of patients with major depressive disorder do not achieve remission.
This conference will explore the greatest clinical challenges across the life span and in complex clinical scenarios. Interdisciplinary clinicians and scientists will offer new insights from the latest research on major depressive disorder to the role of novel therapeutic approaches for treatment optimization. Attendees will gain practical and valuable knowledge to improve and enhance depression care and overall mental health care in Houston and the surrounding communities.
We hope you will join us for the conference!
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The following clinical trials are in operation, following all necessary safety guidelines. If you're interested, contact the appropriate study.
Developing Adaptive Interventions for Cocaine Cessation and Relapse Prevention
We are conducting a study to develop adaptive treatment interventions that change based on how the participant is doing. Individuals seeking treatment for cocaine addiction may qualify to participate in this two-phase program.
Contact: 713-500-DRUG (3784)
Stem Cells for Treatment-Resistant Bipolar Depression
This study aims to examine the safety and efficacy of allogenic mesenchymal stem cells as an adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant bipolar depression. Patients will be assigned into a treatment or a placebo group.
Contact: 713-486-2627
VNS RECOVER Study
Researchers in the UTHealth Houston Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders are studying the VNS therapy LivaNova device to treat depression as part of the RECOVER trial.
Contact: 713-486-2627
To see all open studies, visit our website.
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Did we finally find a good animal model for bipolar disorder? - Molecular Psychiatry - June 2023
Samira S. Valvassori, João Quevedo, and Giselli Scaini
Efficacy and adverse effects of ketamine versus electroconvulsive therapy for major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis - PubMed - June 2023
Debora de A Simoes Moreira, Luís Eduardo Gauer, Guilherme Teixeira, Amanda Carolina Fonseca da Silva, Stefanie Cavalcanti, João Quevedo
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Research from Youngran Kim, PhD; Scott Lane, PhD; and Trudy Millard Krause, DrPH, which revealed that incidences of teen suicidality increased nationally from 2016 to 2021.
Cesar Soutullo, PhD, spoke to National Geographic about how ADHD and binge eating are related.
Jennifer Bahrman, PhD, was interviewed by The Washington Post about the healthy life skills teens should have so they are prepared to live on their own.
Antonio Teixeira, MD, PhD, was quoted by Medical News Today about whether or not your morning coffee is really an energy boost or just a placebo.
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Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
713-486-2500
Email
Website
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