Clinical and Basic
Neuroscience Research
Training Program in Psychiatry

Research Endeavors

By evolutionary design, the brain has been specifically engineered to develop in response to both genetic and environmental factors. This interaction of gene and environment is crucial to both normal and abnormal psychological development.

The first goal of modern psychiatry is to delineate the mechanisms by which genetic and environmental factors interact to produce normal brain function as well as abnormalities in brain function that underlie mental disorders. Based on these insights, the challenge will be to develop means of facilitating normal brain development, as well as diagnose, treat and prevent major mental illnesses.

The Yale Department of Psychiatry has an international reputation in research. This research involves tightly integrated studies into the mechanisms of action of psychotropic drugs (including drugs of abuse) and the biological basis of the major mental disorders. The program's particular success relies on two key elements:

• The multidisciplinary nature of the clinical and basic research, including:

  The most modern descriptive, epidemiological, clinical neuropharmacological, neuroendocrine, genetic, neuroimaging and post-mortem techniques.

  Advanced preclinical research programs. including molecular biology,biochemistry, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, and behavioral pharmacology.

• The unique integration of clinical neuroscience research with basic neurobiology. The insights and understanding of basic neurobiological mechanisms at the preclinical level serve as the basis for the design and implementation of clinical studies. In turn, the findings from clinical studies inform and guide further exploration into preclinical mechanisms.

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