Student Driven Publication 2016
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Student Driven Publication 2016 Newsletter Coordinators: Randy P. Auerbach, Kristin Gainey, and Vijay Mittal Diego A. Pizzagalli, Ph.D. McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Nancy Lundin, Indiana University Bloomington Tanya Tran, Queen’s University Shereen Khoo, University of Notre Dame Joshua Mervis, University of Minnesota Twin Cities t was a pleasure to important complement to speak with Dr. Diego categorical classifications of I A. Pizzagalli about his mental illness. By branching research trajectory and out from a sole focus on the insights at the 2016 SRP psychopathology of meeting. He received his individual diagnoses, his work master’s and doctoral has delved into the degrees from the transdiagnostic construct of University of Zurich, reward sensitivity as a Switzerland, where he continuum. began his research in ethology and then Recent research in Dr. Pizzagalli’s transitioned to neurophysiology. Dr. lab focuses on neurobiological and Pizzagalli’s research is currently focused cognitive predictors of on the mechanisms of anhedonia, a psychopathology in treatment-seeking treatment-resistant symptom that is “He is finding that regardless of linked to impaired functioning in mood diagnosis, these patients fall on and anxiety disorders. Specifically, his lab employs rigorous translational work a continuum of reward to understand how environmental sensitivity, a measure that might factors, such as early childhood sexual help untangle their diathesis abuse and other forms of early better than clinical adversity, can affect hedonic processing presentation.” in reward learning systems of the brain such as the mesolimbic system. Aspects patients at mood disorders clinics. of Dr. Pizzagalli’s research have been These patients perform a probabilistic recently guided by principles of the reward learning task (developed by Dr. National Institute of Mental Health Pizzagalli’s research team) and undergo (NIMH) Research Domain Criteria a battery of neuroimaging assessments (RDoC) initiative. He views studying at baseline and one-year follow-up. fundamental dimensions of behavior as To illustrate this concept, he clinically meaningful, and as an gave the example of two patients receiving the diagnosis of depression targets of downstream translational from a clinic. On behavioral and work. He noted at his talk during this neuroimaging assessments of reward year’s SRP meeting that it often seems learning, one patient may demonstrate that regardless of the particular a hyperactive reward system while the intervention to treat depression, the other demonstrates blunted reward response rate is about 50-55%. Dr. learning. He adds that these Pizzagalli laments that we as a field are dimensional measures across units of still using the same type of analysis can aid us in predicting whether antidepressants we used 40 years ago. these patients will develop hypomanic, He therefore called for greater progress impulsive, anhedonic, or unipolar in pharmacological mechanisms, depressive tendencies over the next seeking to use smarter ways to guide year. Such predictions could provide patient-specific treatment, noting that critical clinical foresight and this problem is not unique to opportunities for novel interventions. depression research. He hopes for new When asked about the clinical progress via genetic work or implications of his research, Dr. development of new compounds, Pizzagalli explained that he sees his especially fast-acting compounds, such research applying to a patient’s day-to- as ketamine, or an agent with similar day experience of depression, in line properties. with today’s emphasis on personalized Dr. Pizzagalli expressed healthcare. While his research is what motivation to collaborate with many might classify as basic human preclinical researchers to accelerate the neuroscience, the drive to improve process of finding new treatment people’s lives motivates this work, as mechanisms. He reflected on the through his lab’s efforts to find academic temptation to spend a career biomarkers of treatment response. For focused within one’s own lab on just example, basic neuroscientific findings one construct, but notes that progress is might inform a clinician as to whether best achieved through collaboration an individual client would respond best with scientists of many kinds who offer to a particular psychotherapeutic unique perspectives. Beyond intervention, a certain medication collaboration with preclinical teams, Dr. regimen, or both. Pizzagalli sees an important opportunity Dr. Pizzagalli is optimistic about for experimental psychopathologists to the future of translational neuroscience, join forces in tackling difficult clinical noting that it is challenging work, but research questions. He explains, “The has potential for important findings. For field of neuroimaging has great example, “personalized treatments that potential to benefit from those in really push the envelope” are critical engineering who use machine learning and other sophisticated algorithms that psychopathology, higher rates of smoking and stimulant use, and maladaptive coping behaviors. In addition to a focus on risk, he is currently studying resilience factors that may protect victims of childhood maltreatment from developing psychopathology. In the future, his team is looking forward to continuing these lines of work and focusing on sex- specific differences in the manifestation of depressive symptoms from both could assist in subtyping patients”. In behavioral and neurobiological conjunction with the large genome- perspectives. wide association studies using brute When we asked Dr. Pizzagalli for force with large sample sizes, Dr. advice that he would give students Pizzagalli explains that experimental pursuing academia, he told us to psychopathologists could play a unique, prepare ourselves to experience synergistic role by incorporating multi- setbacks. Persevere in the pursuit of a faceted consideration of the phenotype topic you are passionate about, for you in a coordinated parallel to the will be rewarded later on regardless of genotype. whether others warn you that the line of Dr. Pizzagalli has led an research is not promising. He advised ambitious research career and attributes us that it is helpful not to be too his successful line of work to the early rejection-sensitive, given that we are in days of following small ideas. Reflecting a field in which we are constantly on a favorite moment of discovery, Dr. evaluated. Lastly, he encouraged us to Pizzagalli noted an early prospective read broadly outside of our immediate study looking at the effect of childhood field; reading literature and connecting maltreatment in females twenty years with colleagues in other areas can later. He found that even those who uncover the best insights. We were were not symptomatic had very blunted grateful that Dr. Pizzagalli took the time reward system activation, specifically in out of his busy schedule to chat with us, the striatum. This finding was one of the and we look forward to following his first to show that childhood future research pursuits! maltreatment can influence longstanding neurobiological changes to brain reward pathways and increase the risk of these individuals developing Steve Hollon, Ph.D. Zubin Award Winner Vanderbilt University Chloe Hudson, Queen’s University Simone Cunningham, Queen’s University Lisa Bartolomeo, Indiana University Ema Tanovic, Yale University Docia Demmin, Rutgers University r. Steve Hollon was this Florida State University for his year’s winner of the Joseph graduate training, which he D Zubin admitted was partially Award for his to avoid the snow. lifetime Like many first year contribution students entering to research on graduate school, Dr. the etiology Hollon initially was and treatment plagued with doubts of depression. about his chosen Dr. Hollon has path. Despite always made an being interested in enormous contribution to the field, depression, he was met with the with 250 publications–his favorites struggle of integrating his own being the long-term follow-ups of interests with those of his professors. treatment for depression. We had It was not until his advisor shared a the pleasure to speak with Dr. preprint of a book chapter on the Hollon to discuss the trajectory of his psychology of depression written by career and advice he has for current Dr. Martin Seligman that he felt and prospective scientist- confident and motivated in his practitioners. pursuits. These ambitions were Dr. Hollon reported that he further amplified upon meeting his ended up in psychology “by beloved wife and fellow depression- accident.” Dr. Hollon began his crusader, Dr. Judy Garber. training with aspirations of Coincidentally, Dr. Garber becoming a lawyer, but quickly planned to move to Philadelphia to realized that he was more interested work with Dr. Seligman, while Dr. in psychology. Dr. Hollon attended Hollon aspired to work with Dr. Beck and others recognized as pioneers in useful in treating depression, so they the field of depression research, like assume that using them in Lyn Abramson, Lauren Alloy, Harold conjunction is also likely to be Sackeim, Myer Mendelson, and Joe helpful. However, Dr. Hollon’s work Mendel. Among these brilliant minds suggests that this may not actually and exposure to different aspects of be the case for promoting the best depression, Dr. Hollon had an long-term outcomes. Dr. Hollon epiphany that shaped his current presented a series of randomized approach to treating depression, control