UNC Psychiatry

02/11/2026

02/11/2026

This study examined whether blunted neural reward responsivity uniquely interacted with both individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage to predict youth depression symptom trajectories. Results showed that youth with blunted reward response at baseline exhibited significant increases in their depression symptoms over an 18-month follow-up if they were also exposed to either family or neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41332350/

02/10/2026

Holly is a social worker at YBH, providing therapy, case management, and support to adolescents and their families. Holly delivers brief, evidence-based interventions, including CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed approaches, and brings experience from school-based mental health settings. Holly’s clinical interests include a commitment to supporting adolescents and their families with compassion through collaborative, interdisciplinary, and systems oriented care.

02/09/2026

Lizette is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker with over 14 years of experience in medical social work and most recently 12 years of experience in inpatient hospital palliative care social work with an Advanced Palliative Hospice Social Worker board certification. Lizette has had the honor and privilege of supporting patients and families both in WNC and the Triangle area facing chronic, serious and/or life limiting illness via advocacy and care navigation; focusing on optimization of quality of life throughout the spectrum of care. She is looking forward to using these clinical experiences to now help support patients and families affected by cancer in her role within UNC’s Comprehensive Cancer Support Program. Lizette completed both her undergraduate (Psych BA) and graduate education (MSW) at UNC, and is excited about returning to the Tar Heel community.

02/06/2026

Erin is a therapist on the UNC Wake County ACT Team, serving individuals in the community with severe and persistent mental illness. She leads with a person-centered approach, utilizing CBT and DBT to empower individuals to embrace their capabilities and all aspects of themselves to pursue their goals. There is no goal too small! She is interested in continuing research into how nature-based therapy can be effective and applied in community based mental health.

02/03/2026

Welome Dr. Ruth to our virtual care team! Leigh J. Ruth, MD has dedicated her career to the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. With a profound commitment to her patients, Dr. Ruth specializes in treating complex cases involving catatonia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depressive and anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her empathetic approach and evidence-based treatments have profoundly impacted the lives of countless young individuals and their families.​

Leigh J. Ruth, MD has dedicated her career to the mental health and well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. A proud alumna of the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Dr. Ruth graduated in 2012, setting the foundation for her impactful journey in the field...

02/03/2026

The The Foundation of Hope funds groundbreaking mental illness research projects that explore the biological, neurological and genetic bases of mental illness and forge paths to improved diagnosis and treatment. The Foundation of Hope is and has been an amazing partner to our department for years and we're so grateful for their support of our research!

01/29/2026

A Carolina alumna and her former research mentors, doctors Nicolas Pégard and Jose Rodríguez-Romaguera, assistant professor of psychiatry, are developing wearable smart glasses that could one day support new insights into mental health. The trio co-founded a startup company called Carolina Instruments to produce eye-tracking smart glasses that could improve mental health research.

“My dream as a mental health scientist is to have an actual impact in the clinic,” Dr. Rodríguez-Romaguera says. “The minute I realized we had a device that could potentially do that, I knew we needed to explore the commercial side in parallel to our scientific pursuits.”

https://research.unc.edu/story/eyes-on-the-brain/

01/27/2026

What is a psychiatrist and when do I need one instead of a psychologist?

Psychiatrists and psychologists are both highly trained mental health professionals who often work closely together to provide comprehensive, evidence-based care.

Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe medication and supportive therapy, and manage care that integrates mental and physical health.

Psychologists are doctoral-level clinicians and scientists trained in assessment, brain-behavior relationships, and evidence-based psychotherapies. Many psychologists also conduct research that directly informs treatment. The therapies psychologists provide are structured, skills-based, and designed to produce measurable change—not “just talk therapy.”

Conditions such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, and others are often treated effectively with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of both.

In our department, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers collaborate closely—drawing on different areas of expertise—to tailor care to each individual’s needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care, and collaboration across disciplines is key.

For appointments, call 984-974-5217
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01/22/2026

01/22/2026

Being a mom can be hard, but postpartum depression makes it harder. Despite this, the experiences of Black and Latina moms often are excluded from the research needed to understand and treat it. The MomGenes Study is working to bridge this gap by learning how genetics and life experiences play a role in postpartum depression—especially in communities that have been overlooked. Participating in this study is safe, private, easy, and open to all moms: complete a short online survey and, if you choose, share a small blood sample using an at-home kit.

https://momgenesfightppd.org/

01/22/2026

Nicholas Fogleman combines brain imaging research with hands-on clinical care to better understand and support children and teens with ADHD. “It’s the most common childhood condition,” he explains. “I felt I could help the most people by studying it.”

Today, as a faculty member in the UNC School of Medicine, Fogleman serves as a co-investigator on the BrainMap study, which examines how adolescent brains develop and focuses on the differences between youth with and without ADHD. He also directs the UNC ADHD Program, offering evaluations, therapy, medication management, and parent training to families.

https://research.unc.edu/story/mapping-the-adhd-brain/