UNC Psychiatry

03/27/2026

03/26/2026

Many women treated for early-stage breast cancer report ongoing problems with memory and thinking years after chemotherapy. In this study, nearly 40% of survivors reported long-term cognitive concerns, and those who experienced depression, anxiety, or fatigue during chemotherapy were significantly more likely to have these difficulties years later—highlighting the importance of monitoring and addressing these symptoms early.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41711655/

03/24/2026

Postpartum depression (PPD) is linked to neuroimmune dysregulation. Brexanolone, an intravenous formulation of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone and the first FDA-approved treatment for PPD, produces rapid and sustained antidepressant effects. However, its long-term mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study evaluated brexanolone’s prolonged impact on two groups of biomarkers in whole blood: inflammatory mediators and growth/differentiation/neurotrophic factors.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41620430/

03/23/2026

Get to know us!

Julia N. Riddle, MD
Assistant Professor, Clinician-scientist, Reproductive Psychiatrist
UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders

03/20/2026

Reduced sensory habituation—the brain’s ability to filter out repetitive, irrelevant stimuli— is commonly found in neurodevelopmental disorders. We found that predictive signals from the orbitofrontal cortex to the primary auditory cortex actively drive this process, providing insights into the neural basis of impaired habituation.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41735536/

03/20/2026

UNC Youth Behavioral Health Hospital (YBH) is a 54-bed, 24-hour, locked psychiatric facility located in Butner, North Carolina. YBH philosophy is grounded in a milieu-based, trauma-informed and therapeutic setting. This facility aims to serve patients with a complex history, including aggression and psychosis.

https://www.med.unc.edu/psych/specialty-care/youthbehavioralhealth/

03/19/2026

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as an accident or assault. Symptoms can include flashbacks, anxiety, and emotional distress, which significantly impact daily life. This study explores how changes in brain activity after trauma can predict future symptoms of posttraumatic stress (PTS).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41181354/

03/18/2026

Get to know us!

Fred Jarskog, MD
Research Director, North Carolina Psychiatric Research Center

"I didn't go into medicine thinking I would go into psychiatry but once I started working in psychiatry, it was just so rewarding. Working especially with people with psychotic disorders, that came in so ill and having so much trouble, treatment made such a difference and in a short amount of time. I was amazed at how well treatment worked. This was both gratifying in being able to help people but it was also nice to work in a setting where you really felt like you were making a difference. That to me really kind of set me on my path for doing the work I do today."

Dr. Jarskog's research is focused on both trying to understand the biology of schizophrenia and working on improving medications and finding new treatments for schizophrenia.

03/17/2026

This proof-of-concept study examined whether simpler, less invasive methods could identify women who are sensitive to normal fluctuations in ovarian hormones, a factor believed to contribute to mood disorders such as perinatal depression. Researchers tested a shortened seven-day hormone challenge and prospective menstrual cycle mood tracking, finding that these approaches may offer practical alternatives to the longer, more intensive hormone suppression protocol. UNC Center for Women's Mood Disorders

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41422952/

03/12/2026

The teen years aren't easy, but parents can listen.

03/12/2026

Spring has sprung! 🌸