News

Mindfulness practices such as meditation have been shown to reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve one’s sense of well-being. But what is it about these practices that produces these benefits? That’s one of the key questions Duke Psychiatry's Moria Smoski, PhD, and Joseph Diehl, a clinical psychology PhD student, are exploring with an interdisciplinary student research team they co-lead.

Frank Keefe, PhD, professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences, received the American Psychological Association’s 2024 Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology—the highest honor for scientific contribution presented by the APA.

Congratulations to our faculty members who were appointed to new leadership roles at the departmental, institutional, statewide, national, and international levels this past year!

Andres Fuenmayor, MD, a second-year psychiatry resident, received this year’s James H. Carter, Sr. Community Service Award. Carter was the first Black full professor of psychiatry at Duke, and the award was established in honor of his dedication to serving the underserved.

Enriching the careers of our faculty members, providers, trainees, staff, and interns is an integral component of Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences’ strategic plan. In recent years, department leaders have worked diligently to bring this goal to fruition for our research mission.

Brain scans analyzed in a Duke Psychiatry-led global study give the clearest picture yet of how PTSD is associated with smaller cerebellums, a part of the brain linked to emotion and memory. The next step is to explore what came first: the smaller brain or the PTSD? The research might lead to individualized and targeted PTSD treatments.

A team led by researchers from Duke University and the University of Cape Town aims to test a contextually adapted autism intervention informed by the Early Denver Start Model for young children in South Africa, with the ultimate goal of increasing access to early autism interventions in low-resource communities.

Going to the doctor can be stressful, particularly for individuals on the autism spectrum, who often have unique sensitivities and needs. Faculty and staff in the Duke Center for Autism & Brain Development are working to support Duke Health clinicians in providing appropriate care for people on the spectrum.

More than 30 Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences faculty members, staff members, and trainees received noteworthy awards and honors in 2023.

Clinical psychology doctoral intern Iris McMillan's passion for equity and inclusion informs her research and clinical care; it's also led her into advocacy at the individual, systems, and policy levels. She envisions herself working on a multidisciplinary team in an academic medical center.