Department of Psychiatry

Description of Research Expertise

My overall research goal is to identify brain markers of depression and anxiety treatment response across disorders using structural and functional neuroimaging and to improve strategies for brain neuromodulation.

Funded grants include:

1.) "Novel neural circuit biomarkers of depression response to computer-augmented CBT"
We are using functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine novel neural circuit biomarkers of depression treatment response to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) augmented by actigraphy and computerized algorithms.

2.) "RECOVER: A PRospective, Multi-cEnter, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial DemOnstrating
the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as AdjunctivE Therapy Versus a No Stimulation
Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression"
We are trying to determine whether active VNS Therapy treatment improves health outcomes for Treatment

3.) "Reducing neural perseveration through closed loop real time fMRI neurofeedback to alleviate
depressive symptoms"
We will test the efficacy of a new psychotherapeutic strategy to reduce depression severity, the first real-time fMRI feedback therapy to use cloud-based pattern classification to decode the patient’s attentional state and dynamically modulate task stimuli (in a “closed loop”) based on this state.

4.) "Intensive TMS for Rapid Relief of Bipolar Depression Symptoms"
In Bipolar depressed patients we are testing whether using high dose spaced theta-burst rTMS (HDS-TBS) produces a significant reduction in depressive symptoms compared with sham using a within-subjects design, maximizing power to detect differences and enabling all participants to receive active treatment.

5.) "Harmonization of Multi-Site Neuroimaging Data from Complex Study Designs"
In this project, we propose to develop, implement, and apply next-generation imaging harmonization methods for data acquired longitudinally or from more complex study designs, as well as appropriate harmonization methods for use in conjunction with popular multivariate pattern analysis techniques.

6.) "3/4-Deciphering Mechanisms of ECT Outcomes and Adverse Effects (DECODE)"
All MRI data will be processed and harmonized identically at a central imaging core to ensure
uniformity. We have three primary aims: 1) Investigate how the E-field achieves antidepressant effects, by
testing the causal paths on treatment responsive biomarkers expected to mediate effects on antidepressant outcomes; 2) Investigate how E-field produces cognitive effects, by testing causal paths on cognitive safety biomarkers expected to mediate effects on cognitive outcomes; and 3) through integration of methodologies, to determine localization and strength of optimal ECT

7.) "Novel electric-field modelling approach to quantify changes in resting state functional
connectivity following theta burst stimulation"
Build and validate a whole-brain, domain-general model of brain connectivity changes following transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), based on physical models of the current distribution at the cortex. This work will provide direct evidence that brain connectivity changes following neuromodulatory TMS vary as a function of the current density

8.) "Individualized brain biomarkers of late life depression: contributions to disease trajectory and
resilience"
Determination of optimal brain and disease measures and with depression assessment for late life depression.

9.) "Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease: CaTAUstrophy?"
Dr. Sheline will assist with interpretation of clinical, neuroimaging and brain biomarker depression brain biomarker findings and provide input on determining life course and illness burden.