Medical diseases interface with psychiatry and psychology

The goal of these research teams is to help patients with medical illnesses adapt to their medical conditions and implement positive lifestyle changes. Examples include the Pain Rehabilitation, Traumatic Brain Injury and Bariatric Surgery programs, as well as Neuropsychology and Aging, Psychosomatics, and Cancer and Palliative Care.

Behavioral health

The Behavioral Health Research Program focuses on developing novel, theory-based behavioral interventions for tobacco cessation targeting various underserved populations, adolescents, smokers with psychiatric comorbidities and the social network of smokers. The program is located in Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

• Christi A. Patten, Ph.D.

Brain rehabilitation

The brain rehabilitation research group is composed of a multidisciplinary team with members from the departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, Nursing, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Neurology, and Social Services.

This center has been continually funded as a Traumatic Brain Injury Model System (TBIMS) Research Program, contributing patient data to the TBIMS national database and collaborating in analyses of this dataset.

• Thomas Bergquist, Ph.D., L.P.

Cancer and palliative care

The primary goal of the cancer and palliative care research team is to improve the quality of life for patients with cancer and their caregivers by first assessing and treating psychiatric difficulties and then teaching skills for coping with cancer. This multidisciplinary research team spans Mayo Clinic's campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota.

• Steven C. Ames, Ph.D.
• Matthew M. Clark, Ph.D., L.P.
• Melanie T. Gentry, M.D.
• Simon Kung, M.D.
• Maria I. Lapid, M.D.
• Shehzad K. Niazi, M.D.
• Jarrett W. Richardson III, M.D.
• Teresa A. Rummans, M.D.

Healthy Action to Benefit Independence and Thinking (HABIT)

The HABIT clinical program supports the families of patients dealing with mild cognitive impairment. Learn more about the HABIT program (PDF).

• Melanie J. Chandler, Ph.D.
• Dona E. Locke, Ph.D.
• Anni L. Shandera-Ochsner, Ph.D.

Neuropsychology, aging and cognition

This research group focuses on the early detection and treatment of illnesses related to dementia and aging, with ongoing research at all three Mayo Clinic campuses. Also, the group collaborates with colleagues in behavioral neurology, neuropsychiatry, neuroimaging, neuropathology, molecular biology and pharmacology at Mayo Clinic and other institutions.

Adult

• Thomas Bergquist, Ph.D., L.P.
• Jane H. Cerhan, Ph.D., L.P.
• Melanie J. Chandler, Ph.D.
• Tanis J. Ferman, Ph.D.
• Julie A. Fields, Ph.D., L.P.
• Kristin A. Kirlin, Ph.D.
• Dona E. Locke, Ph.D.
• John A. Lucas, Ph.D.
• Mary M. Machulda, Ph.D., L.P.
• Matthew R. Powell, Ph.D., L.P.
• Daniel E. Rohe, Ph.D., L.P.
• Beth K. Rush, Ph.D.
• Cynthia M. Stonnington, M.D.
• Nikki H. Stricker, Ph.D., L.P.
• Max R. Trenerry, Ph.D., L.P.
• Jennifer V. Wethe, Ph.D.

Pediatric

• Tanya M. Brown, Ph.D., L.P.
• Andrea R. Huebner, Ph.D., L.P.

Obesity and eating disorders

This multidisciplinary research team at Mayo Clinic is involved in several clinical projects and clinical trials funded by the National Institutes of Health and industry. These clinical trials examine the influence of psychological functioning and neurobiology on eating disorders and obesity. Through these investigations, the goal is to improve long-term treatment outcomes in children, adolescents and adults with obesity or eating disorders.

• Gretchen E. Ames, Ph.D.
• Bridget K. Biggs, Ph.D., L.P.
• Matthew M. Clark, Ph.D., L.P.
• Karen Grothe, Ph.D., L.P.
• Jocelyn R. Lebow, Ph.D., L.P.
• Leslie A. Sim, Ph.D., L.P.

Pain rehabilitation

The research activities of the comprehensive Pain Rehabilitation Center and the pain rehabilitation program, focus on the clinical outcomes of these unique multidisciplinary programs.

• Barbara K. Bruce, PH.D., L.P.
• Wesley P. Gilliam, Ph.D., L.P.
• Cynthia Harbeck-Weber, Ph.D., L.P.
• Larissa L. Loukianova, M.D., Ph.D.
• Eleshia J. Morrison, Ph.D., L.P., ABPP
• Leslie A. Sim, Ph.D., L.P.
• Christopher Sletten, Ph.D., L.P.
• Jeannie A. Sperry, Ph.D., L.P.
• Cynthia O. Townsend, Ph.D., L.P.

Psychosomatics

The psychosomatic research group investigates problems at the interface between medical and psychiatric illnesses. Topics of interest include somatic symptom disorders such as behavioral spells, chronic dizziness, functional gastrointestinal tract disorders and functional movement disorders, as well as health anxiety, depression and anxiety, in patients who are medically ill. Additional research focuses on predictors of disability and healthcare use.

• Shawna L. Ehlers, Ph.D., L.P.
• Kari A. Martin, M.D.
• Jeffrey P. Staab, M.D.
• Cynthia M. Stonnington, M.D.

Sleep medicine

Current Mayo Clinic researchers are involved in several national organizations related to sleep medicine, serving in leadership roles and working to advance the field. In addition, Mayo Clinic sleep centers at all three campuses are staffed by expert multispecialty care teams, including psychiatrists.

• R R. Auger, M.D.
• Bhanu Kolla, M.D.
• Lois E. Krahn, M.D.

Transplant

Transplant psychiatry and psychology research focuses on both pretransplant assessment and posttransplant outcomes for solid organ and bone marrow transplant patients. Mayo Clinic has taken a leadership role in assessing patients seeking hand transplant and the development of a multicenter database for candidates seeking hand transplants.

• Sheila G. Jowsey-Gregoire, M.D.
• Victor M. Karpyak, M.D., Ph.D.
• Kari A. Martin, M.D.
• Eleshia J. Morrison, Ph.D., L.P., ABPP
• Shehzad K. Niazi, M.D.
• Teresa A. Rummans, M.D.
• Terry D. Schneekloth, M.D.
• Cynthia M. Stonnington, M.D.
• Adriana R. Vasquez, M.D.