Department of Psychiatry Faculty

Education

1990 M.D., University of Vienna, Austria
Residency training in Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Austria

Research Interest

My research is dedicated to the evaluation of the biological basis of mood and anxiety disorders, with particular focus on unipolar depression, posttraumatic stress disorder and panic disorder. The laboratory aims to generate models which consider biological and psychosocial factors in the pathogenesis of these disorders. A particular focus is on combining genetics with neurochemistry and brain imaging techniques to evaluate the relative contribution of these factors in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety. The imaging technique that the laboratory is most focused on is positron emission tomography (PET) which allows in vivo evaluation of biological processes that are believed to play a critical role in the etiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Based on results from our neuroscience research, we are in the process of identifying potential novel targets for treatment of patients affected with these disorders. These novel targets aim to be more effective and might have a more favorable side effects profile. Receptor imaging using PET plays a critical role in this process.

Publications of Note

Neumeister A, Bain E, Nugent AC, Carson R, Bonne O, Luckenbaugh DA, Eckelman W, Herscovitch P, Charney DS, Drevets WC (2004) Reduced serotonin type 1A receptor binding in panic disorder. J Neuroscience 24(3): 589-591
Neumeister A, Nugent AC, Waldeck T, Geraci M, Schwarz M, Bonne O, Bain E, Luckenbaugh D, Herscovitch P, Charney DS, Drevets WC (2004) Neural and behavioral responses to tryptophan depletion in unmedicated patients with remitted major depressive disorder and controls. Arch Gen Psychiatry 61:765-773
Neumeister A, Charney DS, Belfer I, Geraci M, Holmes C, Alim T, Sharabi Y, Bonne O, Luckenbaugh DA, Manji H, Goldman D, Goldstein DS (2005) Sympathoneural and Adrenomedullary Functional Effects of a2C-Adrenoreceptor Gene Polymorphism in Healthy Humans. Pharmacogenetics and Genomics 15: 143-149
Neumeister A, Wood S, Bonne O, Nugent A, Luckenbaugh D, Young T, Bain E, Charney DS, Drevets WC (2005) Reduced hippocampal volume in unmedicated, remitted patients with major depression versus controls. Biol Psychiatry 57: 935-937

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