Yvette I. Sheline, M.D.

DEPARTMENT OF Psychiatry
Keywords: mood disorders, MRI, neuroimaging, neuromorphometry, PET

Dr. Sheline’s research focuses on neuroanatomical and functional changes that occur during major depression. 3D MRI studies measure volumes of limbic structures including the hippocampus, amygdala and medial prefrontal cortex. Functional MRI (fMRI) studies characterize activation to emotional stimuli by using a conflict paradigm and a reward paradigm during acute depression and following treatment as compared with controls. Dr. Sheline is principal investigator of an NIMH grant, “Treatment Outcome of Vascular Depression,” which uses MRI to determine severity of white matter hyperintensities among subjects with cardiovascular risk factors and major depression. In addition, she is collaborating on a PET study tied to this grant looking at white matter hyperintensities in depressed and control populations. She is also collaborating on a PET study of dopamine receptors in ECT and antidepressant-treated subjects. Correlations of structural and functional variables with clinical variables such as age, duration of illness, treatment response, cortisol levels, and neuropsychological status are an integral part of these studies.