UCLA professor shares insights into the neurobiology of psychosis risk in adolescents

In a comprehensive interview by Genomic Press, Dr. Carrie E. Bearden, Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioural Sciences and Psychology at University College, Los Angeles, shares influential insights into the neurobiology of psychosis risk in young individuals. Her work marks a notable step forward in comprehension of how genetic factors and brain development interlink to affect mental health outcomes in adolescents.

Growing up in Hawaii, Dr. Bearden's early interest in enigmas and marine life developed into a deeply impassioned pursuit of neuroscience's most baffling conundrums. "What could be a more intriguing mystery to devote oneself to than the human brain?" she remarks, tracing her progression from literature student to leading neuroscientist.

Dr. Bearden's research combines two effective approaches: investigating high-risk patient groups and researching genetic conditions with a strong hereditary link. This two-pronged approach has offered vital insights into the development of psychosis, especially during adolescence. Her work at UCLA's Center for Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States (CAPPS) centres on identifying early warning signs that could allow intervention before symptoms reach crisis point.

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