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Welcome to the Department of Psychiatry
The Department of Psychiatry is a diverse community of staff and faculty dedicated to our mission. It is comprised of over 300 regular, affiliate, and volunteer clinical faculty, working at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, UCHealth/University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Denver Health Medical Center, and the VA Medical Center, as well as at the Department of Corrections and the Colorado Mental Health Institutes at Pueblo & Ft. Logan. Currently, the general adult psychiatry residency is ACGME accredited for 45 positions, the child and adolescent psychiatry residency is ACGME accredited for 14 positions, the addiction psychiatry fellowship is ACGME accredited for 3 positions, the consult-liaison psychiatry fellowship is ACGME accredited for 3 positions and the forensic psychiatry fellowship is ACGME accredited for 4 positions. The department is dedicated to serving a community in which we value all people and have a continued commitment to diversity and inclusion in our clinical, research, treatment and educational activities.
Dr. Neill Epperson
Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Our Vision
The CU Department of Psychiatry sets the standard for Education and Training of leaders in psychiatry and mental health care, conducts ground-breaking Research that aims to eradicate suffering due to psychiatric and substance use disorders, provides ready access to state of-the-art mental health preventions and interventions across the continuum of care, and collaborates with the community and other key stakeholders to promote well-being among all Coloradans. We accomplish this vision in a manner that respects, values and advocates for the dignity and worth of each individual and family.
Our Mission
Core Mission: We provide a safe, equitable and inclusive environment for trainees, faculty, staff, and patients. We bridge the gaps of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, gender, gender identity, ability status, religion, political beliefs, socioeconomic status and any other factors related to systemic oppression by trusting and honoring each other and our differences. Our Department promotes unbiased recruitment of qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds in all mission areas. We focus on retention, career advancement and promotion through empowering individuals and creating an environment that facilitates continuous growth and success.
Education and Training Mission: Through our educational programs, we train medical students, graduate students, residents, psychology interns, fellows, and practicing health care professionals to be future leaders in mental health and behavioral health disciplines. We train leaders who recognize and work to eradicate health inequities that weaken families and communities.
Research Mission: Our interdisciplinary research programs produce new knowledge regarding the causes of mental illness and substance use disorders as well as the psychosocial, behavioral and sociocultural aspects of physical and mental health conditions. We identify, develop, and implement new, early prevention strategies and novel interventions to improve the lives of all human beings. We seek to be rigorous and inclusive in all of our scientific endeavors.
Clinical Care Mission: Through state-of-the-art clinical services, we deliver a full range of mental health and behavioral health interventions for patients and their families. These include neurobehavioral assessments, psychotherapy, behavioral change and health promotion strategies, neuromodulation and psychopharmacology services that recognize the wealth of cultural knowledge on how social contexts impact physical and psychological well-being.
Community and Advocacy Mission: We work with our local communities, affiliated institutions, and state and federal government agencies to promote strategies for increasing mental health awareness, reducing stigma, identifying and eliminating health disparities, and standing against discrimination and harassment to all members in our community.
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Telepsychiatry an ‘effective tool’ for perinatal integrated care
Feb 18, 2020 by“Early identification and treatment of perinatal depression can improve outcomes for mothers and children by promoting both parenting success and early childhood development,” Jay H. Shore, of CU School of Medicine, and colleagues wrote. Healio, Feb. 10, 2020Full story -
MMC Research Institute awarded grant to study benefits of therapeutic horseback riding for children with autism
Feb 18, 2020 byThe Maine Medical Research Institute will partner with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to study why therapeutic horseback riding benefits children with autism and co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses. Both organizations have been awarded $2.5 million for their research….A previous study by Colorado Anschutz researcher Robin Gabriels showed that a 10-week horseback riding session reduced irritability and hyperactivity while improving social communication skills. The new research will look at why. News Center Maine (Portland, Maine), Feb. 10, 2020Full story -
CU Anschutz turns in high-profile research on children, bipolar disorder
Jan 24, 2020 byResearchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora brought notable attention to the work there this month as they explore help for children and teens vulnerable to bipolar disorder. Researchers found two treatments were more effective at delaying new and recurring bipolar symptoms: 12 sessions of teaching families better communication skills or six sessions of traditional psychoeducation to help patients understand and cope with their symptoms.Full story -
Inside A Risky, Rare Brain Surgery For OCD
Jan 31, 2020 by“For someone to be a candidate for deep brain stimulation, we want them to have tried all the standard therapies and to have had those not work,” explains Rachel Davis, a psychiatrist at UCHealth and director of the OCD Clinic at CU Anschutz [and assistant professor of psychiatry at CU School of Medicine]. “There is a small but not trivial risk of a serious complication from surgery. We know that putting these electrodes in is safe for the vast majority of patients. But some, you can you run a risk of a stroke, of bleeding in the brain, of infection, of hardware-related complications. And so that’s not to be taken lightly,” Steven Ojemann, neurosurgeon at UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital [and associate professor of neurosurgery at CU School of Medicine], told Newsy. Newsy, Jan. 23, 2020Full story -
Grant To Help CU Anschutz Researcher Learn Why Therapeutic Horseback Riding Benefits Autistic Children
Jan 24, 2020 by“This study also aims to refine information on the durability, dose and sub-population effects of this intervention,” said Robin Gabriels, professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and licensed clinical psychologist who practices at Children’s Hospital Colorado.Full story -
Family Therapy Best for Youth at Risk for Bipolar Disorder
Jan 23, 2020 by“This study is an important first step in trying to decrease the severity of bipolar disorder early on for children,” said study co-author Christopher Schneck, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado. “Efforts at home and in health care settings, like providing skill training for families, can make a big difference in a child’s suffering.” U.S. News & World Report, Jan. 20, 2020Full story