Ross John Baldessarini
Contributions: Research, Education and Clinical Activities
Research Contributions
Since the 1960s, Professor Baldessarini led a program of laboratory-based research in basic and preclinical neuropharmacology and behavioral psychopharmacology, as well as participating in a range of collaborative clinical research projects. His laboratory career at Harvard Medical School began in 1969, with continuous leadership of a Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology there and later at the then-new Mailman Research Center at McLean Hospital from 1977 to its closing in 2010. His preclinical contributions included basic studies of methylation pathways involved in the biosynthesis of potentially psychotomimetic indoleamines and other endogenous compounds. This work led to development of early biochemical assays of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe), the primary donor of methyl groups in intermediary metabolism, as well as assays of activities of enzymes that produce SAMe (L-methionine-adenosyltransferase), several monoamine methyl transferases, and levels of monoamines that can be methylated. This work established that large doses of the exogenous amino acid L-methionine (one of the rare replicated interventions that can worsen psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients) can increase tissue levels of SAMe, without increasing the production of methylated amines that might induce or worsen psychotic symptoms, largely as normal tissue concentrations of SAMe are already in excess of those required to sustain maximum rates of methyl transferases.
Additional studies clarified molecular requirements for transport, storage, and release of normal and abnormal monoamines in cerebral nerve terminals, including use of methods of assessing transport rates into isolated nerve terminals (“synaptosomes”) and release from superfused brain slices in physiological, oxygenated media in vitro by novel methods developed by Dr. Baldessarini. This basic work led to collaborative studies with MGH colleagues of abnormalities of monoamine metabolism in hepatic encephalopathy that supported a “false neurotransmitter” hypothesis which proposed that nerve terminals in the brain may accumulate and release physiologically in active monoamines (such as tyramine and octopamine) normally present only in trace quantities. In turn, this work led to one of the first rational and effective medical treatments for hepatic encephalopathy, based on use of parenteral nutrient solutions low in aromatic amino acids and high in neutral aliphatic amino acids that can compete for transport past the blood-brain barrier.
His early work also led to evidence that long-term pharmacological removal of monoamine transmitters, or prolonged blockade of their receptors can induce upregulation and supersensitivity of receptors, including dopamine D2 type receptors following long-term exposure to neuroleptic-antipsychotic drugs. This work led to the first plausible theory of the pathophysiology of tardive dyskinesia, formerly the most ominous adverse effect of long-term antipsychotic drug treatment. It also encouraged Dr. Baldessarini’s involvement with clinical studies of the epidemiology of tardive dyskinesia and strategies for minimizing its risk, leading to his invitation to chair the first APA task force on this topic.
More recent studies based at McLean Hospital have included extensive studies of the neuropharmacological characteristics of various types of dopamine receptors, including some of the first studies of the pharmacology of type D1 receptors and of D4 receptors. Included were some of the first studies of dopamine D2 partial-agonists (including ergolines and novel aporphines) as a potential improved antipsychotic agents with low risk of extrapyramidal neurological adverse effects. In addition, he developed orally active dopamine agonists for potential use in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Other recent studies included development of novel radioligands and alkylating for the various types of dopamine receptors, as well as novel radioligands for dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters. Some of these compounds are now commercially available as experimental tools, and others are in use as radioligands for PET and SPECT neuroimaging technologies.
Studies of the dopamine D4 receptor led to development of evidence that D4 antagonists can reduce the behavioral hyperactivity associated with a widely employed animal model of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), whereas agonists worsen the condition. This discovery parallels clinical genetic evidence of an association of clinical ADHD. This work is currently being extended to studies of the neuropharmacology of animal cognitive models of attention and stopping ongoing behavior as models of important components of the cognitive deficits in ADHD.
Dr. Baldessarini also recently developed a program of research on bipolar disorder (BD) based on an international consortium of investigators, some of whom travel to McLean Hospital regularly. This work has helped to clarify a number of formerly poorly understood aspects of the natural history and improved treatment of this and other major psychiatric disorders, notably including evidence: [a] of severe iatrogenic-pharmacodynamic risks of early relapse on abrupt vs. gradual discontinuation of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood-stabilizing agents, including during pregnancy; [b] of superiority of lithium treatment for rapid-cycling BD; [c] strong evidence of a suicide risk-reducing effect of lithium treatment that is much stronger than for any other form of psychiatric treatment; [d] progressive worsening of BD over time (rising cycling rate) that has been reported over the past century is largely accounted for by a sampling-statistical artifact; and [e] that delay of starting long-term maintenance treatment in BD, or a higher recurrence count, does not lead to inferior clinical benefits; [e] suicidal risk is at least as high in type II as type I BD; [f] a series of studies indicating that the course and predominant morbidity in BD can be predicted quantitatively by the nature of initial illness episodes and first cycle of illness and recovery; [g] studies quantifying spontaneous and drug-associated rates of conversion of apparent unipolar depression to BD; [h] studies identifying early risk factors for later BD vs. other major psychiatric disorders.
Teaching
Professor Baldessarini developed the initial residency training program in psychopharmacology at MGH in the early 1970s, leading to development of his textbook on the topic, Chemotherapy in Psychiatry (Harvard University Press 1977, 1985, and Springer Press 2013), as well as his invitation to author the chapters on psychopharmacology for the leading textbook of general pharmacology, Goodman & Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, through the past five editions since 1980, including the 11th edition of 2005. He has for many years led the introductory courses in psychopharmacology for PGY-II residents, as well as clinical training in clinical psychopharmacology for PGY-III residents through the MGH Psychopharmacology Clinic that he help to found in the early 1970s, as well as in a parallel clinical training program based at McLean Hospital’s outpatient services, as well as in a psychopharmacology consultation service that he directed in recent years following the semi-retirement of its founder Professor Jonathan Cole. He was one of the founders of the MGH CME program and has been a consistent contributor to CME activities on psychopharmacology and psychiatric therapeutics at MGH and McLean Hospitals and Harvard Medical School, as well as providing many lectures and short courses in theoretical and clinical psychopharmacology across the country and internationally through his frequent invitations as a visiting professor in leading centers of academic psychiatry.
He has also contributed heavily and consistently over the several decades to teaching of clinical diagnosis and therapeutics of major psychiatric disorders, including psychotic and manic-depressive disorders, initially as an attending psychiatrist and consultant on the MGH and LMHC psychiatric inpatients services, and in a similar role at McLean Hospital. He also created the Harvard Medical School Advanced Clerkship (HMS 501-M10B) at McLean Hospital for medical students, as well as participating in the redesign of the HMS Psychiatry 700 Course in Introduction to Clinical Psychiatry in the 1980s. In addition, he was the founding academic director of the Bipolar and Psychotic Disorders Program at McLean Hospital (1988–2004), and continues as a senior consultant, including regular case conferences in the successor Psychotic and Bipolar Disorders Program.
His educational activities also included regular involvement in the MGH-McLean Residency Selection and Training programs for several decades. This involvement continues to include providing special mentoring to residents with special needs as well as introducing a large number of residents as well as graduate and medical students into research careers. Since 1969, he has supervised the dissertation projects of 4 PhD candidates, as well as mentoring the research of 100 postdoctoral laboratory and clinical research trainees, as well as 65 predoctoral candidates and premedical and medical students in his laboratory.
Research Trainees of Professor Ross J. Baldessarini, M.D.
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Trainee Years Current or Last Known Status
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PostdoctoralFellows (N=102)
Manfred Karobath, MD 1969–71 Director Research, Rhône-Poulenc-Rorer, Paris/Phila
Matti Huttunen, MD 1969–71 Clin Prof Psychiatry, U Helsinki
Joseph Lipinski, MD 1969–71 Professor of Psychiatry, U Mass (retired)
Jose-Luis Diaz, MD 1970–72 Professor of Psychiatry, U Mexico City
Michael Ebert, MD 1970–71 Chairman, Psychiatry, Vanderbilt U
Francisco Schnass, MD 1971–72 Clin Prof Psychiatry, U Mexico City
Daniel Tarsy, MD 1972–74 Professor of Neurology & Dept Director, Harvard
Jane Harris, PhD 1972–74 US-FDA staff, Washington, DC
Sylvia Gerson, PhD 1975–76 Psychiatry research, U South Florida
Kenneth Walton, PhD 1973–79 Assoc Prof Physiology, Maharishi U, Iowa
James Noon, PhDa 1974–78 Private industry, Boston
Robert Granacher, MD 1975–76 Clin Prof Psychiatry, U Kentucky-Lexington
Malcolm Stewart, MD 1975–77 Clin Assoc Prof Neurology, U TX-Dallas
Regina Groshong, PhDa 1975–77 UCLA, research (deceased)
Günther Sperk, PhD 1976–78 Prof Pharmacology, U Innsbruck
Michael Herschel, MD 1977–79 Director Clin R & D, Boehringer-Mannheim
Giorgio Stramentinoli, PhD 1978–79 Director of Research, BioResearch SpA, Milan
George W. Arana, MDa 1978–83 Prof. Psychiatry, U. S. Carolina; NE Med Dir. USVA
Ronald Majocha, PhDa 1979–82 Brown U, neurobiologist (deceased)
Bruce Cohen, MD, PhD 1979–82 Mailman Research Center (in department)
Seth Finklestein, MD 1980–85 Assoc Prof Neurology, Harvard-MGH
Martin Teicher, MD, PhD 1981–86 Director, Developmental Biopsychiatry, McLean
Andrew Satlin, MD 1982–84 Director, Geropsychiatry, McLean
Rosa Crum, MD 1985–86 Psychiatrist, Boston
Gianni Faedda, MD 1986–92 Director, Bini Ped Mood Disord Center, New York
Harris Gelbard, MD, PhD 1988–90 U. Rochester, Prof Neurobiology/Neurology
Tomohiro Tsuneizumi, MD 1988–89 St. Marianna U., Tokyo, Prof. Psychiatry
Andrew Stoll, MD 1988–92 McLean, HMS, Asst. Prof. Psychiatry
Donald Goff, MD 1988–92 MGH, psychiatry research
Timothy Wilens, MD 1988–92 MGH, child psychiatry research
James Hegarty, MD, MPH 1988–96 Penn. State U., Chair Psychiatry (deceased)
Raymond Booth, PhDa 1988–90 U. Florida, Prof Med Chem
Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD 1989–92 Prof Psychiatry, Stanford U, CA
Alberto Santos, MD 1990–94 U So. Carolina, research psychiatrist
David Huston-Lyons, PhDa 1990–92 Bowman-Gray U., pharmacol. research
Jose Castillo-Ruiz, MD 1990–94 U Monterrey, Mexico, psychiatry research
Michael Hartmann, PhD 1991–92 Pharmacy Res t, U Jena, Germany
Terry Rabinowitz, MD 1991–93 Prof Psychiatry, U. Vermont
Franca Centorrino, MD 1991–94 (in department)
Jon-won Kim, MD 1992–93 (unknown)
Anand Popli, MD 1993–94 Case-Western Reserve U, Cleveland, Fellow
Carlos Zarate, MD 1993–97 NIMH Intramural Research
Leonardo Tondo, MD 1994–98 Research psychiatrist, HMS (in the lab.)
Adele Viguera, MD 1991–98 Chief Perinatal Psychiatry, Cleveland Clinic
Robert Lasser, MD 1994–96 Research Fellow, NIMH Bethesda, MD
Hadine Joffe, MD 1994–98 Perinatal Psychiatry staff, MGH
Sylva Yeghiayan, PhD 1995–97 Natick Army Research Labs
Frank Tarazi, PhD 1995–97 Neuropharmacologist (in the lab.)
Scott Ewing, DO 1996–98 Staff psychopharmacologist, McLean
Nancy Huxley, PhD 199699 Staff psychologist, McLean
Sara Bolton, MD 1996–98 Fellow in Neuropsychiatry, McLean/MGH
Michele Meyer, MD 1996–97 Child Psychiatry Fellow, MGH
Melody Gongwer, MD, PhD 1997 Menninger Clinic, Texas
Kehong Zhang, MD, PhD 1997–04 Shanghai Tech. University
Won-Myong Bahk, MD, PhD 1998–99 Catholic U., Seoul, research
Michael Detke, MD 1998–00 Eli Lilly Research
Christopher Palmer, MD 1998–99 McLean staff
Justine Lalonde, MD 1999–00 Child psychiatrist
Dan Ioanitescu, MD 1999–00 Psychiatrist
Jagdish Ragade, MD 1999–00 Psychiatrist
James Kelleher, MD 1999–01 New York Medical College
Meng-Yang Zhu, MD, PhD 1999–01 (Mailman Research Center)
Marian Eakin, MD 2000–01 In the Program
Eugen Davids, MD, PhD 2000–02 University of Mainz, Germany
Roy Perlis, MD 2000–05 Staff, Psychiatry, MGH
Paola Salvatore, MD 2000–10 In program
Beth Logan Murphy, MD, PhD 2001–03 Psychiatrist
Harkaitz Imaz, MD 2001–02 Psychiatrist, Vitoria, Spain
Sherri Tahtinen, MD 2001–02 McLean psychiatrist
Aygul Balcioglu, PhD 2001–02 Unknown
S. Nassir Ghaemi, MD 2001–05 Prof Psychiatry, Tufts U
Christopher Baethge, MD 2002–04 Editor, Deutsches Ärzteblatt, Köln
Federico Soldani, MD, PhD 2002–04 US FDA analyst
Eva Tsapakis, MD 2003–04 Research psychiatrist, U. London
Maurizio Pompili, MD 2004–05 U. Rome, suicide research
Alessandra Talamo, MD 2004–07 U. Rome, psychosis research
Francesca Guzzetta, MD 2004–06 U. Bologna, mood disorder research
Brent Forester, M.D 2005– McLean geriatric research
Dost Öngür, MD, PhD 2005 McLean psychosis research
Marni Grant, MD 2005 McLean staff psychiatrist
Jennifer Derenne, MD 2006 MGH/McLean psychiatry resident
Alexia Koukopoulos, MD 2005–07 Psychiatrist, U Rome
Helen Kyomen, MD, MPH 2005– McLean neurologist
Cathleen Gould, MD 2006–07 In the program
Chaya G. Bhuvaneswar, M.D. 2007–08 In the program
Daniel Ebert, M.D., Ph.D. 2007 In the program
Huang Bin Lee, MD 2007–08 In the program
Aysegul Yildiz, MD 2007 University of Izmir, Turkey
Jesus Perez, MD 2007– Cambridge U, UK, community psychiatry
Daniel Vigo, MD, PhD 2007–08 University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Aliza Wingo, MD 2007– Psychiatry Res Emory University
Núria Cruz, MD, PhD 2008–09 Psychiatry, U Barcelona
Antonio Ventriglio, MD 2008–09 Psychiatry, U Foggia
Alessio Vincenti, MD 2008–09 Psychiatry, U Rome
Andrea Spencer, MD 2009–10 Psychiatry trainee MGH-McLean
Ettore Favaretto, MD 2010 Psychiatrist, Brixen, Italy
Juan Undurraga, MD 2011 Psychiatry, U Barcelona
Heather Anderson, PhD 2012–14 Pharmacy, U Colorado
Valerio Selle, MD 2013–14 Psychiatry, U Milan
Giulia Serra, MD 2013–14 Psychiatry, U Rome (in the department)
Martina Curto, MD 2013–14 Psychiatry, U Rome (in the department)
Alfredo Forte, MD 2014–15 Psychiatry, U Rome (in the department)
Federico Daray, MD 2014–15 Psychiatry, U Buenos Aires
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PredoctoralResearch Trainees (N=65)
Charles Popperb 1969–72 Pediatric Psychopharmacologist, McLean
Craig Yorkeb 1970–71 Neurosurgeon, Topeka, KA
Kenneth Berv 1970–71 Psychiatrist, New Haven
Sarah Wheeler 1972–74 Merck-US, pharmacologist
Sylvia Gersonc 1973–74 U. South Florida, research
Fred Griffith 1974–75 Tufts U., psychiatrist
Thomas Amatruda 1974–75 UCLA, internist
Marc Kupersmith 1976 Mt. Sinai, New York, neurologist
Peter Liepmann 1976–78 Brandeis U., research
Peter Rice 1976–78 Biochemist
John Warbrittonb 1976–78 Surgeon, Los Angeles
Roger Pearse 1977–78 U. Mass. Medical School
Alexander Campbellc 1976–84 Retired investigator
Ronald Majochac 1976–79 Brown U., research (deceased)
Damian Augustynb 1977–78 U. Colorado, physician
Stephano Bertozzib 1978–79 Harvard Medical School
Helen Mayberg 1978–79 Neurologist, U. Texas, San Antonio
Eric Hollander 1977–78 Biochemistry, Brandeis U.
Marcus Harding 1978–80 U. Mass. Medical School
James Curell 1979–80 Physician
Joseph Madsenb 1979–80 Neurosurgeon, HMS-CHMC
Maurizio Fava 1979–80 Professor, of Psychiatry, HMS/MGH
Vincenzo DiNicola 1980 U Ottawa, psychiatrist
Barbara Sommer 1980–81 SUNY-Stonybrook, research
Sabrina Popp 1982 Tufts Medical School, physician
David Amlicke 1982–83 Rutgers Med. School, physician
Andrew Stoll 1982–84 McLean, research Asst. Prof.
Jeffrey Lamontb 1982–83 Div. Chief Urology, Partners HealthCare
Russell Formanb 1982–83 Unknown
Kenneth Moyab 1982–84 Researcher, California
Douglas Burd 1982 Unknown
Timothy Wilensb 1982–83 Child Psychiatry research, MGH
Paul Maynardb 1982–83 Orthopedic surgeon, US Army
Steven Sabastian 1983 U. Mass, physician
Dennis Francoeur 1984–86 Toxicologist, Maine
Susan Bromleyb 1985–86 Syracuse U.
James Reicheldb 1985–86 Physician
Natacha Barberb 1985–87 UCSF Medical School
Douglas Maob 1986–87 Harvard Med. School
Paul Apostilidesb 1986–88 U. Mass. Med. School
James Prosserb 1986–88 Pathologist, U Texas, San Antonio
Andrew Sussmanb 1986–88 Columbia Med. School
Jonathan Fosterb 1987–88 Columbia Med. School
Armineh Mirzabegian 1987–88 Mt. Sinai Med. School, NY
Joseph Zorcb 1987–88 Columbia Med. School
Cornelia Cremens 1987–89 Geropsychiatry Staff, MGH
Sylva Yeghiayanb 1987–89 Natick Army Research Center
Amelia Gallitano 1988–89 U. Pennsylvania, research
Nandkishore Baindur 1989–91 Medicinal chemistry PhD
Tony George 1991–92 U. Toronto, research professor
Peter Toth 1992 McMaster U, psychiatrist
Vandhna Batra 1992 Northeastern University
Christine Young 1992 U Mass. Medical School
Alan Villavicenciob 1992–95 Medical School (Neurosurgery resident)
Jonathan Friedberg 1994–95 Medical Resident, Mass. Genl. Hospital
David Gardner 1994–96 U. Dalhousie, pharmacy research
Eric Tomasini 1996–97 Psychiatrist
Eva Maria Tsapakis 1997 U. London, research
Raoul Fisserc 1998 U Groningen, research
Nicholas Weiss 1998 Physician
Matthew Albert 1998 Boston U., research
Irene M. Bratti 2002 UCLA, psychiatrist
Faina Novosolov 2002 UCSF, psychiatrist
Hari-Mandir Kaur Khalsa 2004–06 UCSD, PhD candidate
Stein Schalkwijkc 2012–14 U. Utrecht, PhD candidate
a. Supported by HMS Psychobiology Program; b. Thesis project for degree with honors;
c. Doctoral dissertation project
Among the 65 undergraduate or graduate students, 5 carried out doctoral dissertation projects in the laboratory.
Among the 100 postdoctoral fellows, 26 held PhDs, usually from related but different fields from the topic of their fellowship training, and little prior interest in mental health-related neuroscience research; the others were MDs, usually with psychiatric or neurological training and strong commitment to an academic and research career; 47/100 were women, members of minority groups (mainly Hispanic or Asian), or both, as were 17/68 pre-doctoral trainees.
Seclected InvitedCourses&Lectures (N>400)
Lecturer in Biochemical Neuropharmacology and Neurophysiology, College de France, Paris, 1966
Guest Scientist, Laboratory of Neuropsychopharmacology, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Boston, 1969
Guest Lecturer, Seminario Internactional de Neurologia Experimental y Psychofarmacologia, Mexico City, November 1970
Invited Speaker, Fifth World Congress of Psychiatry, Mexico City, November 1971
Guest Lecturer, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1971
Guest Lecturer, NY State Society of Anesthesiology: Symposium on Psychotropic Drug Intoxication, Nov. 1972
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, Dec. 1972
Visiting Lecturer, Psychiatrische Universitatsklinik, University of Vienna, Austria, 1972
Invited Participant and Recording Secretary, III International Catecholamine Symposium, Strasbourg, 1973
Lecturer, Postgraduate program, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School 1973-1975
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, February 1974
Visiting Lecturer, Mayo Clinic, February 1974
Visiting Lecturer, Psychiatry, Pharmacology & Biochemistry, Universities of Rome, Milan, Naples, April 1974
Visiting Lecturer, Dept of Psychiatry, Albert Einstein School of Medicine, New York, Jan 1975 & 1976
Guest Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, Feb 1975
Visiting lecturer, Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology & Chemistry, West Virginia University, Feb 1975
Lecturer, Postgraduate program, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, 1975
Invited Participant & Lecturer, Gordon Conferences on Catecholamines & Medicinal Chemistry, July & Aug 1975
Invited Lecturer, American Society of Anesthesiology Refresher Course, Chicago, lL Oct 1975
Invited Lecturer, Department of Neuroendocrinology, Tufts University School of Medicine, 1976
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, 1976
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, February 1976 ¶ 1977
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Feb 1976
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychobiology, Harvard Medical School, Jan 1976
Guest Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, March 1976
Lecturer, Augusta Mental Health Center, Augusta, Maine, 1976-present
Faculty Lecturer, Postgraduate Education Program, McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, 1976-present
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute, Sept 1976
Guest Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Sept 1976
Lecturer, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Oct 1976
Invited Lecturer, Arnar-Stone Laboratories, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Mt. Prospect, IL, Oct 1976
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, Oct 1976
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, Jan 1977
Invited Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, Feb 1977
Invited Lecturer, 196th Annual Meeting, Massachusetts Medical Society, Boston, May 1977
Invited Participant, Symposium on Tardive Dyskinesia, American College Neuropsychopharmacology, San Juan, PR,
Dec,1977
Eli Robins Lecturer, Washington University, St. Louis, 1978
Invited Participant, International Symposium on Methylation in the Nervous System, Naples, Italy, April 1978
Visiting Lecturer, University of Bologna & University of Vienna, April, 1978
Invited Participant and Session Chairman: IV International Catecholamine Symposium, Asilomar, CA, Sept 1978
Invited Lecturer, Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, Oct 1978
Invited Instructor, Postgraduate Course in Neuropharmacology, Boston University Med. School, Nov. 1978
Invited Lecturer, Northeastern Regional Meeting, American Psychiatric Association, New York, Nov. 1978
Pfizer Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology, University of Rochester, Dec. 1978
Invited Speaker, Finnish Medical Society and Visiting Professor, University of Helsinki, Jan. 1979
Invited Lecturer, Cornell Medical School, February 1979
Invited Participant, International Symposium on Long-Term Effects of Neuroleptic Drugs (Fondazione Internazionale Mennarini), Monte Carlo, Monaco, March 1979
Invited Lecturer in Behavioral Neurobiology, Northwestern Medical School, Chicago, May 1979
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, May 1979
Lecturer, Postgraduate Program in Neurology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, January 1980
Lecturer, Postgraduate Program in Psychopharmacology: NIMH, Bethesda, Maryland, April 1980
Compton Lectureship in Chemistry, Williams College, April 1980
NIMH Career Development Program Lecturer, Washington, DC, June 1980
Invited Participant, Intl. Symposium on Dopamine Agonists, University of Cagliari, Sardinia, Oct 1980
Participant, Postgraduate Symposium in Psychopharmacology, University of Louisville, KY, Feb 1981
Participant, Postgraduate Symposium; Movement Disorders in Neurology and Psychiatry, Brown University-
Butler Hospital, March 1981
Invited Lecturer, University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio, May 1981
Invited Lecturer, Wilford Hall Army Medical Center, San Antonio, May, 1981
Invited Henry Blacklin Sr. Lecturer: University of Tennessee School of Medicine at Memphis, May 1981
Invited Participant, Symposium on Depression, Brook Lodge Conference Center, Kalamazoo MI, Oct 1981
Visiting Professor, Hartford Area Psychiatric Consortium, Dec 1981
Lecturer, The Major Affective Disorders Lecture Series, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, Jan 1982
Invited Participant, International Symposium on Dopamine Agonists, Stockholm, April 1982
Chairman, Symposium on improved antipsychotic agents, Brook Lodge, Kalamazoo, MI, April 1982
Lecturer, Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, Shrewsbury, MA April 1982
Visiting Professor, Portland, ME Medical Center; Augusta Mental Health Center; & Regional Postgraduate
Program, Edmunston, NB Canada, Nov 1982
Visiting Professor, Departments of Psychiatry, Duke University & Universities of Alabama & Florida, Jan 1983
Visiting Professor, University of Massachusetts, School of Medicine, February 1983
Invited Participant, NIMH-FDA Symposium on New Antidepressant Agents, Bethesda, MD, April 1983
Goldwyn Lecture, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA, April 1983
Grand Rounds Lecturer, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, May 1983
Visiting Lecturer, Brown University, Sept 1983
Invited participant, Symposium on Psychiatry, Mexican National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico City, Jan 1984
Upjohn Lecturer, New York University Medical Center, Feb 1984
Participant, Ninth Annual Vail Psychiatric Conference, Vail, Colorado, Feb 1984
Visiting Professor, Baystate Medical Center, Western Mass. Psychiatr. Assoc. & Northampton, MA VAMC,
March 1984
Invited Participant, NIH Consensus Conference on Mood Disorders, Bethesda, MD, April 1984
Chairman, APA Symposium on Tardive Dyskinesia, Los Angeles, May 1984
Participant, APA Symposium on Biological Psychiatry, Los Angeles, May 1984
Lecturer, APA Postgraduate Symposium on Schizophrenia, Los Angeles, May 1984
Visiting Professor, University of Florida, March 1985
Invited Lecturer, Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania, March 1985
Visiting Scholar, University of Vermont, Oct 1985
Visiting Professor, McGill University, Nov 1985
Skobba Lecturer, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, Oct 1985
Course Director: Psychopharmacology, New England Educational Center Winter Conference, Killington, VT, Jan 1986 & 1992
Consultant and Lecturer: Psychiatric Division, Hospital Corp. of America, Arlington VA & Nashville TN, 1986
Invited Postgraduate Symposium Director, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT. April 1986
Consultant, NIMH Clinical Centers Program, Washington DC, April 1986
Consultant, American Psychiatric Association Government Relations Program, Washington DC, April 1986
Invited Teacher, Postgraduate Course in Major Mood Disorders, NIMH, Bethesda, MD, June 1986
Course Director: Contemporary Psychopharmacology, Cape Cod Symposia, New England Educational Institute, yearly since June,1986
Invited Lecturer, 350th Anniversary Celebration, Harvard University, Cambridge MA, Sept 1986
Invited Symposium Speaker, 175th Anniversary of McLean Hospital, Sept 1986
Visiting Professor: University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland, OR, Sept 1986
Beverley Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Nov 1986
Course Director: Overview of Contemporary Clinical Psychoharmacology, Psychiatric Institute of Washington,
DC, Dec 1986
Course Co-Director: Treatment of Depression and Anxiety, Continuing Medical Education Corp., Puerta Vallarta,
Mexico, Jan 1987
Postgraduate course leader: Connecticut Valley Mental Health Center, Middletown, CT, April 1987
Postgraduate Course Instructor: Madawaska Medical Association, Edmunston NB, May 1987
Symposium participant: Future of Antipsychotics, Am Psychiatr Assoc Annual Meeting, Chicago, May 1987
Course Director: "Contemporary Psychopharmacology." Sheppard-Pratt Hospital, Towson, MD, Nov 1983, March 1985; May, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992; April, 1994 & 1996
Symposium Participant, University of So Carolina Mental Health Institute, Charleston, SC, May 1988, 1989, 1990
Invited Speaker, Symposium on Treatment of Schizophrenia.Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, June 1988
Course Director: Medical Treatment of Psychosis, Menninger Foundation, Topeka, KS, November 1988
Symposium Chairman: Treatment of Schizophrenia, World Congress of Schizophrenia, San Diego CA, April 1989
Symposium Chairman: Panic Disorder, APA, San Francisco, CA, May, 1989
Symposium Chairman: Depression in Personality Disorders: APA, San Francisco, CA, May 1989
Postgraduate Course Director: Contemporary Psychopharmacology, Menninger Clinic, Topeka, KS, yearly,
June 1989–February 2003
Symposium Participant: Update on Psychopharmacology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, Sept 1989
Symposium Participant: Schizophrenia in the 1990s, University of Toronto, Oct 1989
Symposium Participant: Psychopharmacology Update, Tufts University Medical Center, Oct 1989
Symposium Chairman: Pharmacology of Benzodiazepines, Am Coll of Psychiatrists, Palm Springs, CA, Feb 1990
Invited Speaker: Departments of Psychiatry, Hopital L'Enfant Jesus, Québec City, Hopital Charles Le Moyne,
Montreal and Douglas Psychiatric Hospital, Montreal-Verdun, Canada, March 1990
Dr. Gabriel Hernandez Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, Meharry Medical School, Nashville TN, April 1990
Veterans Administration Symposium Co-Director, San Francisco CA, July 1990
Symposium Participant, Research Biochemicals, Inc., Natick, MA, Oct 1990
Alexander Nies Visiting Scholar, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Oct 1990
Symposium participant, Texas Psychiatric Physicians Association, Houston, TX, Oct 1990
National Schizophrenia Symposium participant, Sheppard Pratt Hospital, Towson, MD, Nov 1990
Course Director: Clinical Psychopharmacology, New England Educational Institute, Killington, VT, Feb 1991
Plenary speaker, III International Schizophrenia Research Symposium, Tucson, AZ, April 1991
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, April 1991
Symposium chairman and discussant, International Congress of Biological Psychiatry, Florence, Italy, June, 1991
Invited Lecturer: Basic & Clinical Psychopharmacology: US Psychiatric Congress, New York, NY, Nov 1992
Visiting Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University of Trondheim, Norway, Jan1992
Invited plenary lecturer, Norwegian Society of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Beito Mountain, Norway, Feb 1992
Course Participant: Clinical Psychopharmacology in the 1990s; Corporation for Professional Education
Conference, Vail CO, Feb 1992
Advisor: Inaugural Symposium, Program in Neuroscience, Williams College, Williamstown, MA, April, 1992
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry: Stanford University, California, April 1992
Invited Lecturer: Basic & Clinical Psychopharmacology: US Psychiatric Congress, Chicago, IL, Nov 1993
Invited lecturer, Ontario Mental Health Association and University of Toronto, Jan 1993
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, Jan 1993
Imvited lecturer, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Feb 1993
Menninger Foundation Course Director: Clinical Psychopharmacology Update; Salt Lake City, UT, March, 1993
Invited lecturer, Maryland Psychiatric Association, Baltimore, MD, April, 1993
Invited lecturer, Oregon Psychiatric Association, Portland, OR, April, 1993
Invited Lecturer, American College of Osteopathic Physicians, Boston, MA, Oct 1993
Invited Lecturer, Clinical Pharmacology Program, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, Oct 1993
Visiting Professor, University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry, Philadephia, PA, Nov 1993
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, November, 1993
Invited speaker, Psychiatric Continuing Education Program, CME Inc., Las Vegas, NV, Jan 1994
Invited speaker, New Hampshire Psychiatric Association, April 1994
Visiting Consultant in Psychopharmacology, Brookside Hospital, Nashua, NH, April 1994
Boots Lecturer, Department of Pharmacology, Louisiana State University, May 1994
Visiting Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University, May 1994
Chairman, Symposium on Mania through the Life Cycle, American Psychiatric Assoc., Philadelphia, May 1994
Course Director, New England Educational Institute, Orleans, MA, July 1994
Invited speaker, Massachusetts Manic-Depression and Depression Association, July 1994
Invited speaker, AtlantiCare Medical System, Lynn, MA, Sept 1994
Participant, Symposium on Mania Through the Life-Cycle, Canadian Psychiatric Assoc., Ottawa, Sept 1994
Invited participant, Canadian Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training, Ottawa, Sept 1994
Symposium Director, Update on Psychopharmacology, New Engl. Ed. Institute, Santa Fe, NM, Oct 1994
Invited participant, Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Fifth Psychopharmacology Symposium, November, 1994
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, University of Montréal, February, 1995
Course Director, Menninger Foundation, March, 1995
Visiting Professor of Pharmacology, Chicago Medical School, April, 1995
Symposium teacher, Oklahoma Psychiatric Association, Oklahoma City, April, 1995
Cleghorn Memorial Lecturer, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, May, 1995
Visiting Professor, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA, June, 1995
Course Director, New England Educational Institute, Orleans, MA, July, 1995
Symposium Director, Update on Psychopharmacology, New Engl. Ed. Institute, Santa Fe, NM, Oct, 1995
Visiting Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, Feb 1996
Symposium Director, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, March 1996
Symposium Director, Psychopharmacology, School of Nursing, University So Florida, Tampa, March 1996
Symposium Director, Psychopharmacology Update, Oklahoma Psychiatric Association, Tulsa, OK, March 1996
Visiting Scholar's Program, University of Vermont, March 1996
Symposium speaker, CME, Inc., Montréal, Québec, May 1996
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nov 1996
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry, University of Miami, Jan 1997
Invited plenary lecturer, American Society for Clinical Psychopharmacology, Feb 1997
Sandoz Visiting Professor, Columbia Medical Center, New York, March, 1997
Visiting Professor & Course Director, Menninger Foundation, April, 1997
Visiting Professor, Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Orangeburg, NY, April 1997
Eli Lilly Invited speaker, Westchester, NY Psychiatric Society, April 1997
Eli Lilly Visiting Professor, Yale Medical School, June 1997
Harvard Symposium on Suicide, Boston, Sept 1997
Solvay Lecturer: Charter–Westwood Lodge Hospital, Westwood, MA, Dec 1997
Invited Speaker: Massachusetts Mental Health Center Psychopharmacology CME Series, Jan 1998
Symposium Leader: Philippe Pinel Institute of Psychiatry, Montréal, Feb 1998
Symposium Co-chairperson, Effects of Medical Interventions on Suicidal Behavior, American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention, Coconut Grove, FL, Feb 1998
Science in Psychiatry Lecturers, Tufts Medical School, March 1998
First Robert deVito Lecturer, Loyola-Stritch Medical School, Chicago, March 1998
Invited Symposium Speaker: International Symposium on Bipolar Disorders, Frankfurt, Germany, April 1998
Invited Symposium Speaker: International Symposium on Bipolar Disorders, Cagliari, Sardinia, April 1998
Keynote lecturer, Annual Meeting, Neuromedica, Inc., Conshohocken, PA, May 1998
Invited speaker, New England Council for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Boston, Nov 1999
Invited plenary speaker, 100th Anniversary Meeting of the Ohio Psychiatric Association, April 2000
Invited symposium speaker, Ann. Meeting American Psychiatric Association, New Orleans, May 2001
Invited symposium speaker, Ann. Meeting Canadian Psychiatric Association, Montreal, Nov 2001
Invited symposium speaker, University of Brescia, Italy, Oct 2003
Invited symposium speaker, University of Parma, Italy, Oct 2003
Invited symposium speaker, University of Rome, Italy, Oct 2003
Grand Rounds speaker, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, Oct 2003
Grand Rounds speaker, Harvard-Longwood Medical Center, Boston, Oct 2003
Visiting Professor, Universities of Brescia, Parma, and Rome, Oct 2003
Invited Plenary Lecturer, Italian Society for Psychopathology, Rome, Feb 2004
Invited lecturer on bipolar disorder, Iowa State Psychiatric Society, Perry, IO April 2004
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, Brightside Medical System, Springfield, MA, April 2004
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, Brightside Medical System, Philadelphia, PA, May 2004
Plenary Speaker: Symposium on Antipsychotic Drugs, CINP, Paris, France, June, 2004
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, New Engl. Ed. Institute, Eastham, MA, July 2004
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, Philippe Pinel Institute of Psychiatry, Montréal, Sept 2004
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, New Engl. Ed. Institute, Santa Fe, NM, Oct 2004
Visiting Lecturer, Dartmouth Medical Center, Hanover NH, November, 2004
Symposium Chairman, Publication of results of controlled trials. Inaugural meeting, Intl Soc for CNS Clinical
Trials Methods (ISCTM), Montréal, February 2005.
Invited speaker: Problems with the design, analysis, and interpretation of long-term treatment studies of CNS drugs.
Inaugural meeting, Intl Soc for CNS Clinical Trials Methods (ISCTM), Montréal, February 2005.
Invited Japanese Lithium Research Society Lecturer, Hiroshima, Japan, April, 2005
Course Director: Psychopharmacology Update, Edmundston NB Mental Health Association, April, 2005
Weisel-Braceland Visiting Professor and Lecturer, Institute of Living, Hartford, CT, May, 2005
Plenary lecturer: Massachusetts Department of Health symposium on suicide, Worcester, MA, June, 2005
Course Director, Psychopharmacology, New England Educational Institute, Eastham, MA, July, 2005, 2006, 2007
Visiting Professor, Bakirkoy Neuropsychiatric Institute, Istanbul, Turkey, May 2006
Symposium Chairman, International Society for CNS Drug Trials Methodology, Chicago, IL, July, 2006
Course Director: Topeka Psychiatric Association, Topeka, KS, April, 2007
Plenary Lecturer: American College of CNS Pharmacists, Colorado Springs, CO, May 2007
Visiting Professor: University of Michigan, May, 2007
Plenary Lecturer: Canadian Assocation of Therapeutics, Halifax, NS, May, 2007
Visiting Professor of Psychiatry & Pharmacology: Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, May 2007
Course Director, Clinical Psychopharmacology, Marco Island, FL, Eastham, MA, & Sante Fe, NM, 2008
Course Participant, PriMed Master Class series, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, 2008
Grand Rounds speaker, McLean Hospital, January, 2009
Symposium Co-Chairman, International Society for CNS Drug Trials Methodology, Washington, March 2009
Plenary Lecturer, World Psychiatric Association, Florence, Italy, March, 2009
Plenary Lecturer: American College of CNS Pharmacists, Washington, DC, June 2009
Keynote speaker: American Association of Psychiatric Nurses, Reston, VA June, 2010
Recent research on the nature and treatment of bipolar disorder (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Proc. Conn. Psychiatric Association Residents’ Research Day. Middletown CT, April 27, 2011.
Recent research on the nature and treatment of bipolar disorder (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Proc Annual Meeting of the Bruce J. Anderson Foundation trustees. McLean Hospital, May 7, 2011.
Panel participant, Task Force on Research Prioritization. Newton, MA: National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention Research, 2011. Accessible at http://actionallianceforsuicideprevention.org/.
Assessing relative efficacy of psychotropics: Evolving challenges (PowerPoint/Syllabus). September, 2011, McLean Hospital Grand Rounds.
Assessing relative efficacy of psychotropics: evolving challenges (PowerPoint/Syllbus). Tufts Medical Center Psychiatry Grand Rounds, December 2011.
Bipolar depression (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Massachusetts Psychiatric Society. Waltham, MA, October 2012.
Panel discussion on psychopharmacology (Syllabus). Annual CME meeting of the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, Boston, October 2012.
Morbidity and mortality in bipolar disorder (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Maine Medical Center, Portland, MA, October 2012.
International Consortium for Bipolar Research (plenary lecture, PowerPoint). McLean Research Symposium, January, 2013.
Treatment of mania (plenary lecture, Powerpoint/Syllabus). Master Class in Psychopharmacology, Harvard Medical School, April, 2013.
James Hegarty Memorial Lecturer, Chambersburg Hospital, Chambersburg, PA, June 2013.
Baldessarini RJ. Psychopharmacology 2013 (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Three-day postgraduate course. Harvard Medical School, July 2013.
Bipolar disorder (PowerPoint/Syllabus). McLean Hospital grand rounds, September, 2013.
Bipolar depression (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Psychiatry Grand Rounds Program, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, February 2014.
Comparison of bipolar and unipolar depression (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Chinese Psychiatric Association Symposium on Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Boston, February 2014.
Treatment of bipolar depression (PowerPoint/Syllabus). Psychopharmacology Master Class CME Symposium, Harvard Medical School, Falmouth, MA, July 2014.
Translational research in psychopharmacology. Sterling Lectureship in Pharmacology, Sackler Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, September, 2014.
Clinical Activities
Dr. Baldessarini’s clinical duties have included oversight of the McLean Hospital-based Psychopharmacology Consultation Service, including six annual two-week rotations as attending psychiatrist per two-month rotation of PGY-II residents, as well as approximate weekly inpatient (with PGY-II residents) and outpatient case conferences at McLean Hospital or MGH (for PGY-III residents). He also continues to provide informal clinical consultations as well as regular formal clinical consultations and case conferences for patients followed by the staff of McLean Hospital. These activities as well as his extensive supervision of trainee research projects led to his selection as the first recipient of the Cataldo Mentoring Award at McLean Hospital in 2010 and the Silen Lifetime Mentoring Award of Harvard Medical School in 2012. His involvement in clinical research has led to improved effectiveness and safety in the use of antipsychotic and mood-altering drugs and contributions to reducing risk of suicidal behavior. This work led to his selection for the Falcone Clinical Research Prize for contributions to the understanding and treatment of bipolar disorders by the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Affective Disorders (NARSAD) in 2003 as well as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Research Prize in 2004.
Ross John Baldessarini
June 9, 2016