Tokyo Women's Medical University

Graduate School of Medical Science

Psychiatry

About us

Psychiatry, a branch of clinical medicine, deals with a wide range of human behavior, from various mental disorders to mental health among healthy people. The range of methodologies used in psychiatry include traditional methods such as physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, as well as public health, humanistic methods such as psychology, as well as cognitive behavioral science and computational analysis. In the 21st century, mental disorders impose a substantial disease burden on societies around the world. Researchers face increasing challenges in elucidating the pathophysiology of mental disorders and developing appropriate treatment methods. Thus, psychiatry is an exciting field of scientific research that promises an academic sense of fulfilment and a sense of accomplishment for ambitious students.

Research

1)Basic psychopharmacology
Understanding the mechanisms of psychiatric disorders and psychotropic drugs is important for developing protocols for appropriate use. Thus, our laboratory undertakes basic psychopharmacology research with own experimental facility. Our main research themes are stress, memory, vulnerability and resilience. Our research seeks to optimize pharmacological therapy.  

2)Clinical psychopharmacology
This is a field of research focused on informing rational judgments about pharmacotherapy for psychiatrists in general clinical settings. By advancing this area of study, we seek to update and standardize the way psychotropic drugs are used in daily medical practice. We engage in several specific projects, including the investigation of factors that predict clinical responses or side effects of pharmacotherapy, verifying the validity of rating scales in some psychiatric illnesses, and carrying out clinical trials of psychoactive drugs before marketing.

3)Clinical research in consultation-liaison psychiatry including palliative care
We have traditionally emphasized consultation-liaison psychiatry. In collaboration with various medical departments, we are conducting active clinical research in the following fields: organ transplantation (kidney, liver and heart), rheumatic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus), heart diseases, and delirium. In addition, as members of the palliative care team for patients with cancer, we also conduct multidisciplinary research.

Faculty

Katsuji Nishimura, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman
Rie Akaho, MD, PhD, Associate Professor
Hidehiro Oshibuchi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor
Hitoshi Takahashi, MD, PhD, Associate Professor

Related links

Research Achievements Database

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