Research in the neurosciences is proceeding at an unprecedented rate. The human genome has now been mapped, and roughly 55% of the genes in the body reside in the brain. The brain, long identified as the last frontier of human biology to be explored, is no longer a “black box.” Brain imaging, molecular neurobiology, neurochemistry, genomics, and many other new techniques have opened windows into the brain, and we’re rapidly learning which parts of the brain are critical for different kinds of thinking, feeling, and functioning – not only how things normally work, but why and how things go wrong. Preservation and restoration of mental health are among the highest priorities in medicine today. Particularly in today’s stress-filled world, keeping one’s mental and emotional balance is crucial. Depression alone affects one out of every five Americans over the course of a lifetime, and other conditions such as anxiety, addiction, and trauma-induced stress are widespread. Psychiatric research is helping us understand that mental illnesses are brain disorders, which have genetic and biological causes. The good news is that these conditions can be treated effectively, and researchers at MUSC have pioneered in the development of new treatments for depression and other conditions. The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at MUSC has been ranked #25 in the country, #20 in level of research funding from the National Institutes of Health, among departments of psychiatry in the U.S., and its addictions program has been ranked #8 by US News and World Report. Over 120 full-time faculty members carry out groundbreaking research, conduct state-of-the-art education, and participate with other professionals in a full range of clinical care in its 105 inpatient beds and its many outpatient services. Click here to Contribute or
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