Brian Brennan, M.D., Consultant for the ABC News OnCall+ Mind & Mood - Stress Center

ByABC News
May 1, 2008, 6:01 PM

— -- Brian Brennan, M.D. is the associate director for translational neuroscience research in the biological psychiatry laboratory at McLean Hospital and instructor in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

After earning a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Dr. Brennan completed his residency training in psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and McLean Hospital. Following completion of his training, he worked as an attending psychiatrist on the schizophrenia and bipolar disorder inpatient unit at McLean Hospital and later completed a two-year psychopharmacology/clinical trials fellowship in the biological psychiatry laboratory.

In his current role at McLean Hospital -- the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School -- Dr. Brennan focuses his work on the development of novel pharmacologic treatments for mood disorders through the translation of basic scienctific discoveries into human treatment trials. Specifically, his research involves investigation into the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder including abnormalities in the neurotransmitter glutamate and abnormalities in mitochondrial functioning. This work is a collaborative effort through the Shervert Frazier Research Institute at McLean Hospital and uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate changes in brain neurochemistry in patients with bipolar disorder after treatment with glutamate-modulating drugs and drugs that enhance mitochondrial function.

Additionally, his other areas of interest include the use of neurohormonal interventions including testosterone and DHEA in the treatment of refractory depression and research into the pathophysiology and treatment of pain disorders comorbid with depressive disorders.

Dr. Brennan continues his clinical work as an attending psychiatrist in the clinical evaluation center and The Pavilion at McLean Hospital. He is also currently a fellow in the Clinical Investigator Training Program (CITP) through the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology.

Dr. Brennan is a paid consultant for the ABCNews.com OnCall+ Mind & Mood - Stress Center.