MUSC Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

11/20/2025

We are thrilled to announce that Larissa Mooney M.D. will serve as Professor and Director of the Addiction Sciences Division (ASD) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences starting on April 1st, 2026.

Dr. Mooney is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Division in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA. She directs the UCLA Addiction Psychiatry Clinic and serves as serves as Deputy Chief of the Substance Use Disorders Subdivision at the Greater Los Angeles (GLA) VA. She co-directs the GLA VA Advanced Fellowship in Addiction Treatment and previously served as the UCLA–Veterans Affairs (VA) Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship Program Director. She is a Past President of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and a Distinguished Fellow of both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and AAAP. She is one of two Principal Investigators for the Greater Southern California Node of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Mooney!

11/19/2025

Dr. Timothy Brewerton and other collaborators published a new study in NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information.

The study found that introducing food addiction concepts in eating disorder treatment did not increase dietary restraint. Among 132 adults in residential care, dietary restraint actually decreased after treatment, suggesting food addiction approaches may safely complement eating disorder care.

Read here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41163215/

11/18/2025

Drs. Rachel Tomko, Nolan Ramer and other collaborators published a new study in NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information.

New research from the ABCD Study® found that youth with stronger general thinking skills at ages 9–10 were more likely to try cannabis by ages 13–14, partly due to positive beliefs about use. In contrast, strong visuospatial skills appeared protective. Findings suggest that addressing youth attitudes toward substances could help prevent early cannabis and alcohol use.

Read here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41172720/

11/17/2025

Mark your calendars- We’re excited to announce the 39th Annual Update in Psychiatry Conference, taking place June 4–5, 2026.

This hybrid event (in-person & virtual) will bring together experts to discuss key topics in psychiatry and behavioral health.

🔗 Registration opens in 2026

11/17/2025

Drs. Nadia Bounoua, Christopher Sege, Lisa McTeague, Colleen Halliday, Carla Danielson, and other collaborators published a new study in NCBI - National Center for Biotechnology Information.

The study examined how childhood exposure to interpersonal violence (IPV) affects threat-related brain circuits in youth. Results showed that IPV-exposed children had stronger co-activation between the amygdala and vmPFC during unpredictable negative cues, highlighting how early trauma may alter neural responses to threat.

Read here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39587380/

11/16/2025

Reminder- Registration open for our Annual Judges and Attorneys Substance Abuse and Ethics Seminar

J&A main conference page: http://bit.ly/4l0JgFl
View agenda here: http://bit.ly/4ms4i1f
Register here: http://bit.ly/4lG6GAi

11/14/2025

The New York Times recently shared an obituary honoring Dr. Nolan Williams, highlighting details on his history with MUSC and featuring quotes from Dr. Mark George.

Read here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/health/nolan-williams-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=1.0k8.MNjE.s5p_nbsE4HIi&smid=url-share

Please contact Lilly Chen at chenlil@musc.edu if the article link expires

A neuroscientist, he employed a battery of high-tech tools in devising a fast-acting therapy that targets the area of the brain where depression originates.

11/13/2025

We are delighted to share that Dr. Julianne Flanagan has been appointed as the next Chair of our Promotion and Tenure Committee.

Dr. Flanagan earns this recognition through her extensive experience as a longstanding member of the committee, her commitment to supporting faculty growth, and her exceptional communication skills and excellent judgment. She brings both insight and empathy to her work, and we know the committee will continue to thrive under her leadership.

We also want to express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Suzanne Thomas for her many years of dedicated service as Chair of the Committee. Dr. Thomas's leadership has been transformative. She has brought greater clarity, transparency, and fairness to our processes, and her thoughtful approach has strengthened our department in lasting ways.

Please join us in thanking Dr. Thomas for her outstanding contributions and in welcoming Dr. Flanagan as she steps into this important role.

11/12/2025

Thank you to Meg Wallace, LISW-CP/S for her leadership and advocacy, and to everyone who supported the Charleston Area Out of the Darkness Walk benefiting the American Foundation for Su***de Prevention.

Our event surpassed our fundraising goal this year and raised $77,691. This is the highest fundraising total we have had in event history and officially makes us the largest fundraising event in South Carolina! The MUSC Psychiatry Team alone raised $7,766 towards this goal.

11/11/2025

Dr. Edward Thomas Lewis was featured on Live 5 News to help raise awareness and offer valuable insight on the opioid crisis. He highlighted the critical role of education and early intervention, particularly among adolescents, to help communities better understand the risks, prevent harm, and promote informed decision-making.

Watch here:

The Charleston County School District received a half-million-dollar grant to go towards opioid awareness in schools.

11/10/2025

📣 Neurosurgery Grand Rounds

Join us for Advancing Medicine Since 1824 – Overcoming Obstacles with Dr. Jerry Reves, Former Dean of the MUSC College of Medicine on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 a.m. in the 2West Auditorium. Any who are interested are welcomed to attend.

Read flyer for more info.

11/10/2025