Dr. Laje is a premier expert psychiatrist in the Washington, DC area treating complex and treatment-resistant illnesses. He is a part of an elite, small group of practitioners certified to provide advanced treatment options such as TMS therapy, psychopharmacology, and pharmacogenetics.
As a physician and clinical researcher, Dr. Laje offers a unique patient and clinical perspective, and can provide the most up-to-date treatment information about psychiatric illnesses. Dr. Laje has extensive speaking experience for various audiences.
After completing his medical education at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, Dr. Laje moved to the U.S. and worked at the Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Columbia University. He completed his training in general psychiatry at New York University/Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and his training in child and adolescent psychiatry through the combined program NIMH/Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC. He completed a research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in psychiatric genetics and became an Associate Clinical Investigator. His research has focused on pharmacogenetics, clinical trials and neuroimaging, as well as, pharmacological interventions to address behavioral and emotional difficulties in genetic disorders. Dr. Laje is author and co-author of peer-reviewed publications in major psychiatric and genetics journals. Dr. Laje earned a Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research from Duke University, and received his Master of Health Care Management at Harvard University.
He is a member of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A former member of the American Society of Human Genetics and the International Society of Psychiatric Genetics. He is a former Board member of the Washington Psychiatric Society (WPS), the Winter Conference on Brain Research (WCBR), the Montgomery County Public Schools Educational Foundation. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board of Madison House Autism Foundation, and has served on the Scientific Advisory Board of Parents and Researchers Interested in Smith-Magenis Syndrome (PRISMS). He serves on the Editorial Board of the journal Child Psychiatry & Human Development. Dr. Laje is the founder of Washington Behavioral Medicine Associates, LLC and co-founder of Maryland Institute for Neuroscience & Development Inc (MIND) a 501(c)3, non-profit organization dedicated to improving mental health outcomes.
Dr. Laje has authored over 50 scientific papers as well as several book chapters, and is listed as a co-inventor in two patents. His work is highly regarded for its innovation and quality and is highly-cited. His research has been covered by The New York Times and other major media outlets.
Physician Specialized in Child, Adolescent & Adult Psychiatry, Psychopharmacology and Neuromodulation Certifications.
- Medical Doctor, University of Buenos Aires in Argentina
- Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Research, Duke University
- Master of Health Care Management, Harvard University
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, General Psychiatry (Adult)
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Child & Adolescent
Faculty Appointments
- Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University
- Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University
- Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, George Washington University
Awards
- Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
- National Institutes of Health Bench-to-Bedside Award
- American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Sanofi-Aventis Travel Award
- Fellows Award for Research Excellence – Awarded by the National Institutes of Health Fellows Committee, the Scientific Directors, the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, and the NIH Office of Intramural Training and Education
- American Psychiatric Association / AstraZeneca Minority Fellowship Award
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – Pfizer Outstanding Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Resident Award
- International Medical Graduate Mentorship Program in Psychiatry – American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – Eli Lilly Outstanding General Psychiatry Resident Award
- American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education – APA – Research Colloquium Award American Psychiatric Association – New York District Branch – Resident Research Award 1st place
- American Psychiatric Association – Janssen Research Scholar on Severe Mental Illness
- NCDEU – National Institute of Mental Health – New Investigator Award
- Top Doctors – Psychiatry –Washingtonian Magazine
- Fellow, American Psychiatric Association
- National Institutes of Health Bench-to-Bedside Award
- American Psychiatric Association – Janssen Research Scholar on Severe Mental Illness Author/co-author of multiple peer-reviewed publications
Most patients report increased energy, focus, and motivation to perform activities in as little as 5-10 sessions. Many patients have described TMS therapy as life changing. Oftentimes, family members will notice effects before the patient does.
- Genome-wide association study of suicidal ideation emerging during citalopram treatment of depressed outpatients
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19724244/ - Psychiatrists Key Ingredient in Medicine’s Melting Pot
https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/pn.44.18.0009 - Pharmacogenetics Studies in STAR*D: Strengths, Limitations, and Results
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3775610/ - Advances in Managing Treatment-Resistant Depression
https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/advances-treatment-resistant-depression - Living Well with MDD
https://www.webmd.com/depression/video/mdd-living-well - Association of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Depression Polygenic Scores with Lithium Response: A Consortium for Lithium Genetics Study.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36408127/ - Using polygenic scores and clinical data for bipolar disorder patient stratification and lithium response prediction: machine learning approach
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35225756/ - The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24399358/ - Pharmacogenetics of mood disorders: what clinicians need to know
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24050155/ - Immunogenetics of lithium response and psychiatric phenotypes in patients with bipolar disorder
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37461719/ - Treatment of US Children With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37115542/
For more PubMed publications
- Adult and Child Psychopharmacology
- Anti-anxiety Treatments
- Anxiety Disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism
- Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive Illness)
- Cover of the Text Book: Authorship
- Covid Long Haulers
- Depression
- Diamond in the Rough Presenter
- Eating Disorders
- Electronics Difficulties/Addictions
- Encephalitis
- Mood Dysregulation Disorder
- Neuromodulation/Brain Stimulation
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- PANDAS
- Pharmacogenetics
- Phobias
- Psychotic Disorders
- Social Anxiety
- Suicidal Ideation
- Supplements
- Telemedicine
- Tic Disorders
- Tourette’s
- Women’s Health
