Research & Publications
What is Clinical Research?
Clinical research refers to the study of human health and disease. We can study medicine at many levels. For example, the bacteria that cause disease can be viewed through a microscope and studied, or researchers can use mice to study a disease process that affects humans. The key feature of clinical research is that it involves the study of humans.What are the different types of Clinical Research?
Human studies can vary depending on what the researchers are interested in learning. Types of clinical research include:- Treatment studies – evaluating which medical interventions work best for a disease
- Prevention studies – evaluating how to prevent a disease from starting or progressing
- Diagnostic studies – evaluating how best to reach a medical diagnosis
- Genetic studies – evaluating which gene(s) cause, or increase risk for, a disease
- Epidemiological studies – identifying patterns, causes, and control of a disease
Key Research Publications
Below are select publications from WBMA's clinical leadership that directly inform the evidence-based treatments available at our practice. Select an author to explore their contributions to psychiatry and neuroscience research.
Google Scholar Profile
Gonzalo Laje, MD, MHSc, FAPA
Clinical Professor of Psychiatry · Texas Tech University · Verified at wbma.cc
Citation metrics
10,100+
Total citations
38
h-index
55
i10-index
2,873
Since 2021
Showing 7 of 57 publications
- Relationship of ketamine's plasma metabolites with response, diagnosis, and side effects in major depression Research examining how ketamine's metabolites relate to clinical response and side effects in major depression, directly informing WBMA's ketamine-assisted treatment protocols and patient selection criteria. View Publication →
- The International Consortium on Lithium Genetics (ConLiGen): an initiative by the NIMH and IGSLI to study the genetic basis of response to lithium treatment A multi-institutional collaboration studying the genetic basis of lithium treatment response in bipolar disorder, advancing personalized psychiatry and treatment selection. View Publication →
- Delayed diagnosis in a house of correction: Smith-Magenis syndrome due to a de novo nonsense RAI1 variant A case study demonstrating the importance of comprehensive genetic testing in reaching accurate diagnoses for complex neuropsychiatric presentations. View Publication →
- Identification of common variants associated with human hippocampal and intracranial volumes A large-scale genome-wide association study identifying genetic variants associated with brain structure, advancing understanding of how genetics influence brain development and psychiatric vulnerability. View Publication →
- The ENIGMA Consortium: large-scale collaborative analyses of neuroimaging and genetic data Multi-site collaborative research examining relationships between brain structure, genetics, and psychiatric disorders through advanced neuroimaging techniques. View Publication →
- Combining schizophrenia and depression polygenic risk scores improves the genetic prediction of lithium response in bipolar disorder patients Research demonstrating how combining genetic risk scores may improve prediction of lithium treatment response, supporting precision psychiatry approaches at WBMA. View Publication →
- Pathway-Specific Polygenic Scores for Predicting Clinical Lithium Treatment Response in Patients With Bipolar Disorder Latest research identifying specific biological pathways that may predict lithium response in bipolar disorder, advancing personalized treatment approaches. View Publication →
Showing 10 select publications
- Substance use disorders: a comprehensive update of classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention A wide-ranging review examining how biological, genetic, and social factors contribute to substance use disorders, along with current evidence on behavioral therapies, medications, and prevention strategies that may support recovery and reduce risk. View Publication →
- The changing opioid crisis: development, challenges and opportunities A review of the evolving opioid epidemic in the United States, exploring the neurobiology of opioid use disorder, available medication-assisted approaches, and public health prevention strategies that may help address this ongoing challenge. View Publication →
- Cannabis use and risk of prescription opioid use disorder in the United States A prospective national study examining the relationship between cannabis use and subsequent prescription opioid use disorder, contributing to a more complete understanding of co-occurring substance use patterns among U.S. adults. View Publication →
- Prevalence, treatment, and unmet treatment needs of U.S. adults with mental health and substance use disorders Drawing on data from over 325,000 adults, this study examines patterns of co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders and identifies significant gaps in access to care - findings that continue to shape policy and clinical priorities. View Publication →
- Psychiatric disorders and risk for multiple adverse outcomes: a national prospective study A longitudinal national study exploring how psychiatric diagnoses relate to a range of downstream adverse outcomes, informing integrated approaches to mental health assessment and long-term care planning. View Publication →
- Approximating defense mechanisms in a national study of adults: prevalence and correlates with functioning An examination of how psychological defense mechanisms operate at the population level and their association with overall functioning - research with implications for psychotherapy practice and understanding mental health resilience. View Publication →
- Living alone and suicide risk in the United States, 2008-2019 A large-scale study linking social isolation and living arrangements to suicide risk across more than a decade of national data, highlighting the importance of addressing loneliness as part of comprehensive mental health care. View Publication →
- Opportunities for advancing science to inform tobacco regulation in an evolving tobacco landscape A forward-looking analysis of how evolving tobacco and nicotine product use intersects with addiction science and public health regulation, reflecting Dr. Blanco's ongoing contributions to national substance use policy. View Publication →
- Vulnerable populations and substance use prevention service delivery for the mental health professional A clinically oriented review of how social and biological risk factors across the lifespan contribute to substance use, offering mental health professionals a framework for prevention-focused care. View Publication →
- Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol dependence among U.S. adults: results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions A national study quantifying the overlap between PTSD and alcohol dependence, informing integrated treatment approaches for patients managing both conditions simultaneously. View Publication →
Showing 10 select publications
- Reversible modulation of a deep white matter surgical target for depression with low-intensity focused ultrasound A randomized, sham-controlled study examining whether low-intensity focused ultrasound may modulate deep brain white matter tracts implicated in treatment-resistant depression, representing Dr. Guinjoan's current research into non-invasive neuromodulation approaches for patients who have not responded to standard therapies. View Publication →
- Cognitive effects of rapid-acting treatments for resistant depression: Just adverse, or contributing to clinical efficacy? A clinical analysis examining the cognitive profile of rapid-acting treatments for depression, including ketamine and electroconvulsive therapy, and how those cognitive effects may relate to their therapeutic impact in patients with resistant depression. View Publication →
- Childhood adversity modulation of central autonomic network components during cognitive regulation of emotion in major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder A neuroimaging study exploring how early adverse experiences may shape the brain's autonomic and emotion regulation networks differently in major depression compared to borderline personality disorder, informing more individualized approaches to psychiatric assessment and treatment planning. View Publication →
- Distinct neural processing of acute stress in major depression and borderline personality disorder A functional neuroimaging study identifying differences in how the brain responds to acute psychological stress in patients with major depression versus borderline personality disorder, contributing to a more precise understanding of the neural signatures underlying each condition. View Publication →
- Real-time fMRI functional connectivity neurofeedback reducing repetitive negative thinking in depression: a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled proof-of-concept trial A proof-of-concept trial exploring whether real-time brain connectivity neurofeedback may help reduce repetitive negative thinking in depression, opening a potential avenue for non-pharmacological intervention in patients seeking alternatives to medication. View Publication →
- Abnormal brain network community structure related to psychological stress in schizophrenia A study examining how brain network organization may be disrupted in schizophrenia in relation to psychological stress responses, contributing to the understanding of stress sensitivity as a neurobiological feature with implications for treatment and monitoring. View Publication →
- Pattern of brain activation during social cognitive tasks is related to social competence in siblings discordant for schizophrenia A neuroimaging study of siblings discordant for schizophrenia, examining how patterns of brain activation during social cognition relate to real-world social functioning, with implications for identifying neurocognitive markers and informing functional rehabilitation approaches. View Publication →
- Wavelet transform shows age-related changes of heart rate variability within independent frequency components A psychophysiological study using advanced signal analysis to characterize how cardiac autonomic function changes across the lifespan, part of Dr. Guinjoan's foundational research linking autonomic nervous system dysregulation to psychiatric and neuropsychiatric conditions. View Publication →
- Nonlinear analysis of heart rate variability within independent frequency components during the sleep-wake cycle A foundational study characterizing the nonlinear dynamics of cardiac autonomic regulation across sleep and wakefulness, contributing to a broader understanding of how disrupted autonomic function may serve as a physiological marker in mood and neuropsychiatric disorders. View Publication →
- Relation of depression to heart rate nonlinear dynamics in patients aged 60 years or older with recent unstable angina pectoris or acute myocardial infarction A prospective study examining the connection between depressive symptoms and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in older adults following an acute coronary event, establishing the physiological pathway linking depression to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. View Publication →
