
The development of the human brain occurs through a marvelously orchestrated interplay of precisely timed genetic and environmental factors. Each stage of development bears its own gifts, and also potential vulnerabilities. Most individuals with psychiatric disorders experience the onset of symptoms during childhood and adolescence, raising the importance of early identification to prevent or minimize long term adverse effects. However, neurodevelopmental syndromes such as Autism and Schizophrenia likely arise from a variety of different mechanisms, which may best respond to different treatments. Our goal is to understand how the processes of normal development such as the onset of puberty interact with other factors to increase the risk of developing psychiatric disorders, and to use this understanding for optimizing interventions.
Rhoshel received her medical degree and training in Adult, Child, and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico in the United States. She began her work in psychiatric research in New Mexico with a project using spectroscopy to study glutamate abnormalities in adolescents with early onset schizophrenia.
An MRI study of emotional processing deficits in childhoodHumans are social beings and the ability to recognise emotions in other people is fundamental to mental health. Children with autism and a virulent form of aggressive conduct problems show similar
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Neurodevelopmental changes in decision making in children and adolescentsOur impact upon the world is largely defined by the decisions that we make, from how to respond to a social provocation to what larger goals will shape our lives. |