Ellen Frank (scientist)

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Ellen Frank (born 1944) is a psychologist and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. [1] She is known in the field of Psychotherapy as one of the developers of Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, which aims to treat bipolar disorder by correcting disruptions in the circadian rhythm while promoting increased regularity of daily social routines. [2] [3] Frank is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of HealthRhythms, a company that uses mobile technology to monitor the health and mental health of clients, facilitate the detection of changes in their status, and better manage mental health conditions. [4] [5]

Contents

Frank received the 2008 Award for Research in Mood Disorders from the American College of Psychiatrists, [6] and the 2011 Rhoda and Bernard Sarnat International Prize in Mental Health from the National Academy of Medicine for her research on mood disorders and their treatment. [7] She also received the 2015 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science. [8]

Biography

Ellen Frank graduated from Vassar College in 1966 with a bachelor's degree in Drama. She pursued her master's degree in English at Carnegie Mellon University. Frank worked as a research assistant with David Kupfer and Thomas Detre at the University of Pittsburgh, who inspired her to investigate the science of treatment in psychiatry. Frank completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1979 at the University of Pittsburgh. [9]

Frank is the director of the Depression and Manic Depression Prevention program at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh. [10] She received a MERIT award from the National Institute of Mental Health which supported her work in developing Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy.

Frank was named an honorary fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in 1991 and served as a member of the Mood Disorders Workgroup of the American Psychiatric Association DSM-V Task Force. She served as Chair of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Panel and as a member of the U.S. National Advisory Mental Health Council. She was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 1999. [11]

Research

Ellen Frank is an expert on mood disorders and their treatment. She and her colleagues developed Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT), a hybrid of Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Social Rhythm Therapy, which aims "to help people improve their moods by understanding and working with their biological and social rhythms." [12] IPSRT assumes that disruptions in circadian and social rhythms, including eating and sleeping schedules, place vulnerable individuals at an elevated risk for onsets of episodes of depression or mania. [13] Therapists using IPSRT aim to teach their clients how to stabilize their social routines to create order in their lives. Frank's book titled Treating Bipolar Disorder: A Clinician's Guide to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy provides a manual for beginning therapists interested in adopting this treatment approach. [14] [15] In collaboration Jessica Levenson, Frank co-authored the book Interpersonal Psychotherapy (Theories of Psychotherapy), which endorses interpersonal therapy as an effective and easy-to-implement treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. [16] [17] Some of Frank's most cited research has focused on individuals who suffer from recurrent depression; these studies examined the efficacy of interpersonal psychotherapy as maintenance treatment alone or in combination with medication in preventing relapse. [18] [19] [20]

Representative Publications

Related Research Articles

Bipolar disorder Mental disorder that causes periods of depression and abnormally elevated mood

Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mood disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally-elevated happiness that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with psychosis, it is called mania; if it is less severe, it is called hypomania. During mania, an individual behaves or feels abnormally energetic, happy or irritable, and they often make impulsive decisions with little regard for the consequences. There is usually also a reduced need for sleep during manic phases. During periods of depression, the individual may experience crying and have a negative outlook on life and poor eye contact with others. The risk of suicide is high; over a period of 20 years, 6% of those with bipolar disorder died by suicide, while 30–40% engaged in self-harm. Other mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, are commonly associated with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar I disorder Bipolar disorder that is characterized by at least one manic or mixed episode

Bipolar I disorder is a type of bipolar spectrum disorder characterized by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, with or without mixed or psychotic features. Most people also, at other times, have one or more depressive episodes, and all experience a hypomanic stage before progressing to full mania.

Major depressive disorder Mental disorder involving persistent low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest

Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Those affected may also occasionally have delusions or hallucinations. Introduced by a group of US clinicians in the mid-1970s, the term was adopted by the American Psychiatric Association for this symptom cluster under mood disorders in the 1980 version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III), and has become widely used since.

Mood disorder Group of conditions characterised by a disturbance in mood

A mood disorder, also known as an affective disorder, is any of a group of conditions of mental and behavioral disorder where a disturbance in the person's mood is the main underlying feature. The classification is in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Schizoaffective disorder is a mental disorder characterized by abnormal thought processes and an unstable mood. This diagnosis is made when the person has symptoms of both schizophrenia and a mood disorder: either bipolar disorder or depression. The main criterion for a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder is the presence of psychotic symptoms for at least two weeks without any mood symptoms present. Schizoaffective disorder can often be misdiagnosed when the correct diagnosis may be psychotic depression, bipolar disorder with psychotic feature, schizophreniform disorder, or schizophrenia. It is imperative for providers to accurately diagnose patients, as treatment and prognosis differ greatly for each of these diagnoses.

Biological psychiatry or biopsychiatry is an approach to psychiatry that aims to understand mental disorder in terms of the biological function of the nervous system. It is interdisciplinary in its approach and draws on sciences such as neuroscience, psychopharmacology, biochemistry, genetics, epigenetics and physiology to investigate the biological bases of behavior and psychopathology. Biopsychiatry is the branch of medicine which deals with the study of the biological function of the nervous system in mental disorders.

Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) is an intervention for people with bipolar disorder (BD). Its primary focus is stabilizing the circadian rhythm disruptions that are common among people with bipolar disorder (BD). IPSRT draws upon principles from interpersonal psychotherapy, an evidence-based treatment for depression and emphasizes the importance of daily routine (rhythm).

A major depressive episode (MDE) is a period characterized by the symptoms of major depressive disorder. Those affected primarily have a depressed mood for at least two weeks or more, and a loss of interest or pleasure in everyday activities, accompanied by other symptoms, such as feelings of emptiness, hopelessness, anxiety, worthlessness, guilt, irritability, changes in appetite, problems concentrating, remembering details or making decisions, and thoughts of suicide. Insomnia or hypersomnia, aches, pains, or digestive problems that are resistant to treatment may also be present. The description has been formalized in psychiatric diagnostic criteria such as the DSM-5 and ICD-10.

Mental disorders are classified as a psychological condition marked primarily by sufficient disorganization of personality, mind, and emotions to seriously impair the normal psychological and often social functioning of the individual. Individuals diagnosed with certain mental disorders can be unable to function normally in society. Mental disorders may consist of several affective, behavioral, cognitive and perceptual components. The acknowledgement and understanding of mental health conditions has changed over time and across cultures. There are still variations in the definition, classification, and treatment of mental disorders.

Psychoneuroendocrinology is the clinical study of hormone fluctuations and their relationship to human behavior. It may be viewed from the perspective of psychiatry, where in certain mood disorders, there are associated neuroendocrine or hormonal changes affecting the brain. It may also be viewed from the perspective of endocrinology, where certain endocrine disorders can be associated with negative health outcomes and psychiatric illness. Brain dysfunctions associated with the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis HPA axis can affect the endocrine system, which in turn can result in physiological and psychological symptoms. This complex blend of psychiatry, psychology, neurology, biochemistry, and endocrinology is needed to comprehensively understand and treat symptoms related to the brain, endocrine system (hormones), and psychological health..

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) is a brief, attachment-focused psychotherapy that centers on resolving interpersonal problems and symptomatic recovery. It is an empirically supported treatment (EST) that follows a highly structured and time-limited approach and is intended to be completed within 12–16 weeks. IPT is based on the principle that relationships and life events impact mood and that the reverse is also true. It was developed by Gerald Klerman and Myrna Weissman for major depression in the 1970s and has since been adapted for other mental disorders. IPT is an empirically validated intervention for depressive disorders, and is more effective when used in combination with psychiatric medications. Along with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), IPT is recommended in treatment guidelines as a psychosocial treatment of choice for depression.

Bipolar II disorder Bipolar spectrum disorder

Bipolar II disorder (BP-II) is a mood disorder on the bipolar spectrum, characterized by at least one episode of hypomania and at least one episode of major depression. Diagnosis for BP-II requires that the individual must never have experienced a full manic episode. Otherwise, one manic episode meets the criteria for bipolar I disorder (BP-I).

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behaviour, cognition, and perceptions. See glossary of psychiatry.

Depression in childhood and adolescence Pediatric depressive disorders

Depression is a mental disorder characterized by prolonged unhappiness or irritability, accompanied by a constellation of somatic and cognitive signs and symptoms such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems, loss of appetite, loss of engagement; low self-regard or worthlessness; difficulty concentrating or indecisiveness; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicide. Depression in childhood and adolescence is similar to adult major depressive disorder, although young sufferers may exhibit increased irritability or behavioral dyscontrol instead of the more common sad, empty, or hopeless feelings seen with adults. Children who are under stress, experiencing loss, have attention, learning, behavioral, or anxiety disorders are at a higher risk for depression. Childhood depression is often comorbid with mental disorders outside of other mood disorders; most commonly anxiety disorder and conduct disorder. Depression also tends to run in families. In a 2016 Cochrane review cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), third wave CBT and interpersonal therapy demonstrated small positive benefits in the prevention of depression. Psychologists have developed different treatments to assist children and adolescents suffering from depression, though the legitimacy of the diagnosis of childhood depression as a psychiatric disorder, as well as the efficacy of various methods of assessment and treatment, remains controversial.

Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (BD-NOS) is a diagnosis for bipolar disorder (BD) when it does not fall within the other established sub-types. Bipolar disorder NOS is sometimes referred to as subthreshold bipolar disorder.

Allen J. Frances is an American psychiatrist. He is currently Professor and Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. He is best known for serving as chair of the American Psychiatric Association task force overseeing the development and revision of the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Frances is the founding editor of two well-known psychiatric journals: the Journal of Personality Disorders and the Journal of Psychiatric Practice.

Melancholic depression Medical condition

Melancholic depression, or depression with melancholic features, is a DSM-IV and DSM-5 subtype of clinical depression.

Augustus John Rush is an internationally renowned psychiatrist. He is a professor emeritus in Duke-NUS Medical School at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and adjunct professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. He has authored and edited more than 10 books, and over 600 scientific journal articles that are largely focused on the diagnosis and treatment of depressive and bipolar disorders.

Myrna Weissman

Myrna Milgram Weissman is Diane Goldman Kemper Family Professor of Epidemiology in Psychiatry at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and Chief of the Division of Translational Epidemiology at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. She is an epidemiologist known for her research on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and psychiatric epidemiology, as it pertains to rates and risks of anxiety and mood disorders across generations. Among her many influential works are longitudinal studies of the impact of parental depression on their children.

Sleep is known to play an important role in the etiology and maintenance of a bipolar disorder. Patients with a bipolar disorder often have for example a less stable and more variable circadian activity. This circadian activity disruption is often also apparent, even if the person concerned isn't currently ill.

References

  1. ↑ "University of Pittsburgh Faculty Honored as Distinguished Professors | University of Pittsburgh News". University of Pittsburgh News Services.
  2. ↑ Frank, Ellen; Swartz, Holly A; Boland, Elaine (2007). "Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy: an intervention addressing rhythm dysregulation in bipolar disorder". Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 9 (3): 325–32. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2007.9.3/efrank. PMC   3202498 . PMID   17969869.
  3. ↑ "Ellen Frank". 7th Conference of the International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (ISIPT). Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Ellen Frank, PhD". Wexner Medical Center.
  5. ↑ "HealthRhythms". HeatlhRhythms.
  6. ↑ "Mood Disorders Award Nominations - The American College of Psychiatrists". The College of American Psychiatrists.
  7. ↑ Stencel, Christine; Shields, Shaquanna (17 October 2011). "William Bunney and Ellen Frank Receive Institute of Medicine's 2011 Sarnat Prize in Mental Health for Their Research on Mood Disorders". NEWS from the National Academies. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "2015 James McKeen Cattell Fellow Award". Association for Psychological Science.
  9. ↑ Barlow, Kimberly. "University Times » Relieving the burden of mood disorders". University of Pittsburgh.
  10. ↑ "Depression and Manic Depression Prevention Program". Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic.
  11. ↑ "Ellen Frank, PhD". www.upmc.com. Retrieved 2017-11-14.
  12. ↑ "Ellen Frank, PhD CDI (Career Development Institute for Psychiatry) University of Pittsburgh". www.cdi.pitt.edu.
  13. ↑ Stuart, Scott (2007-01-01). "Treating Bipolar Disorder: A Clinician's Guide to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy". Psychiatric Services. 58 (1): 145. doi:10.1176/ps.2007.58.1.145. ISSN   1075-2730.
  14. ↑ Frank, Ellen (2005). Treating bipolar disorder: a clinician's guide to interpersonal and social rhythm therapy. New York: Guilford Press. ISBN   9781593854652. OCLC   58536001.
  15. ↑ Balon, Richard (2006). "A Review of: "Treating Bipolar Disorder. A Clinician's Guide to Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy"". Annals of Clinical Psychiatry. 18 (2): 135–136. doi:10.1080/10401230600614751.
  16. ↑ Frank, Ellen (2011). Interpersonal psychotherapy. Levenson, Jessica C., American Psychological Association. (1st ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN   9781433808517. OCLC   624405616.
  17. ↑ FRANK, ELLEN; RITCHEY, FIONA C.; LEVENSON, JESSICA C. (2014). "Is Interpersonal Psychotherapy Infinitely Adaptable? A Compendium of the Multiple Modifications of IPT". American Journal of Psychotherapy. 68 (4): 385–416. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.2014.68.4.385. ISSN   0002-9564. PMC   4602162 . PMID   26453344.
  18. ↑ Frank, Ellen (1990-12-01). "Three-Year Outcomes for Maintenance Therapies in Recurrent Depression". Archives of General Psychiatry. 47 (12): 1093–9. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1990.01810240013002. ISSN   0003-990X. PMID   2244793.
  19. ↑ Kupfer, David J. (1992-10-01). "Five-Year Outcome for Maintenance Therapies in Recurrent Depression". Archives of General Psychiatry. 49 (10): 769–73. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1992.01820100013002. ISSN   0003-990X. PMID   1417428.
  20. ↑ Frank, Ellen (1991-12-01). "Efficacy of Interpersonal Psychotherapy as a Maintenance Treatment of Recurrent Depression". Archives of General Psychiatry. 48 (12): 1053–9. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.1991.01810360017002. ISSN   0003-990X. PMID   1845438.
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