Alfred J. Lewy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alfred J. Lewy, M.D., Ph.D. graduated from University of Chicago, in 1973 after studying Psychiatry, Pharmacology and Ophthalmology. He is a full professor and Vice-Chair of the department of Psychiatry at OHSU, Oregon Health & Science University. Prior to moving to Oregon in 1981, Lewy was at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, Maryland, working with senior colleague Thomas Wehr.[1] As of December 2005, he had 94 publications available on Pubmed.

He describes his research as follows:

"My laboratory studies chronobiologic sleep and mood disorders. These disorders include winter depression, jet lag, maladaptation to shift work and certain types of sleep disturbances. Relying on a very precise assay for plasma melatonin (a hormone that has a clearly defined 24-hour pattern of secretion), biological rhythm disorders can be assessed and their treatment can be monitored. Current research is focused on developing bright light exposure and melatonin administration as treatment modalities for these disorders. Treatment must be precisely scheduled. Morning light exposure and evening melatonin administration cause circadian phase-advance shifts; evening light exposure and morning melatonin administration cause circadian phase-delay shifts. Totally blind individuals have 25-hour circadian rhythms, drifting an hour later each day, unless they take a melatonin capsule at a certain time every day."[2][3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Bhattacharjee, Yudhijit (14 September 2007). "Is Internal Timing Key to Mental Health?" (PDF). ScienceMag 317: 1488–90. AAAS. “(incl. photo of A.J.Lewy)” 
  2. ^ The Sleep and Mood Disorders Laboratory. Oregon Health & Science University. Retrieved on 2008-05-30.
  3. ^ Graduate Studies Programs Faculty. Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (2008). Retrieved on 2008-05-30.


 This biographical article related to medicine in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.