Summary
MD, PhD, MRCPsych, Clinical Senior Lecturer in General Psychiatry in Centres for Neuropsychopharmacology and Psychedelic Research at Imperial and Consultant Psychiatrist at St Charles Hospital, CNWL Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust. From early 2021 heading a new NHS-based research clinic at St Charles Hospital, the CIPPRes Clinic.
David conducts psychopharmacological research, using brain-imaging techniques such as PET and MRI. He was trained in PET imaging at Columbia University in New York and later undertook a PhD at University Hospital Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen. Since 2009 he has been involved in post-doc imaging research into the neurobiology of addictions and major depression at Imperial. David has been investigating dopaminergic neurotransmission with measurements of the dopamine D3 receptor in alcohol addiction, studies of opioid neurotransmission in pathological gambling, and functional imaging studies looking at the role of dopamine D3 and mu-opiate receptors in cocaine, alcohol, and heroin addiction.
Currently, he runs lab-based multi-modal brain imaging studies [often using pharmacological challenges] focusing on serotonin/dopamine/opiate neurotransmission as well as larger-scale prospective, naturalistic studies with online assessments and/or field-based data collection. Specifically, in the Centre for Psychedelic Research [where David is Clinical Director and Deputy Head], the team is investigating brain mechanisms and therapeutic potential of MDMA, ketamine and classic psychedelics.
Publications
Journals
Erritzoe D, Barba T, Spriggs MJ, et al., 2024, Effects of discontinuation of serotonergic antidepressants prior to psilocybin therapy versus escitalopram for major depression., J Psychopharmacol
Marrocu A, Kettner H, Weiss B, et al., 2024, Psychiatric risks for worsened mental health after psychedelic use., J Psychopharmacol, Vol:38, Pages:225-235
Barba T, Kettner H, Radu C, et al., 2024, Psychedelics and sexual functioning: a mixed-methods study, Scientific Reports, Vol:14, ISSN:2045-2322
Timmermann Slater CB, Zeifman R, Erritzoe D, et al., 2024, Effects of DMT on mental health outcomes in healthy volunteers, Scientific Reports, Vol:14, ISSN:2045-2322
Barbut Siva J, Barba T, Kettner H, et al., 2024, Interactions between classic psychedelics and serotonergic antidepressants: Effects on the acute psychedelic subjective experience, well-being and depressive symptoms from a prospective survey study., J Psychopharmacol, Vol:38, Pages:145-155