UCSD Profiles

search, discover, network

Biography
Dr. Kristin Cadenhead a Professor of Psychiatry at University of California San Diego and an attending physician at the UCSD Medical Center. She served as Residency Training Director for the Department of Psychiatry from 2017-2022. She is the Director of the Cognitive Assessment and Risk Evaluation (CARE) Program, a research and clinical program that focuses on early identification, intervention and prevention of serious mental illness. She received her BA degree in Biology/Psychology from Rice University in Houston, Texas. She then earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. She completed her residency in Psychiatry and Fellowship in Schizophrenia research at UCSD.

Research Interests
Primary research interests include biomarkers in early psychosis. Dr. Cadenhead is the Director of the “CARE” (Cognitive Assessment and Risk Evaluation) Program to study the early signs of psychosis in adolescents and young adults. Funded by the National Institutes of Health, the CARE program provides education and community outreach to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, the San Diego Public Schools and other community health and physician organizations. The study is longitudinal and assesses clinical as well as physiologic and cognitive factors that may be predictive of developing schizophrenia. A major aim of the CARE program is to identify psychosis early so that it is possible to intervene earlier and perhaps prevent some of the devastating effects of schizophrenia. Dr. Cadenhead is also interested in innovative interventions in early psychosis that are informed by mechanism of illness.

Clinical Focus
The CARE Program provides clinical care to individuals who are developing the initial signs of a psychotic illness. The treatment philosophy includes a multidisciplinary approach with pharmacologic management, social services, stress management and psychoeducation as part of the program.