Physicians

Department / Division
Psychiatry / Biological Psychiatry

Address
DUMC 3309
Durham, NC 27710

Appointment Telephone
919-681-8742

Office Telephone
919-681-8742

Fax Telephone
919-681-8744

Training

• MD, Duke University School of Medicine, 1973

Residency

• Psychiatry, UNC Hospitals, 1974-1976

Other Training

• PhD, Physiology, Duke University, 1973

Clinical Interests
Affective disorders, electroconvulsive therapy, schizophrenia, electroencephalography

Research Interests
Research efforts under my direction are in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).  First, in a study of unilateral versus bilateral ECT in elderly unilateral ECT non-responders, we have shown that switching to bilateral ECT is associated with a more substantial and enduring response.  We have also shown that switching to bilateral ECT is, however, associated with an increase in memory impairment compared to continuing unilateral ECT.  Other ongoing ECT work focuses on the effects of various types of stimulus dosing paradigms on therapeutic response, memory impairment, and EEG abnormality.  This work already suggests that moderate intensity dosing improves therapeutic response, but, again, at the cost of more substantial memory effects.  With respect to this latter study, as well as other pilot work, we have also demonstrated an ability to separate EEG seizures produced by various kinds of ECT treatment parameters.  We are continuing this work in order to more fully develop electroencephalographic models of treatment adequate with ECT.

Industry Relationships and Collaborations (What's this?)

This physician has no reported relationships with industry.

Representative Publications
Krystal AD, Weiner RD, McCall WV, Shelp FE, Arias R, Smith P: The effects of ECT stimulus dose and electrode palcement on the ictal electroencephalogram: An intraindividual cross-over study. Biological Psychiatry 34: 759-767, 1993. (1993)

Weiner RD, Rogers HJ, Davidson JRT, Kahn EM: Effects of ECT upon brain electrical activity. In: Malitz S, Sackeim HA (eds), Electroconvulsive Therapy: Clinical and Basic Research Issues, New york, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 462: 270-281, 1986. (1986)

Weiner RD, Rogers HJ, Davidson JRT, Squire LR: Effects of stimulus parameters on cognitive side effects. In: Malitz S, Sackeim HA (eds), Electroconvulsive Therapy: Clinical and Basic Research Issues, New York, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 462: 315-325, 1986. (1986)

Weiner RD, Erwin CW, Weber BA: Acute effects of electroconvulsive therapy on brain stem auditory-evoked potentials. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 52: 202-204, 1981. (1981)

Weiner RD: ECT and seizure threshold: Effects of stimulus wave form and electrode placement. Biological Psychiatry 15: 225-241, 1980. (1980)