Ronit Kishon, PhD
- Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry)
Overview
Dr. Kishon is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at the Depression Evaluation Service, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University. She earned her BA at Tel Aviv University and her Doctorate at Columbia University, Teachers College. She completed her internship in Clinical Psychology at the West Haven VA, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University.
As an expert in the treatment of trauma, she has treated patients with depression, anxiety, and PTSD, both in the US and in Israel, including Holocaust survivors, Vietnam War veterans, combat veterans in Israel, and 9/11 survivors and families.
Dr. Kishon has overseen the clinical arm of multiple NIMH-funded projects, providing individualized interventions to people with PTSD, anxiety and depression. She is interested in psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that may shape disease processes and affect change during psychotherapy. Specifically, she investigates changes in processing and self-reflection abilities through the treatment of depression and the psychophysiological underpinnings of these changes.
Dr. Kishon spearheaded an IRB-approved pilot study at the Depression Evaluation Service (DES), investigating the processes of psychological mindedness and mindfulness in depressed patients who have gone through CBT.
She has joined the Global Psychiatric Epidemiology Group (GPEG) to investigate post-9/11 long term psychiatric outcomes in WTC first responders, evacuees, and their children. She also provides psychological support to treatment-resistant depressed patients who receive psilocybin dosing in a clinical trial at the DES.
As part of her commitment to education, Dr. Kishon directs an externship program at the DES for students in clinical psychology and provides training on trauma-related issues to mental health and primary care providers under the auspices of Columbia University HIV Mental Health Training Project.
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology (in Psychiatry)
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- PhD, MSc, Clinical Psychology, Columbia University, Teachers College
- Internship: Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Research
Dr. Kishon has overseen the clinical arm of multiple NIMH-funded projects, providing individualized interventions to people with PTSD, anxiety and depression. She is interested in psychological and neurobiological mechanisms that may shape disease processes and affect change during psychotherapy. Specifically, she investigates changes in processing and self-reflection abilities through the treatment of depression and the psychophysiological underpinnings of these changes.
Dr. Kishon spearheaded an IRB-approved pilot study at the Depression Evaluation Service (DES), investigating the processes of psychological mindedness and mindfulness in depressed patients who have gone through CBT.
She has joined the Global Psychiatric Epidemiology Group (GPEG) to investigate post-9/11 long term psychiatric outcomes in WTC first responders, evacuees, and their children. She also provides psychological support to treatment-resistant depressed patients who receive psilocybin dosing in a clinical trial at the DES.
Grants
COMBINING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES TO TARGET MECHANISMS OF EMOTION PROCESSING AND REGULATION DURING COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN DEPRESSION
Start Date: 07/01/2020
Ending Date: 06/30/2022
THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF PSILOCYBIN IN PARTICIPANTS WITH TREATMENT RESISTANT DEPRESSION (P-TRD) (Private)
January 2019 – June 2020.
RDoC DOMAINS UNDERLYING EMOTIONAL HEALTH AND TRAJECTORIES OF PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN FAMILIES OF WTC FIRST RESPONDERS AND EVACUEES: A GENOME-WIDE GxE STUDY
(Federal Gov)
September 2016 – August 2021
OPTIMIZING TREATMENT FOR COMPLICATED GRIEF (Federal Gov)
Dec 1 1999 - Feb 28 2014
IMAGING THE SEROTONIN SYSTEM IN OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE
DISORDER (Federal Gov)
Sep 1 2006 - Aug 31 2011
COMBINING ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASURES TO TARGET MECHANISMS OF EMOTION PROCESSING AND REGULATION DURING COGNITIVE BEHAVIOR THERAPY IN DEPRESSION
Start Date: 07/01/2020
Ending Date: 06/30/2022
Selected Publications
• Kishon, R., Geronazzo-Alman, L., Westphal, M., Chen, Y., Green, D., Sarda, A., ... & Hollon, S. D. (2020). Psychological Mindedness and Alexithymia Predict Symptom Reduction in Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder. International Journal of Cognitive Therapy, 13(4), 287-302.
• Kishon, R., Abraham, K., Alschuler, D., Keilp, J. G., Stewart, J.W., McGrath, P.J., Bruder, G. E. (2015). Lateralization for Speech Predicts Therapeutic Response to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression. Psychiatry Research. 228: 606-611.
• Metts, A., Keilp, J. G., Kishon, R., Oquendo, M. A., Mann, J. J., Miller, J.M. (2018). Neurocognitive performance predicts treatment outcome with cognitive behavioral therapy for major depressive disorder. Psychiatry Research. 269:376-38
• Rubin-Falcone, H., Weber, J., Kishon, R., Ochsner, K., Delaparte, L., Doré, B., Zanderigo, F., Oquendo, M.A., Mann, J.J., Miller, J.M. (2018). Longitudinal Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression on the Neural Correlates of Emotion Regulation. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging, 30(271), 82-90.
• Rubin-Falcone, H., Weber, J., Kishon, R., Ochsner, K., Delaparte. L., Doré, B., Raman, S., Denny, B.T., Oquendo, M.A., Mann, J.J., Miller, J.M. (2019). Neural Predictors and Effects of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Depression: the Role of Emotional Reactivity and Regulation. Psychological Medicine, 1-15.
• Neria, Y., Brett, L., Maugen, S., Insel, B., Seimarco, G., Rosenfeld, H., Suh, E., Kishon, R., Cook, M. J., & Marshal, R.D. (2007). Prevalence of Psychological Correlates of Complicated Grief among Bereaved Adults 2.5-3.5 Years after 9/11 Attacks. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20(3).
• Barash-Kishon R, Midlarsky E, Johnson R.D. (1999). Altruism and the Vietnam War Veteran: The relationship of helping to symptomatology. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 12(4): 655-62.
• Muller, U., Barash-Kishon R. (1998). Psychodynamic Supportive Group Therapy for Elderly Holocaust Survivors. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 48(4): 461-75.