Mark Barad

Mark Barad, MD, PhD is an Clinical Associate Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, with appointments in the Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences. He practices psychiatry at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital and maintains a private clinical practice in Los Angeles.

Education and Training:

• Bachelor’s, Harvard University, magna cum laude, 1979
• MD and PhD in Human Genetics, Yale University, 1991
• Internship in Medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital, 1991-1992
• Residency in Psychiatry, Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1995-1999
• Post-doctoral Fellowship, Laboratory of Eric Kandel, Neuroscience, Columbia University, 1992-1999

Research Interests: Dr. Barad investigates the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying fear extinction, a critical model for psychotherapy in anxiety disorders and depression. His work focuses on neurotransmitters, second messenger systems, and their interactions with long-term potentiation (LTP) in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. He has identified pharmacological agents like yohimbine and propranolol that modulate extinction and fear memory, aiming to develop adjunctive treatments for anxiety disorders.

Scientific Contributions:

• Discovered that yohimbine (adrenergic agonist) facilitates fear extinction
• Elucidated the role of L-type calcium channels in fear memory and extinction
• Demonstrated that extinction is inhibitory learning, not memory erasure
• Linked histone modifications and BDNF expression to fear extinction

Clinical Expertise: Board-certified in psychiatry, Dr. Barad specializes in treating adults with anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and personality disorders. He integrates evidence-based psychotherapies (CBT, psychodynamic) with tailored medication strategies, emphasizing patient collaboration and therapeutic homework.