Research
Neurogenetic disorders; neurobehavioral biomarkers of serious mental illness
Appointments
- Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Psychology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior Brain Research Institute
- Integrative Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment (CART)
- Director, Center for the Assessment and Prevention of Prodromal States (CAPPS)
Biography
Her research aims to understand genetic and neurobiological risk factors for the development of early-onset neuropsychiatric disorders. Dr. Bearden’s work examines these questions through two complementary lines of research:
1) The investigation of early biomarkers that predict disease risk and trajectory in at-risk populations; and
2) Translational approaches to understanding disrupted brain circuitry in highly penetrant genetic subtypes (e.g, 22q11.2 microdeletions)
Publications
- Liu, D, Zong, X, Wolters, PL, Walsh, KS, Janusz, J, Klein-Tasman, BP et al.. Age-varying associations between parent-reported executive function and internalizing/externalizing problems in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: an integrative analysis of data from nine institutions. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2026; :1-14. doi: 10.1017/S1355617726102021. PubMed PMID:42265946 .
- Bai, Y, Roeske, MJ, Beermann, A, Addington, J, Bearden, CE, Cadenhead, K et al.. Tobacco Use is Related to Parietal-Hippocampal Connectivity in People at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.05.26.26354136. PubMed PMID:42245024 PubMed Central PMC13232406.
- Boen, R, O'Hora, KP, Fung, H, Kushan, L, Schleifer, CH, Dietterich, TE et al.. The Hidden Architecture of Brain Structural Variability in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Multi-site Study. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.05.18.26353539. PubMed PMID:42238402 PubMed Central PMC13228650.
- Amir, CM, Walsh, C, Wang, HR, Ghahremani, DG, Chang, SE, Ho, TC et al.. Predicting Substance Use and Psychotic-Like Experiences in Adolescents. medRxiv. 2026; :. doi: 10.64898/2026.05.20.26353709. PubMed PMID:42238395 PubMed Central PMC13228774.
- Liebrand, M, Hamilton, HK, Roach, BJ, Nicholas, S, Bachman, PM, Belger, A et al.. Electroencephalography Microstate Instability and Clinical Outcomes in Individuals at Clinical High Risk of Psychosis. JAMA Psychiatry. 2026; :. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2026.1084. PubMed PMID:42234419 PubMed Central PMC13234755.