Camellia Pratt Clark, M.D.
Assistant Adjunct Professor
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093
PHONE #: (858)552-8585 ext. 2580
FAX #: (858)458-4201
E-MAIL: cclark@vapop.ucsd.edu

Biography
Dr. Clark’s bioengineering background, fascination with the nervous system, & diagnosis of narcolepsy as a first-year neurosurgery resident led her toward psychiatry, with strong sleep & brain imaging research interests.

Research Focus
Her major interests have been in imaging (SPECT, structural and functional MRI) and sleep research. She is currently using locally developed perfusion MRI to examine the antidepressant effects of one night of partial sleep deprivation. (Her previous study used SPECT.)

Most of her sleep research has focused on major depression, at times including co-morbid alcoholism and anxiety. She helped develop projects involving the effects of acute tryptophan depletion effects on mood and sleep and the effects of transdermal nicotine on mood, sleep and smoking in depressed smokers. I have also collaborated on immune function studies of depression and primary insomnia.

Clinical Focus
Her main clinical interests include affective disorders (especially major depression), sleep disorders, and the interface between neurology and psychiatry.

During Dr. Clark’s time as medical director of a day program for the severely mentally ill, she has also developed an interest in treatment of refractory psychotic disorders.

Selected Publications

• Clark CP, Frank L, Brown G (2001) ASleep Deprivation, EEG, and Functional MRI in Depression: Preliminary Results@ Neuropsychopharmacology 25:S79-S84
• Clark CP, Dupont RM, Golshan S, Gillin JC (2000) APreliminary Evidence of an Association Between Increased REM Density and Poor Antidepressant Response to Partial Sleep Deprivation@ Journal of Affective Disorders 59:77-83
• Clark CP, Gillin JC, Demodena A, Smith TL, Irwin M, Schuckit M (1999) APolysomnography and Depressive Symptoms in Primary Alcoholics with and without a Lifetime Diagnosis of Secondary Depression and in Patients with Primary Major Depression@ Journal of Affective Disorders 52:177-185
• Clark CP, Dupont RM, Lehr P, Yeung D, Halpern S, Golshan S, Gillin JC (1998) AIs There a Relationship Between Delta Sleep at Night and Afternoon Cerebral Blood Flow, Assessed by Waking HMPAO-SPECT in Depressed Patients and Normal Control Subjects?: Preliminary Data@ Psychiatric Research: Neuroimaging 84:89-99 (Received Sleep Research Society Young Investigator Award 1999 based on this paper)
• Clark CP, Alexopoulos GS, Kaplan J (1995) "Prolactin Release and Clinical Response to Electroconvulsive Therapy in Depressed Geriatric Inpatients: A Preliminary Report" Convulsive Therapy 11:24-31