Asher Mood Disorders Program
Asher Center Mood Disorders Specialty Diagnosis and Treatment Program
The clinical program of the Asher Center was established in 1995 as a joint program with Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation. Asher Center clinicians have offered specialized treatment for more than 2,500 individual patients since the Center was established.
The Mood Disorders Specialty Diagnosis and Treatment Program is a subspecialty program providing diagnosis and ongoing care, as well as consultation/second opinions in the area of depressive disorders. Emphasis is on diagnosis, psychopharmacological management, psychotherapy, education, and supportive management. Treatment is individually tailored to each patient’s needs. Indicated psychotherapeutic management will either be handled by Asher Center clinicians or arrangements made for referral to other clinicians.
All psychiatrists and clinical psychologists have specialty training and research experience in providing clinical services for mood disorders. Services include psychotherapy, which involves both individual and group approaches. Both approaches use empirically validated treatments that demonstrable effects in effectively treating mood disorders. For example, cognitive and behavioral approaches are very helpful for patients, who learn to reduce avoidance strategies by increasing monitoring of daily activities, assigning tasks that induce mastery or pleasure, rehearsing scheduled activities, and changing behavioral skill deficits.
Clinical research is considered a core function of Asher’s clinical program. We systematically use of state of the art quantitative rating measures and treatment manuals. Regular use of these measures and treatment manuals help both clinicians and patients track symptoms and treatment progress, as well as comply with empirically-validated treatments for affective disorders.
Participating Faculty:
Pedro L. Dago, MD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Medical Director, Psychiatric Emergency Service at The Stone Institute of Psychiatry at Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Jackie K. Gollan, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Director, Translational Research on Stress and Depression Laboratory
Mark Reinecke, PhD
Chief, Division of Psychology
Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Michael Ziffra, MD
Assistant Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Site Director, Northwestern University Regional Center of Depression Treatment Network
For more information please call: 312-695-3511