Joan Luby
Samuel and Mae S. Ludwig Chair in Psychiatry at Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Phone: 314-286-2730
- Email: lubyj@nospam.wustl.edu
Additional Titles & Roles
- Director, Early Emotional Development Program
- Co-PI NIMH Post doctoral training program in developmental affective neuroscience
Education & Training
- Fellowship: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1990
- Residency: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 1988
- M.D.: Wayne State University, 1985
- B.A.: Brown University, 1981
Major Awards
- Elected Member: National Academy of Medicine, 2023
- AACAP Norbert and Charlotte Rieger Award for Scientific Achievement, 2021
- American Psychiatric Association Blanche Ittelson Award for Research in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry, 2021
- Ruane Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Research (NARSAD), 2020
- Washington University Carl and Gerty Cori Faculty Achievement Award, 2020
- Member Scientific Council/ Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, 2018
- AACAP Irving R. Philips Award for Prevention, 2015
Areas of Clinical Interest
Mood disorders in preschool children: diagnosis and treatment, Developmental Psychopathology, Neurobiological correlates of preschool depression. Early experience and neurodevelopment. Sensitive periods. Novel parent-child interaction therapy for preschool mood disorders, Infant/Preschool Psychiatry
Research Interests
– Studies of early onset depression, validators, clinical characteristics, biological markers and alterations in brain structure and function related to early onset depression and other early experiences
– Psychotherapeutic treatments for early onset depression focusing on emotion development
– Studies of early experience and brain development
– Effects of poverty on brain development
– Novel treatments for early onset depression
– Sensitive periods in emotion development and therapeutic response.
Recent Publications
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African American Food Environments and Anti-Inflammatory Intake in Pregnancy
Walden, N., Tabak, R., Brown, D. S., Luby, J., Warner, B., Smyser, T., Rogers, C., Barch, D., England, S. K., Oberly, T., Smyser, C. & Iannotti, L., May 2026, In: International journal of environmental research and public health. 23, 5, 646.
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Preadolescent Benefits of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy Emotion Development for Preschool Depression: 4-Year Follow-Up
Elansary, M., Barch, D. M., Tillman, R., Dandrea, C. B., Vogel, A. C., Donohue, M. R., Hennefield, L., Gilbert, K. & Luby, J. L., May 2026, In: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 65, 5, p. 669-684 16 p.
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Prenatal Adversity and Neonatal Brain Connectivity Relate to Emerging Executive Function at Age 2 Years
Lean, R. E., Kenley, J. K., Latham, A. R., Smyser, T. A., Neil, J. J., Nielsen, A. N., Sylvester, C. M., Miller, J. P., Shimony, J. J., Luby, J. L., Barch, D. M., Warner, B. B., Smyser, C. D. & Rogers, C. E., Apr 2026, In: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 65, 4, p. 564-576 13 p.
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Neonatal Brain Volumes and Early Parenting Behavior as Mediators in Associations Between Prenatal Social Disadvantage and Socioemotional Problems in Toddlers
Leverett, S. D., Poolos, O., Brady, R. G., Tillman, R., Lean, R. E., Gerstein, E. D., Anaya, B., Triplett, R. L., Alexopoulos, D., Warner, B., Luby, J. L., Smyser, C. D., Rogers, C. E. & Barch, D. M., Mar 1 2026, In: Biological Psychiatry. 99, 5, p. 387-397 11 p.
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Reevaluating Suicide Risk Screening in Preadolescents: Beyond Safety Toward Strategic Integration—Authors’ Reply
Hennefield, L., Thompson, R. J., Barch, D. M., Luking, K. R. & Luby, J. L., Mar 2026, In: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 65, 3, p. 328-330 3 p.