Joseph Pierre, M.D.

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A Short Biography:

Joe Pierre, MD is the Chief of Mental Health Community Care Systems at the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center and a Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is a graduate of MIT, the UCLA School of Medicine, and the residency training program at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. He has extensive clinical experience working with individuals with psychotic disorders, substance abuse, and those with “dual diagnosis.” Dr. Pierre also has considerable experience as a clinical researcher, participating as a primary investigator and collaborator for clinical trials in schizophrenia and early intervention for young persons at high risk for psychosis. In 2005, he received Young Investigator Awards from both the International Congress of Schizophrenia Research and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. He has authored over 100 papers, abstracts, and book chapters related to schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications, substance-induced psychosis, delusions and delusion-like beliefs, auditory hallucinations and voice-hearing, and a variety of other topics including the neuroscience of free will and culturally sanctioned suicide. He also writes the Psych Unseen blog at Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psych-unseen). Dr. Pierre has presented research findings and lectured to audiences both nationally and internationally and has served as an expert witness consultant in forensic/legal cases involving schizophrenia, the intersection of psychosis and religion, delusion-like beliefs and conspiracy theories, and the side effects of antipsychotic therapy. He is highly involved in resident and medical student education and has received several awards for excellence in teaching including the 2012 UCLA NPI Housestaff Teaching Award.

Website: www.drjoepierre.com
Twitter: @psychunseen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychunseen/

Work Titles
UCLA Health Sciences Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
Education:
Degrees:
M.D., CA Medical Board
Certifications:
Certifications:
2001 American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Contact Information:

Email Address:

joseph.pierre2@va.gov


Work Phone Number:

310-478-3711 x42895

Mailing Address:

11301 Wilshire Blvd
Building 210
Los Angeles, CA 90073


Detailed Biography:

Joe Pierre, MD is the Chief of Mental Health Community Care Systems at the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center and a Health Sciences Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He is a graduate of MIT, the UCLA School of Medicine, and the residency training program at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. He has extensive clinical experience working with individuals with psychotic disorders, substance abuse, and those with “dual diagnosis.” Dr. Pierre also has considerable experience as a clinical researcher, participating as a primary investigator and collaborator for clinical trials in schizophrenia and early intervention for young persons at high risk for psychosis. In 2005, he received Young Investigator Awards from both the International Congress of Schizophrenia Research and the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. He has authored over 100 papers, abstracts, and book chapters related to schizophrenia, antipsychotic medications, substance-induced psychosis, delusions and delusion-like beliefs, auditory hallucinations and voice-hearing, and a variety of other topics including the neuroscience of free will and culturally sanctioned suicide. He also writes the Psych Unseen blog at Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psych-unseen). Dr. Pierre has presented research findings and lectured to audiences both nationally and internationally and has served as an expert witness consultant in forensic/legal cases involving schizophrenia, the intersection of psychosis and religion, delusion-like beliefs and conspiracy theories, and the side effects of antipsychotic therapy. He is highly involved in resident and medical student education and has received several awards for excellence in teaching including the 2012 UCLA NPI Housestaff Teaching Award.
Website: www.drjoepierre.com
Twitter: @psychunseen
Facebook: https://facebook.com/psychunseen 

Publications:

A selected list of publications:

Pierre JM   Conspiracy theory or delusion? 3 questions to tell them apart Current Psychiatry, 2021; (20): 44,60.
Pierre JM   Mistrust and misinformation: A two component, socio-epistemic model of belief in conspiracy theories Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 2020; 8(2): 617–641.
Pierre JM   Forensic psychiatry versus the variety of delusion-like beliefs. American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2020; .
Pierre JM   Time to retire haloperidol? Current Psychiatry, 2020; 19(5): 18-28.
Pierre JM   The psychology of guns: Risk, fear, and motivated reasoning. Palgrave Communications, 2019; 5: 159.
Pierre JM   Assessing malingered auditory verbal hallucinations in forensic and clinical settings Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2019; 47(4): 448-456.
Pierre JM   Integrating non-psychiatric models of delusion-like beliefs into forensic psychiatric assessment Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 2019; 47: 171-179.
Pierre JM   Abuse of psychiatric medications: Not just stimulants and benzodiazepines Current Psychiatry, 2019; 18: 10-16,21-24,26,38.
Pierre JM   Cannabidiol for schizophrenia: promise or pipe-dream? Current Psychiatry, 2019; 18: 12-16,19-20.
Pierre JM   Real-world challenges in managing ‘dual diagnosis’ patients Current Psychiatry, 2018; 17(9): 24-30.
Roggenkamp Hannah, Nicholls Andrew, Pierre Joseph M   Tattoos as a window to the psyche: How talking about skin art can inform psychiatric practice World Journal of Psychiatry, 2017; 7(3): 148-158.
Pierre Joseph M   Risks of increasingly potent cannabis: The joint effects of potency and frequency Current Psychiatry, 2017; 16(2): 14-20.
Erickson Zachary D, Kwan Crystal L, Gelberg Hollie A, Arnold Irina Y, Chamberlin Valery, Rosen Jennifer A, Shah Chandresh, Nguyen Charles T, Hellemann Gerhard, Aragaki Dixie R, Kunkel Charles F, Lewis Melissa M, Sachinvala Neena, Sonza Patrick A, Pierre Joseph M, Ames Donna   A Randomized, Controlled Multisite Study of Behavioral Interventions for Veterans with Mental Illness and Antipsychotic Medication-Associated Obesity Journal of general internal medicine, 2017; 32(Suppl 1): 32-39.
Tessier Jillian M, Erickson Zachary D, Meyer Hilary B, Baker Matthew R, Gelberg Hollie A, Arnold Irina Y, Kwan Crystal, Chamberlin Valery, Rosen Jennifer A, Shah Chandresh, Hellemann Gerhard, Lewis Melissa M, Nguyen Charles, Sachinvala Neena, Amrami Binyamin, Pierre Joseph M, Ames Donna   Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes: Impact on Weight, Quality of Life, and Psychiatric Symptoms in Veterans With Mental Illness Military medicine, 2017; 182(9): e1738-e1744.
Pierre JM, Frances A.   Language in psychiatry: A bedeviling dictionary. BJPsych Advances, 2016; 22: 313-315.
Ames Donna, Carr-Lopez Sian M, Gutierrez Mary A, Pierre Joseph M, Rosen Jennifer A, Shakib Susan, Yudofsky Lynn M   Detecting and Managing Adverse Effects of Antipsychotic Medications: Current State of Play The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 2016; 39(2): 275-311.
Pierre Joseph M, Gandal Michael, Son Maya   Cannabis-induced psychosis associated with high potency "wax dabs" Schizophrenia research, 2016; 172(1-3): 211-2.
Pierre Joseph M, Mahr Fauzia, Carter Andrea, Madaan Vishal   Underrepresented in Medicine Recruitment: Rationale, Challenges, and Strategies for Increasing Diversity in Psychiatry Residency Programs Academic Psychiatry: The Journal of the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and the Association for Academic Psychiatry, 2016; 39(2): .
Erickson Zachary D, Mena Shirley J, Pierre Joseph M, Blum Lisa H, Martin Eda, Hellemann Gerhard S, Aragaki Dixie R, Firestone Lisa, Lee Catherine, Lee Paul, Kunkel Charles F, Ames Donna   Behavioral interventions for antipsychotic medication-associated obesity: a randomized, controlled clinical trial The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2016; 77(2): e183-9.
Pierre Joseph M   Culturally sanctioned suicide: Euthanasia, seppuku, and terrorist martyrdom World journal of psychiatry, 2015; 5(1): 4-14.
Pierre Joseph M   Suicide, swords, and cultural sanctioning The American journal of forensic medicine and pathology, 2014; 35(4): 284.
Kwan Crystal L, Gelberg Hollie A L, Rosen Jennifer A, Chamberlin Valery, Shah Chandresh, Nguyen Charles, Pierre Joseph M, Erickson Zachary D, Mena Shirley J, King Michael, Arnold Irina, Baker Matthew R, Meyer Hilary B, Ames Donna   Nutritional counseling for adults with severe mental illness: key lessons learned Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2014; 114(3): 369-74.
Pierre J M   The neuroscience of free will: implications for psychiatry Psychological medicine, 2014; 44(12): 2465-74.
Pierre Joseph M   Mental illness and mental health: is the glass half empty or half full? Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie, 2012; 57(11): 651-8.
Phillips James, Frances Allen, Cerullo Michael A, Chardavoyne John, Decker Hannah S, First Michael B, Ghaemi Nassir, Greenberg Gary, Hinderliter Andrew C, Kinghorn Warren A, Lobello Steven G, Martin Elliott B, Mishara Aaron L, Paris Joel, Pierre Joseph M, Pies Ronald W, Pincus Harold A, Porter Douglas, Pouncey Claire, Schwartz Michael A, Szasz Thomas, Wakefield Jerome C, Waterman G Scott, Whooley Owen, Zachar Peter   The six most essential questions in psychiatric diagnosis: a pluralogue part 3: issues of utility and alternative approaches in psychiatric diagnosis Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM, 2012; 7(1): 9.
Phillips James, Frances Allen, Cerullo Michael A, Chardavoyne John, Decker Hannah S, First Michael B, Ghaemi Nassir, Greenberg Gary, Hinderliter Andrew C, Kinghorn Warren A, Lobello Steven G, Martin Elliott B, Mishara Aaron L, Paris Joel, Pierre Joseph M, Pies Ronald W, Pincus Harold A, Porter Douglas, Pouncey Claire, Schwartz Michael A, Szasz Thomas, Wakefield Jerome C, Waterman G Scott, Whooley Owen, Zachar Peter   The six most essential questions in psychiatric diagnosis: A pluralogue part 2: Issues of conservatism and pragmatism in psychiatric diagnosis Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM, 2012; 7(1): 8.
Phillips James, Frances Allen, Cerullo Michael A, Chardavoyne John, Decker Hannah S, First Michael B, Ghaemi Nassir, Greenberg Gary, Hinderliter Andrew C, Kinghorn Warren A, LoBello Steven G, Martin Elliott B, Mishara Aaron L, Paris Joel, Pierre Joseph M, Pies Ronald W, Pincus Harold A, Porter Douglas, Pouncey Claire, Schwartz Michael A, Szasz Thomas, Wakefield Jerome C, Waterman G Scott, Whooley Owen, Zachar Peter   The six most essential questions in psychiatric diagnosis: a pluralogue part 1: conceptual and definitional issues in psychiatric diagnosis Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM, 2012; 7(1): 3.
Phillips James, Frances Allen, Cerullo Michael A, Chardavoyne John, Decker Hannah S, First Michael B, Ghaemi Nassir, Greenberg Gary, Hinderliter Andrew C, Kinghorn Warren A, LoBello Steven G, Martin Elliott B, Mishara Aaron L, Paris Joel, Pierre Joseph M, Pies Ronald W, Pincus Harold A, Porter Douglas, Pouncey Claire, Schwartz Michael A, Szasz Thomas, Wakefield Jerome C, Waterman G Scott, Whooley Owen, Zachar Peter   The six most essential questions in psychiatric diagnosis: a pluralogue. Part 4: general conclusion Philosophy, ethics, and humanities in medicine : PEHM, 2012; 7(3): 14.
Striebel Joan M, Pierre Joseph M   Acute psychotic sequelae of "bath salts" Schizophrenia research, 2011; 133(1-3): 259-60.
DeBonis Katrina, Pierre Joseph M   Psychosis, ivermectin toxicity, and "Morgellons disease" Psychosomatics, 2011; 52(3): 295-6.
Pierre Joseph M   The borders of mental disorder in psychiatry and the DSM: past, present, and future Journal of psychiatric practice, 2010; 16(6): 375-86.
Pierre Joseph M   Nonantipsychotic therapy for monosymptomatic auditory hallucinations Biological psychiatry, 2010; 68(7): e33-4.
Pierre Joseph M   Psychosis associated with medical marijuana: risk vs. benefits of medicinal cannabis use The American journal of psychiatry, 2010; 167(5): 598-9.
Pierre Joseph M   Hallucinations in nonpsychotic disorders: toward a differential diagnosis of "hearing voices" Harvard review of psychiatry, 2010; 18(1): 22-35.
Pierre Joseph M   Naming names: auditory hallucinations, inner speech, and source monitoring Psychological medicine, 2009; 39(9): 1578-9; author reply 1579-80.
Burke Guenevere V, Wong Donovan A, Saunders C Scott, Pierre Joseph M   Self-limited erythema multiforme with risperidone General hospital psychiatry, 2009; 31(3): 295-6.
Tabibian James H, Wirshing Donna A, Pierre Joseph M, Guzik Lisa H, Kisicki Michael D, Danovitch Itai, Mena Shirley J, Wirshing William C   Hepatitis B and C among veterans on a psychiatric ward Digestive diseases and sciences, 2008; 53(6): 1693-8.
Lu Jessica S, Pierre Joseph M   Psychotic episode associated with Bikram yoga The American journal of psychiatry, 2007; 164(11): 1761.
Pierre Joseph M, Peloian John H, Wirshing Donna A, Wirshing William C, Marder Stephen R   A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of modafinil for negative symptoms in schizophrenia The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2007; 68(5): 705-10.
Buckley Peter F, Wirshing Donna A, Bhushan Prameet, Pierre Joseph M, Resnick Seth A, Wirshing William C   Lack of insight in schizophrenia: impact on treatment adherence CNS drugs, 2007; 21(2): 129-41.
Wirshing Donna A, Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing William C, Guzik Lisa H, Resnick Seth A, Goldstein Danielle, Zorick Todd S   Community re-entry program training module for schizophrenic inpatients improves treatment outcomes Schizophrenia research, 2006; 87(1-3): 338-9.
Meyer Jonathan, Loh Catherine, Leckband Susan G, Boyd Jennifer A, Wirshing William C, Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing Donna   Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in veterans with schizophrenia Journal of psychiatric practice, 2006; 12(1): 5-10.
Pierre Joseph M   Extrapyramidal symptoms with atypical antipsychotics : incidence, prevention and management Drug safety : an international journal of medical toxicology and drug experience, 2005; 28(3): 191-208.
Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing Donna A, Wirshing William C, Rivard J Michael, Marks Russell, Mendenhall John, Sheppard Karen, Saunders David G   High-dose quetiapine in treatment refractory schizophrenia Schizophrenia research, 2005; 73(2-3): 373-5.
Pierre Joseph M, Shnayder Igor, Wirshing Donna A, Wirshing William C   Intranasal quetiapine abuse The American journal of psychiatry, 2004; 161(9): 1718.
Wirshing Donna A, Pierre Joseph M, Erhart Stephen M, Boyd Jennifer A   Understanding the new and evolving profile of adverse drug effects in schizophrenia The Psychiatric clinics of North America, 2003; 26(1): 165-90.
Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing Donna A, Wirshing William C   "Iatrogenic Malingering" in VA substance abuse treatment Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.), 2003; 54(2): 253-4.
Wirshing Donna A, Pierre Joseph M, Marder Stephen R, Saunders C Scott, Wirshing William C   Sexual side effects of novel antipsychotic medications Schizophrenia research, 2002; 56(1-2): 25-30.
Wirshing Donna A, Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing William C   Sleep apnea associated with antipsychotic-induced obesity The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2002; 63(4): 369-70.
Wirshing Donna A, Boyd Jennifer A, Pierre Joseph M, Saunders C Scott, Wirshing William C, Azizian Krist, Patel Ketan R, Ashcraft Jeanne C, Darmandjian Hasmik, Feusner Jamie   Delusions associated with quetiapine-related weight redistribution The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2002; 63(3): 247-8.
Furst Benjamin A, Champion Katherine M, Pierre Joseph M, Wirshing Donna A, Wirshing William C   Possible association of QTc interval prolongation with co-administration of quetiapine and lovastatin Biological psychiatry, 2002; 51(3): 264-5.

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