Jeffrey Lieberman

Lieberman graduated from Miami University in 1970, and then received his medical degree from the George Washington School of Medicine in 1975. He completed his medical residency in psychiatry at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York Medical College.

Lieberman is the Lawrence E. Kolb Professor of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he directs the Lieber Center for Schizophrenia Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and was president of the American Psychiatric Association from 2013 to 2014. From 2005 to 2022, Lieberman was Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and the psychiatrist-in-chief of New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.{{cite web|title=Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.|url=http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=jl2616&DepAffil=Psychiatry|date=2005–2008|publisher=Columbia University Department of Psychiatry|accessdate=May 26, 2013}}

Lieberman is or has been a member of the advisory committee for Neuropharmacologic and Psychopharmacologic Drugs of the Food and Drug Administration{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Planning Board for the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Committee on Research on Psychiatric Treatments of the APA{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the APA Work Group for the Development of Schizophrenia Treatment Guidelines{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Brain Disorders and Clinical Neuroscience Review Committee{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the National Advisory Mental Health Council of the NIMH{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, and currently{{when|date=August 2021}} chairs the APA Council of Research.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

Lieberman's research has focused on the neurobiology, pharmacology and treatment of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. His work has focused on understanding the natural history and pathophysiology of schizophrenia and the pharmacology and clinical effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

His research has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the NARSAD, Stanley, and Mental Illness Foundations.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Lieberman served as principal investigator for Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The investigators compared a "first-generation antipsychotic, perphenazine, with several newer drugs in a double-blind study".{{cite journal|author=Lieberman, Jeffrey A.|title=Effectiveness of Antipsychotic Drugs in Patients with Chronic Schizophrenia|journal=The New England Journal of Medicine|publisher=Massachusetts Medical Society|issue=12|pages=1209–1223|date=September 22, 2005|doi=10.1056/NEJMoa051688|pmid=16172203|volume=353|url=https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/downloads/g732dk11n |display-authors=etal|doi-access=free}} "Probably the biggest surprise of all was that the older medication produced about as good an effect as the newer medications, three of them anyway, and did not produce neurological side effects at greater rates than any of the other drugs," Lieberman told The New York Times.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/health/psychology/20drug.html|title=Little Difference Found in Schizophrenia Drugs|author=Carey, Benedict|date=September 20, 2005|work=The New York Times|accessdate=May 30, 2013}}

Lieberman serves, or has served, as associate editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry, Neuropsychopharmacology, Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, Schizophrenia Research, NeuroImage, The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, and Schizophrenia Bulletin.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}

On February 21, 2022, Lieberman posted on Twitter about Nyakim Gatwech, an Ethiopian-born American model of South Sudanese descent, stating that "Whether a work of art or freak of nature she's a beautiful sight to behold", leading to criticism from students and colleagues.{{Cite news|last=Fadulu|first=Lola|date=2022-02-23|title=Columbia Psychiatry Chair Suspended After Tweet About Dark-Skinned Model|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/nyregion/columbia-jeffrey-lieberman.html|url-status=live|access-date=2022-02-25|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220224215317/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/nyregion/columbia-jeffrey-lieberman.html|archive-date=2022-02-24|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web|last=Velasquez|first=Josefa|date=2022-02-24|title=A Racist Tweet by Columbia Psychiatry Chair Ripples Through New York's Elite Medical Circles|url=https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/2/24/22949146/racist-tweet-columbia-psychiatry-chair-jeffrey-lieberman-new-york-medical-elite|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220225192212/https://www.thecity.nyc/2022/2/24/22949146/racist-tweet-columbia-psychiatry-chair-jeffrey-lieberman-new-york-medical-elite|archive-date=2022-02-25|access-date=2022-02-25|website=THE CITY|language=en}} Following the backlash, Lieberman apologized, saying that the content of his post had been racist and sexist and that he was "deeply ashamed" of his “prejudices and stereotypical assumptions”.{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Elwood |title=The 'freak of nature' problem |url=https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/opinion/the-freak-of-nature-problem/article_080f5898-9bd7-11ec-9326-6b737f1494b1.html |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=Johnson City Press |date=5 March 2022 |language=en}} He subsequently deleted his Twitter account.{{Cite web|last=Changa|first=Anoa|date=2022-02-22|title=Columbia University Psychiatry Department Chair Jeffrey Lieberman Deletes His Account After Backlash For Racist Comment About Black Model|url=https://newsone.com/4293983/columbia-university-psychiatry-department-chair-jeffrey-lieberman-racist-comment-black-model/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220223145731/https://newsone.com/4293983/columbia-university-psychiatry-department-chair-jeffrey-lieberman-racist-comment-black-model/|archive-date=2022-02-23|access-date=2022-02-23|website=NewsOne}} The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) asked for his resignation as Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and as of February 22, 2022, Lieberman was no longer affiliated with OMH or the State of New York. Lieberman was suspended as Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University and removed from his position as Psychiatrist-in-Chief at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center (NYP/CUIMC) on February 23, 2022.

Psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee who worked with Lieberman described his Twitter post as part of a pattern of racist and sexist behavior. Elwood Watson, a professor at East Tennessee State University, said the post fit within a centuries-long history of the dehumanization of people of African descent. Lieberman's colleague Carl Hart wrote that racism and sexism need to be better defined as grounds for disciplinary action and that he was uncertain whether Lieberman was racist given his apologies afterwards.{{Cite web |last=Hart |first=Carl |title=Want to eradicate racism and sexism? Define them first |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-racism-sexism-lieberman-20220304-3lpq6fnyxvdclhopojisvnnane-story.html |date=4 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-05 |website=nydailynews.com}} In a New York Times op-ed, Columbia professor John McWhorter wrote: "It is unjust that someone’s life — and life’s work — be derailed because of a graceless way of putting something in an isolated instance."{{Cite news |last=McWhorter |first=John |date=2022-03-01 |title=Opinion {{!}} One Graceless Tweet Doesn't Warrant Cancellation |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/01/opinion/psychiatry-professor-tweet.html |access-date=2022-03-04 |issn=0362-4331}}

Lieberman has published over 500 research papers and edited or written ten books, including the textbook Psychiatry (currently in its second edition), Textbook of Schizophrenia, Comprehensive Care of Schizophrenia, Psychiatric Drugs and Ethics in Psychiatric Research: A Resource Manual on Human Subjects Protection.

In 2015, he published the book Shrinks: the Untold Story of Psychiatry (Little Brown). A four-part series, tentatively titled "In Search of Madness: The Untold Story of Mental Illness," based on his book, Shrinks, is scheduled for broadcast on PBS in April 2022.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

A new book by Lieberman on schizophrenia was published by Scribner in 2023.{{cite book |last1=Lieberman |first1=Jeffrey A. |title=Malady of the Mind: Schizophrenia and the Path to Prevention |date=2023 |publisher=Scribner |isbn=9781982136420 |url=https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Malady-of-the-Mind/Jeffrey-A-Lieberman/9781982136420}}

Lieberman is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} He received the Lieber Prize for Schizophrenia Research from NARSAD,{{cite web|title=Prestigious Lieber Prize for Research Awarded to Jeffrey A. Lieberman, M.D|date=October 12, 2006|url=http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/updates/2006/prestigious-lieber-prize-for-research-awarded-to-jeffrey-a-lieberman-m-d.shtml|publisher=National Institute of Mental Health|accessdate=May 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427121047/http://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/updates/2006/prestigious-lieber-prize-for-research-awarded-to-jeffrey-a-lieberman-m-d.shtml|archive-date=April 27, 2013|url-status=dead}} the Adolph Meyer Award from the American Psychiatric Association (APA),{{Cite web|date=2007-06-19|title=Jeffrey Lieberman Receives Adolf Meyer Award From American Psychiatric Association|url=https://www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/jeffrey-lieberman-receives-adolf-meyer-award-american-psychiatric-association|access-date=2022-02-23|website=Columbia University Irving Medical Center|language=en}} the Stanley R. Dean Award for Schizophrenia Research from the American College of Psychiatrists,{{Cite web|title=Dean Award Nominations and Past Winners|url=https://www.acpsych.org/awards/dean-award-nominations-deadline-january-5|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220223151109/https://www.acpsych.org/awards/dean-award-nominations-deadline-january-5|archive-date=2022-02-23|access-date=2022-02-23|website=The American College of Psychiatrists}} the APA Research Award,{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-herald-psychiatrist-wins/149993344/ |title=Psychiatrist wins research award |newspaper=The Chapel Hill Herald |page=3 |date=1998-06-27 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}} the APA Kempf Award for Research in Psychobiology {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the APA Gralnick Award for Schizophrenia Research,{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-university-of-nort/149993120/ |title=University of North Carolina |newspaper=The News & Observer |publication-place=Raleigh, North Carolina |page=19 |date=1998-08-25 |access-date=2024-06-24 |via=Newspapers.com}} the Ziskind-Somerfeld Award of the Society of Biological Psychiatry {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Ernest Strecker Award of the University of Pennsylvania {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Lilly Neuroscience Award from the Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum for Clinical Research {{citation needed|date=February 2022}}, the Scientific Research Award,{{cite web|title=Reception and Presentation of the 2011 NAMI Scientific Research Award|url=http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/Upcoming_Events/2013_Research_Award/2011_Research_Award/2011_Research_Award.htm|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20131003053620/http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/Upcoming_Events/2013_Research_Award/2011_Research_Award/2011_Research_Award.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 3, 2013|publisher=National Alliance on Mental Illness|accessdate=May 26, 2013}} the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Ed Hornick Memorial Award of The New York Academy of Medicine,{{cite web|title=Jeffrey A. Lieberman Receives Hornick Award; Delivers Lecture on Early Interventions for Schizophrenia|date=January 12, 2012|url=http://www.primarypsychiatry.com/aspx/articledetail.aspx?articleid=1156|publisher=The New York Academy of Medicine|accessdate=May 26, 2013}} and the Strecker Award of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.{{cite web|title=Previous Strecker Award Recipients|url=http://www.med.upenn.edu/psych/Strecker_recipients.html|publisher=The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania|accessdate=May 26, 2013}}

In 2015, in response to journalist Robert Whitaker's view that psychiatry suffers from a conflict of interest with pharmaceutical companies, Lieberman described Whitaker as a "menace to society".{{Cite web |title=Listener mail - Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman |work=CBC Radio |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday/men-will-be-boys-the-refugee-problem-christiana-pflug-ve-day-1.3055705/listener-mail-dr-jeffrey-lieberman-1.3057807 |access-date=2022-02-28}}

A review of Lieberman's 2015 book Shrinks in The Guardian criticized the book for focusing almost entirely on American psychiatry, for its "triumphalist" narrative, and for failing to discuss Lieberman's financial relationship with pharmaceutical companies.{{Cite web|date=2015-04-05|title=Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry by Jeffrey Lieberman – review|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/05/shrinks-the-untold-story-of-psychiatry-jeffrey-lieberman|access-date=2021-04-04|website=the Guardian|language=en}}

During the presidency of Donald Trump, Lieberman cited the American Psychiatric Association's Goldwater rule, which forbids psychiatrists from diagnosing public figures without having personally assessed them, as grounds to criticize a book edited by psychiatrist Bandy X. Lee that argued that Trump's mental condition made him dangerous.{{Cite journal |last=Lieberman |first=Jeffrey |date=2017-11-15 |title=The Dangerous Case of Psychiatrists Writing About the POTUS's Mental Health |url=https://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/doi/abs/10.1176/appi.pn.2017.11b13 |journal=Psychiatric News |volume=52 |issue=22 |language=en |doi=10.1176/appi.pn.2017.11b13|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web |title=The Dangers of Speculating About Trump's Mental Health |url=http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/889189 |access-date=2021-04-17 |website=Medscape |language=en}}{{Cite journal |last=Lieberman |first=Jeffrey A. |date=2018-02-01 |title=Psychiatrists Diagnosing the President — Moral Imperative or Ethical Violation? |url=https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMc1716751 |journal=New England Journal of Medicine |volume=378 |issue=5 |pages=483–484 |doi=10.1056/NEJMc1716751 |issn=0028-4793 |pmid=29281477|doi-access=free }} Lieberman also published his and seven colleagues' analysis of the president's mental state based on public information; they ruled out a series of diagnoses as unlikely and said incipient dementia was "most plausible", but concluded that Trump would have to allow for a full medical examination for any conclusions to be drawn.{{cite news |last1=Lieberman |first1=Jeffrey A. |title=Trump's Brain and the 25th Amendment |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/trumps-brain-and-the-25th-amendment/ |access-date=2021-09-08 |work=Vice |date=2017-09-08}} Lee argued that Lieberman was hypocritical for condemning her book but publishing his own analysis.{{Cite web |last=Lee |first=Bandy X. |date=2021-02-22 |title=[COMMENTARY] Trumpism Did Not End With Donald Trump |url=https://hillreporter.com/commentary-trumpism-did-not-end-with-donald-trump-93641 |access-date=2021-04-17 |website=HillReporter.com |language=en-US |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421172256/https://hillreporter.com/commentary-trumpism-did-not-end-with-donald-trump-93641 |url-status=dead }} Joshua Kendall also criticized Lieberman's stance and said it was inconsistent with Lieberman having written his Vice article.{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Joshua |date=2020-04-25 |title=Muzzled by Psychiatry in a Time of Crisis |url=https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/04/muzzled-psychiatry-time-crisis/ |access-date=2021-04-04 |website=Mad In America |language=en-US}}

Lieberman resides in New York City with his wife, Rosemarie,{{Cite news|url=http://www.rainbowlight.com/blog/podcast-jeffrey-lieberman-and-shrinks-a-most-fashionable-take-on-the-human-mind/|title=Rainbow Light Home|newspaper=Blessed Herbs|access-date=2016-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221093044/https://www.rainbowlight.com/blog/podcast-jeffrey-lieberman-and-shrinks-a-most-fashionable-take-on-the-human-mind/|archive-date=2016-12-21|url-status=dead}} and two sons.{{Cite web|url=http://clintara.com/scientific-advisory-board/jeffrey-lieberman-m-d/|title=Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D.|website=clintara.com|access-date=2016-12-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624193918/http://clintara.com/scientific-advisory-board/jeffrey-lieberman-m-d/|archive-date=2016-06-24|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{official}}
• [http://asp.cumc.columbia.edu/facdb/profile_list.asp?uni=jl2616&DepAffil=Psychiatry Lieberman's faculty profile]
• {{C-SPAN|74599}}

{{American Psychiatric Association Presidents}}

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Category:Miami University alumni

Category:George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences alumni

Category:American psychiatrists

Category:Living people

Category:1948 births

Category:Presidents of the American Psychiatric Association

Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine

Category:Columbia University faculty