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Aoife O'Donovan, PhD

Title(s)Associate Professor, Psychiatry
SchoolSchool of Medicine
Phone415-221-4810 ext. 4959
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    Other Positions
    Title(s)UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse Education and Training
    University of California, San FranciscoPostdoctoral StudiesGraduate Division
    Collapse Awards and Honors
    American Psychosomatic Society2019Herbert Weiner Early Career Award
    International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies2018Chaim and Bela Danieli Young Professional Award
    Society of Biological Psychiatry2018Travel Fellowship Award
    University of California2017Hellman Fellowship Award
    Career Development Institute for Psychiatry2014Trainee Award
    Society in Science2010Branco Weiss Fellowship
    American College of Neuropsychopharmacology2013Travel Award
    Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research2012Neal E. Miller New Investigator Award
    American Psychosomatic Society2008Scholar Award
    Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society2008Trainee Award
    Rotary International2007Ambassadorial Scholarship
    The Fulbright Program2007Fulbright Scholarship
    Psychological Society of Ireland2007Postgraduate Student of the Year
    Newman Scholarship Program2004Craig Dobbin Newman Scholarship
    University College Cork1998College Scholar Award

    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse Overview
    People who experience traumatic or enduring psychological stress are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders as well as cardiovascular, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disorders. Our research is focused on revealing how psychological stress drives the development of mental and physical disorders. Specifically, we aim to identify the psychological and biological factors that account for the adverse effects of psychological stress, and ultimately to drive the development of targeted interventions to reduce such negative effects of stress. To this end, we are currently focused on uncovering stress-related changes in immune system functioning and on examining how such changes impact brain function and structure.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse Research Activities and Funding
    Effects of inflammation on neural mechanisms of threat sensitivity in posttraumatic stress disorder
    NIH/NIMH K01MH109871Apr 4, 2016 - Mar 31, 2020
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse Publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help.
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    1. Young DA, Neylan TC, Chao LL, O'Donovan A, Metzler TJ, Inslicht SS. Child abuse interacts with hippocampal and corpus callosum volume on psychophysiological response to startling auditory stimuli in a sample of veterans. J Psychiatr Res. 2019 Apr; 111:16-23. PMID: 30660809.
      View in: PubMed
    2. Niles AN, O'Donovan A. Comparing anxiety and depression to obesity and smoking as predictors of major medical illnesses and somatic symptoms. Health Psychol. 2019 Feb; 38(2):172-181. PMID: 30556708.
      View in: PubMed
    3. Küffer A, Straus LD, Prather AA, Inslicht SS, Richards A, Shigenaga JK, Madden E, Metzler TJ, Neylan TC, O'Donovan A. Altered overnight levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in men and women with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 Apr; 102:114-120. PMID: 30544002.
      View in: PubMed
    4. Young DA, Chao L, Neylan TC, O'Donovan A, Metzler TJ, Inslicht SS. Association among anterior cingulate cortex volume, psychophysiological response, and PTSD diagnosis in a Veteran sample. Neurobiol Learn Mem. 2018 Nov; 155:189-196. PMID: 30086395.
      View in: PubMed
    5. Niles AN, Luxenberg A, Neylan TC, Inslicht SS, Richards A, Metzler TJ, Hlavin J, Deng J, O'Donovan A. Effects of Threat Context, Trauma History, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Status on Physiological Startle Reactivity in Gulf War Veterans. J Trauma Stress. 2018 Aug; 31(4):579-590. PMID: 30058728.
      View in: PubMed
    6. Niles AN, Smirnova M, Lin J, O'Donovan A. Gender differences in longitudinal relationships between depression and anxiety symptoms and inflammation in the health and retirement study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018 09; 95:149-157. PMID: 29864671.
      View in: PubMed
    7. Young DA, Neylan TC, O'Donovan A, Metzler T, Richards A, Ross JA, Inslicht SS. The interaction of BDNF Val66Met, PTSD, and child abuse on psychophysiological reactivity and HPA axis function in a sample of Gulf War Veterans. J Affect Disord. 2018 08 01; 235:52-60. PMID: 29649711.
      View in: PubMed
    8. Niles, A.N. & O'Donovan, A.Personalizing affective stimuli using a recommender algorithm: An example with threatening words for trauma-exposed populations. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 2018; 11(42):747-757.
      View Publication
    9. O'Donovan A, Neylan TC. Associations of Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Inflammation and Endothelial Function: On Timing, Specificity, and Mechanisms. Biol Psychiatry. 2017 Dec 15; 82(12):861-863. PMID: 29129199.
      View in: PubMed
    10. Inslicht SS, Rao MN, Richards A, O'Donovan A, Gibson CJ, Baum T, Metzler TJ, Neylan TC. Sleep and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis responses to metyrapone in posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2018 02; 88:136-143. PMID: 29268182.
      View in: PubMed
    11. Mohlenhoff BS, O'Donovan A, Weiner MW, Neylan TC. Dementia Risk in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: the Relevance of Sleep-Related Abnormalities in Brain Structure, Amyloid, and Inflammation. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2017 Oct 16; 19(11):89. PMID: 29035423.
      View in: PubMed
    12. Richards A, Inslicht SS, Metzler TJ, Mohlenhoff BS, Rao MN, O'Donovan A, Neylan TC. Sleep and Cognitive Performance From Teens To Old Age: More Is Not Better. Sleep. 2017 Jan 01; 40(1). PMID: 28364476.
      View in: PubMed
    13. O'Donovan A, Ahmadian AJ, Neylan TC, Pacult MA, Edmondson D, Cohen BE. Current posttraumatic stress disorder and exaggerated threat sensitivity associated with elevated inflammation in the Mind Your Heart Study. Brain Behav Immun. 2017 Feb; 60:198-205. PMID: 27765647.
      View in: PubMed
    14. Küffer AL, O'Donovan A, Burri A, Maercker A. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Adverse Childhood Events, and Buccal Cell Telomere Length in Elderly Swiss Former Indentured Child Laborers. Front Psychiatry. 2016; 7:147. PMID: 27630582; PMCID: PMC5005955.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    15. O'Donovan A. PTSD is associated with elevated inflammation: any impact on clinical practice? Evid Based Ment Health. 2016 11; 19(4):120. PMID: 27574245.
      View in: PubMed
    16. Rush G, O'Donovan A, Nagle L, Conway C, McCrohan A, O'Farrelly C, Lucey JV, Malone KM. Alteration of immune markers in a group of melancholic depressed patients and their response to electroconvulsive therapy. J Affect Disord. 2016 Nov 15; 205:60-68. PMID: 27414954.
      View in: PubMed
    17. Ionescu DF, McAdams CJ, O'Donovan A, Philip NS. Becoming an Academic Researcher in Psychiatry: A View From the Trenches. Acad Psychiatry. 2017 04; 41(2):293-296. PMID: 26983418.
      View in: PubMed
    18. Lin JE, Neylan TC, Epel E, O'Donovan A. Associations of childhood adversity and adulthood trauma with C-reactive protein: A cross-sectional population-based study. Brain Behav Immun. 2016 Mar; 53:105-112. PMID: 26616398.
      View in: PubMed
    19. Talbot LS, Rao MN, Cohen BE, Richards A, Inslicht SS, O'Donovan A, Maguen S, Metzler TJ, Neylan TC. Metabolic risk factors and posttraumatic stress disorder: the role of sleep in young, healthy adults. Psychosom Med. 2015 May; 77(4):383-91. PMID: 25886830; PMCID: PMC4431908.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    20. Murphy TM, O'Donovan A, Mullins N, O'Farrelly C, McCann A, Malone K. Anxiety is associated with higher levels of global DNA methylation and altered expression of epigenetic and interleukin-6 genes. Psychiatr Genet. 2015 Apr; 25(2):71-8. PMID: 25350786.
      View in: PubMed
    21. Kumar P, Slavich GM, Berghorst LH, Treadway MT, Brooks NH, Dutra SJ, Greve DN, O'Donovan A, Bleil ME, Maninger N, Pizzagalli DA. Perceived life stress exposure modulates reward-related medial prefrontal cortex responses to acute stress in depression. J Affect Disord. 2015 Jul 15; 180:104-11. PMID: 25898329.
      View in: PubMed
    22. Puterman E, Epel ES, O'Donovan A, Prather AA, Aschbacher K, Dhabhar FS. Anger is associated with increased IL-6 stress reactivity in women, but only among those low in social support. Int J Behav Med. 2014 Dec; 21(6):936-45. PMID: 24357433; PMCID: PMC4406249.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    23. O'Donovan A, Chao LL, Paulson J, Samuelson KW, Shigenaga JK, Grunfeld C, Weiner MW, Neylan TC. Altered inflammatory activity associated with reduced hippocampal volume and more severe posttraumatic stress symptoms in Gulf War veterans. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Jan; 51:557-66. PMID: 25465168; PMCID: PMC4374733.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    24. Rao MN, Chau A, Madden E, Inslicht S, Talbot L, Richards A, O'Donovan A, Ruoff L, Grunfeld C, Neylan TC. Hyperinsulinemic response to oral glucose challenge in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Nov; 49:171-81. PMID: 25108160; PMCID: PMC4165697.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    25. O'Donovan A, Cohen BE, Seal KH, Bertenthal D, Margaretten M, Nishimi K, Neylan TC. Elevated risk for autoimmune disorders in iraq and afghanistan veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 15; 77(4):365-74. PMID: 25104173; PMCID: PMC4277929.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    26. Inslicht SS, Richards A, Madden E, Rao MN, O'Donovan A, Talbot LS, Rucker E, Metzler TJ, Hauger RL, Neylan TC. Sex differences in neurosteroid and hormonal responses to metyrapone in posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2014 Sep; 231(17):3581-95. PMID: 24952092.
      View in: PubMed
    27. Woolley JD, Chuang B, Lam O, Lai W, O'Donovan A, Rankin KP, Mathalon DH, Vinogradov S. Oxytocin administration enhances controlled social cognition in patients with schizophrenia. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2014 Sep; 47:116-25. PMID: 25001961.
      View in: PubMed
    28. O'Donovan A. Inflammation and depression: unraveling the complex interplay in inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 May; 58(5):541-2. PMID: 24385077.
      View in: PubMed
    29. Kosnes L, Whelan R, O'Donovan A, McHugh LA. Implicit measurement of positive and negative future thinking as a predictor of depressive symptoms and hopelessness. Conscious Cogn. 2013 Sep; 22(3):898-912. PMID: 23810864.
      View in: PubMed
    30. O'Donovan A, Rush G, Hoatam G, Hughes BM, McCrohan A, Kelleher C, O'Farrelly C, Malone KM. Suicidal ideation is associated with elevated inflammation in patients with major depressive disorder. Depress Anxiety. 2013 Apr; 30(4):307-14. PMID: 23504697.
      View in: PubMed
    31. Aschbacher K, O'Donovan A, Wolkowitz OM, Dhabhar FS, Su Y, Epel E. Good stress, bad stress and oxidative stress: insights from anticipatory cortisol reactivity. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2013 Sep; 38(9):1698-708. PMID: 23490070; PMCID: PMC4028159.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    32. O'Donovan A, Slavich GM, Epel ES, Neylan TC. Exaggerated neurobiological sensitivity to threat as a mechanism linking anxiety with increased risk for diseases of aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2013 Jan; 37(1):96-108. PMID: 23127296; PMCID: PMC4361087.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    33. Adler N, Pantell MS, O'Donovan A, Blackburn E, Cawthon R, Koster A, Opresko P, Newman A, Harris TB, Epel E. Educational attainment and late life telomere length in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Brain Behav Immun. 2013 Jan; 27(1):15-21. PMID: 22981835.
      View in: PubMed
    34. O'Donovan A, Neylan TC, Metzler T, Cohen BE. Lifetime exposure to traumatic psychological stress is associated with elevated inflammation in the Heart and Soul Study. Brain Behav Immun. 2012 May; 26(4):642-9. PMID: 22366689; PMCID: PMC3322304.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    35. O'Donovan A, Tomiyama AJ, Lin J, Puterman E, Adler NE, Kemeny M, Wolkowitz OM, Blackburn EH, Epel ES. Stress appraisals and cellular aging: a key role for anticipatory threat in the relationship between psychological stress and telomere length. Brain Behav Immun. 2012 May; 26(4):573-9. PMID: 22293459; PMCID: PMC3322317.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    36. Tomiyama AJ, O'Donovan A, Lin J, Puterman E, Lazaro A, Chan J, Dhabhar FS, Wolkowitz O, Kirschbaum C, Blackburn E, Epel E. Does cellular aging relate to patterns of allostasis? An examination of basal and stress reactive HPA axis activity and telomere length. Physiol Behav. 2012 Apr 12; 106(1):40-5. PMID: 22138440; PMCID: PMC3361080.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    37. Prather AA, Puterman E, Lin J, O'Donovan A, Krauss J, Tomiyama AJ, Epel ES, Blackburn EH. Shorter leukocyte telomere length in midlife women with poor sleep quality. J Aging Res. 2011; 2011:721390. PMID: 22046530; PMCID: PMC3199186.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    38. Puterman E, O'Donovan A, Adler NE, Tomiyama AJ, Kemeny M, Wolkowitz OM, Epel E. Physical activity moderates effects of stressor-induced rumination on cortisol reactivity. Psychosom Med. 2011 Sep; 73(7):604-11. PMID: 21873586; PMCID: PMC3167008.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    39. O'Donovan A, Pantell MS, Puterman E, Dhabhar FS, Blackburn EH, Yaffe K, Cawthon RM, Opresko PL, Hsueh WC, Satterfield S, Newman AB, Ayonayon HN, Rubin SM, Harris TB, Epel ES. Cumulative inflammatory load is associated with short leukocyte telomere length in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. PLoS One. 2011; 6(5):e19687. PMID: 21602933.
      View in: PubMed
    40. O'Donovan A, Epel E, Lin J, Wolkowitz O, Cohen B, Maguen S, Metzler T, Lenoci M, Blackburn E, Neylan TC. Childhood trauma associated with short leukocyte telomere length in posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry. 2011 Sep 01; 70(5):465-71. PMID: 21489410.
      View in: PubMed
    41. O'Donovan A, Sun B, Cole S, Rempel H, Lenoci M, Pulliam L, Neylan T. Transcriptional control of monocyte gene expression in post-traumatic stress disorder. Dis Markers. 2011; 30(2-3):123-32. PMID: 21508516; PMCID: PMC3825251.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    42. Neylan TC, Sun B, Rempel H, Ross J, Lenoci M, O'Donovan A, Pulliam L. Suppressed monocyte gene expression profile in men versus women with PTSD. Brain Behav Immun. 2011 Mar; 25(3):524-31. PMID: 21145962; PMCID: PMC3039086.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    43. Puterman E, Lin J, Blackburn E, O'Donovan A, Adler N, Epel E. The power of exercise: buffering the effect of chronic stress on telomere length. PLoS One. 2010 May 26; 5(5):e10837. PMID: 20520771.
      View in: PubMed
    44. O'Donovan A, Hughes BM, Slavich GM, Lynch L, Cronin MT, O'Farrelly C, Malone KM. Clinical anxiety, cortisol and interleukin-6: evidence for specificity in emotion-biology relationships. Brain Behav Immun. 2010 Oct; 24(7):1074-7. PMID: 20227485; PMCID: PMC4361085.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    45. Slavich GM, O'Donovan A, Epel ES, Kemeny ME. Black sheep get the blues: a psychobiological model of social rejection and depression. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2010 Sep; 35(1):39-45. PMID: 20083138; PMCID: PMC2926175.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    46. O'Donovan A, Lin J, Tillie J, Tillie JM, Dhabhar FS, Wolkowitz OM, Wolkowitz O, Blackburn EH, Blackburn E, Epel ES, Epel E. Pessimism correlates with leukocyte telomere shortness and elevated interleukin-6 in post-menopausal women. Brain Behav Immun. 2009 May; 23(4):446-9. PMID: 19111922; PMCID: PMC2719778.
      View in: PubMed, PubMed Central
    47. O'Donovan A, Hughes BM. Access to social support in life and in the laboratory: combined impact on cardiovascular reactivity to stress and state anxiety. J Health Psychol. 2008 Nov; 13(8):1147-56. PMID: 18987087.
      View in: PubMed
    48. O'Loughlin C, Murphy NF, Conlon C, O'Donovan A, Ledwidge M, McDonald K. Quality of life predicts outcome in a heart failure disease management program. Int J Cardiol. 2010 Feb 18; 139(1):60-7. PMID: 18851887.
      View in: PubMed
    49. O'Donovan, A. Hughes, B.M.Factors that moderate the effects of social support on cardiovascular reactivity to stress. Int J Psychol. & Psychol. Therapy. 2008; (8):85-102.
    50. O'Donovan A, Hughes B. Social support and loneliness in college students: effects on pulse pressure reactivity to acute stress. Int J Adolesc Med Health. 2007 Oct-Dec; 19(4):523-8. PMID: 18348427.
      View in: PubMed
    51. Dymond S, O'Hora D, Whelan R, O'Donovan A. Citation Analysis of Skinner's Verbal Behavior: 1984-2004. Behav Anal. 2006; 29(1):75-88. PMID: 22478453.
      View in: PubMed
    52. O'Donovan, A. Hughes, B.M.Your best interests at heart?. The Psychologist. 2006; (19):216-219.
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