Richard Paul Brown, MD

  • Associate Clinical Professor

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Overview

Dr. Richard P. Brown is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University. After receiving his M.D. in 1977 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Brown completed his Residency in Psychiatry and a Fellowship in Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology at New York Hospital.

Dr. Brown is the recipient of numerous awards and has authored over 80 articles, books, and book chapters on pharmacological and clinical studies in psychiatry.

Since 1998, Dr. Brown has taught full-day courses on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at the American Psychiatric Association and other conferences. He gives over 200 medical lectures every year. In 1999 coauthored, Stop Depression Now, introducing a holistic approach to depression using SAMe. Dr. Brown’s chapters include “Alternative Treatments in Brain Injury” in Neuropsychiatry of Traumatic Brain Injury (American Psychiatric Press 2004 and 2009) and “Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Psychiatry,” in Psychiatry (John Wiley & Sons 2003 and 2007). The American Botanical Council published a review by Drs. Brown, Gerbarg, and Ramazanov of the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola rosea (2002). Dr. Brown co-authored The Rhodiola Revolution offering a fresh approach to the problems of stress and energy. His latest book, "How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care" (W.W. Norton 2009), teaches health care professionals how to integrate CAM with standard practices to optimize patient outcomes.

Dr. Dr. Brown developed a comprehensive neurophysiological theory of the effects of yoga breathing on the mind and body, particularly its benefits in anxiety, depression, trauma, and violence. He presented this research at All India Institute of Medical Sciences International Symposiums, the Aspen Masters Conference on Integrative Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meetings, and other conferences.

Dr. Brown has studied yoga and meditative practices including Zen meditation, QiGong, yoga and breath practices for over 30 years. He is a certified teacher of Aikido (4th Dan) yoga, Qi Gong, and Open Focus Meditation. Drawing on this eclectic background, Dr. Brown developed Breath~Body~Mind workshops for professionals and the general public. He offers free workshops for members of the 9/11 Community through Serving those Who Serve (www.STWS.com). Information, resources, lectures, and workshops on Integrative Psychiatry are available on his website: www.haveahealthymind.com.

Dr. He consults and designs research and advises PhD candidates on projects involving mind-body-spirit practices for stress, trauma, military service, mass disasters, cancer, HIV, and other illnesses. He is interested in a broadly based integrative approach to health and well-being.

Academic Appointments

  • Associate Clinical Professor

Gender

  • Male

Research

Selected Publications

  • Brown RP, Gerbarg PL, Muskin PR: How to Use Herbs, Nutrients, and Yoga in Mental Health Care, W.W. Norton, New York, USA, 2009
  • Brown RP, Gerbarg PG, Muskin PR: Alternative Treatments in Psychiatry in Psychiatry 2nd Edition edited by Tasman A, Kay J, and Lieberman J. C, Chapter 104, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, London, UK, 2003
  • Brown RP and Gerbarg, PL: Alternative Treatments in Brain Injury in Neuropsychiatry of Traumatic Brain Injury, Second Edition edited by Silver JM, Yudofsky SC, McAllister TW., American Psychiatric Press Inc, Washington, DC, US 2004
  • Brown RP, Gerbarg PL, Graham B: The Rhodiola Revolution, Rodale Press, New York, NY, US, 2004
  • Descilo T, Vedamurtachar A, Gerbarg PL, Nagaraja D, Gangadhar BNG, Damodaran B, Adelson B, Braslow LH, Marcus M, Brown RP.: Effects of a Yoga-Breath Intervention Alone and in Combination with an Exposure Therapy for PTSD and Depression in Survivors of the 2004 Southeast Asia Tsunami. 2010, 121(4):289-300. Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica 2010;121: 289-300