Katherine L. Wisner, M.S., M.D. Perinatal Psychiatrist
Katherine L. Wisner, M.S., M.D., joined the Developing Brain Institute in October 2023 as Perinatal Psychiatrist. Dr. Wisner obtained her M.S. in Nutrition and M.D. from Case Western Reserve University, followed by a pediatric internship and general/child psychiatry residency and post-doctoral fellowship in epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Wisner also completed fellowships in professional and biomedical ethics. Her research advanced our understanding of the natural history of mood disorders across childbearing, benefit-harm decision-making for
pharmacotherapy, and the pharmacokinetics of medications across pregnancy and lactation. Dr. Wisner is internationally recognized as an expert in the treatment of mood disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. She has received over $23 million from the National Institutes of Health and has more than 280 peer-reviewed publications (h-index=67) and 23 book chapters.
Dr. Wisner was awarded the Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women’s Association in 2011. From the American Psychiatric Association (APA), she received the Alexandra Symonds Award in 2012 and the annual Award for Research in 2017. She was honored with Distinguished Mentor Awards from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 and from Northwestern University in 2022. She received the Marcé International Society for Perinatal Mental Health’s Medal for lifetime contributions. Dr. Wisner served on the Editorial Boards of the American Journal of Psychiatry and the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. She currently serves on the Board of JAMA Psychiatry. She is a Fellow of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the APA. With her experience as president of the Marcé International Society for Perinatal Mental Health, Dr. Wisner developed the business startup plan for Marcé of North America (MONA) and was MONA’s inaugural president.
At Children’s National, Dr. Wisner will be credentialed through her affiliation with the Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, led by Adelaide S. Robb, M.D.
Research, Education and Innovation Week 2024 awards
Wu Y, Niforatos-Andescavage N, Wisner KL, Kapse K, Araki S, Mastracchio CE, Teramoto H, Kasper ML, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. Prenatal SSRI exposure is associated with reduced regional fetal brain growth and cortical folding. Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024. (Certificate of Excellence awarded to lead author, Yao Wu. Clinical research: Career-Level Faculty Award.)
Recent publications & presentations
2025 | October
Wisner KL, Huybrechts KF. “A Cautionary Note Regarding the Use of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.” Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2025 Oct;28(5):1343-1344. doi: 10.1007/s00737-025-01605-x. Epub 2025 Jun 30. PMID: 40586876
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40586876
2025 | August
Khan AR, Stika CS, Wisner KL. “Mirtazapine for Severe Nausea and Vomiting During Pregnancy: Case Presentations and Recommendations.” Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2025 Aug 28. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000002067. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40874598
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40874598/
2025 | July
Osborne LM, Appelbaum P, Watson K, Yonkers K, Burnett-Zeigler I, Epperson CN, Monk C, Wisner KL. “US Abortion Restrictions and the Neuropsychiatric Health of Pregnant Individuals and Families.” JAMA Psychiatry. 2025 Jul 16. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.1376. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40668571
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40668571
Stika CS, Avram MJ, George AL Jr, Yang A, Ciolino JD, Jeong H, Venkataramanan R, Caritis SN, Costantine MM, Wisner KL. “Changes in S-Citalopram Plasma Concentrations Across Pregnancy and Postpartum.” Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2025 Jul;118(1):106-117. doi: 10.1002/cpt.3642. Epub 2025 Mar 18. PMID: 40099712; PMCID: PMC12167145
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40099712
2025 | April
Wu Y, Andescavage N, Liggett M, Ngwa JS, Kapse A, Kapse K, McDermott CE, Donofrio MT, Wisner KL, Wessel D, du Plessis AJ, Limperopoulos C. “Elevated Prenatal Maternal Psychological Distress Is Associated With Impaired Neurodevelopment in Toddlers With Congenital Heart Disease” Poster presentation. Children’s National Hospital 15th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. March-April 2025.
2025 | March
Nielsen AM, Stika CS, Wisner KL. “Perinatal Psychiatry: Balancing Maternal-Fetal Exposures to Mental Disorders and Drug Treatments.” Seminars in Perinatology. 2025 Mar 28:152076. doi: 10.1016/j.semperi.2025.152076. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40157858
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40157858
2024 | December
Perlman NC, Mayo JA, Leonard SA, Carmichael SL, Meador KJ, McElrath TF, Druzin ML, Wisner KL, Panelli DM. “Examining the Joint Effects of Epilepsy and Mental Health Conditions on Severe Maternal Morbidity.” Journal of Women’s Health (Larchmt). 2024 Dec 4. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2024.0705. PMID: 39628396
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39628396
Pulido CM, Walson IS, Yang A, Stika CS, Sit DK, Wisner KL. “Differentiating Depressive Symptoms From Side Effects in Individuals With Major Depressive Disorder With Postpartum Onset.” Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2024 Dec 4. doi: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001928. PMID: 39626074
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39626074
Salisbury AL, Anderson GM, Yang A, Stika CS, Rasmussen-Torvik LJ, Gollan JK, Wisner KL. “Fetal Behavior and Gestational Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Exposure: Relationships Between Behavior, Drug Dosage, Plasma Drug Level, and a Measure of Drug Bioeffect.” Neuropsychopharmacology. 2024 Dec;49(13):1968-1977. doi: 10.1038/s41386-024-01923-1. PMID: 39127823; PMCID: PMC11480508
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39127823
Nielsen AM, Stika CS, Wisner KL. “The Pathophysiology of Estrogen in Perinatal Depression: Conceptual Update.” Archives of Women’s Mental Health. 2024 Dec;27(6):887-897. doi: 10.1007/s00737-024-01494-6. PMID: 39096394
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39096394
2024 | November
Burchfield TN, Yang A, Wisner KL, Clark CT. “Rates of Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder in Black and White Postpartum Women.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2024 Nov;85(4):23m15023
10.4088/JCP.23m15023
https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/rates-major-depressive-bipolar-disorder-black-white-postpartum-women/
2024 | September
Wisner K, Clark C, Burchfield T. “Early Life Trauma in Black and White Postpartum Individuals With Bipolar Disorder” in Supplement: The 26th Annual Conference of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, Reykjavik, Iceland, 29 September - 1 October 2024. Bipolar Disorders. 2024 Sep;26 Suppl 1:1-161. doi: 10.1111/bdi.13471. PMID: 39289150
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39289150
Wisner KL, et al. “Congressional Briefing on Maternal Suicide.” Invited panelist at virtual briefing convened by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. September 2024.
2024 | June
Mayer JLW, Betcher HK, Rasmussen-Torvik LJ, Yang A, George AL, Abramova T, Stika CS, Wisner KL, Clark CT, Gollan J. “Pharmacogenomic Characterization of Childbearing-aged Individuals With Mood Disorders in a Tertiary Care Perinatal Mental Health Clinic.” Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2024 Jun 10;85(2):23m15024. doi: 10.4088/JCP.23m15024. PMID: 38874574
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38874574
2024 | May
Wisner KL, Murphy C, Thomas MM. "Prioritizing Maternal Mental Health in Addressing Morbidity and Mortality." JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 May 1;81(5):521-526. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5648. PMID: 38381408
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38381408
2024 | April
Wisner K, Arielle E, Keller J, Stika C. Endeavor to Stop Nausea/Vomiting Associated With Pregnancy (E-SNAP). Children’s National Hospital 14th Annual Research, Education and Innovation Week. Washington, D.C. April 2024.
2024 | February
Wisner KL, Avram MJ, George AL, Abramova TV, Yang A, Caritis SN, Costantine MM, Stika CS. Concentrations of Fluoxetine Enantiomers Decline During Pregnancy and Increase After Birth. Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology 44(2):p 100-106, 3/4 2024. DOI: 10.1097/JCP.0000000000001821
https://journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/abstract/2024/03000/concentrations_of_fluoxetine_enantiomers_decline.5.aspx