About Dr. Charles Raison
Charles L. Raison, MD, is a psychiatrist internationally recognized for his groundbreaking research on enhancing emotional well-being in the modern world. From pioneering research on the role of the immune system in mood and anxiety disorders to studies demonstrating that a variety of ancient human wellness practices may hold promise as novel treatments for depression, his work is at the cutting edge of science.
Dr. Raison conducted the first scientific studies to examine the potential of Tibetan Buddhist-informed compassion meditation for enhancing stress resiliency and was the first scientist in the world to demonstrate that hyperthermia has clinically-relevant antidepressant effects. Currently, Dr. Raison plays a leadership role in the development and testing of psychedelic medicines for the treatment of major depression.
With a unique ability to inspire audiences by translating science into guidelines for improving our everyday lives, Dr. Raison provides new perspectives in our quest to reducing depression and optimizing well-being.
Dr. Raison is the Mary Sue and Mike Shannon Chair for Healthy Minds, Children & Families and Professor in the School of Human Ecology, and Professor of Psychiatry in the School of Medicine and Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a Founding Faculty member for the Center for Healthy Minds at UW-Madison and serves as the Director of Translational Research for the Usona Institute.
As a mental health expert for CNN.com, Dr. Raison knows how to make research understandable – both in keynote addresses and in quick take-aways. He has appeared on television and radio shows nationwide.
To learn more about Chuck, visit his UW-Madison SoHE profile.
Sample talk titles include:
SUPERCHARGED! Ancient Practices for Modern Happiness
Meditation in the Workplace: a How-To Guide
Evolutionary Approaches to Optimal Leadership
Harnessing the Mind-Body Connection for Emotional Health
Happiness: What It Is and What It Isn’t
Strategies for Converting Stress to Success
Blast from the Past: Understanding Ancient Mind-Body Causes of Depression to Optimize 21st Century Treatment
Recognizing and Overcoming Burnout
Recognizing and Treating Depression in Your Organization
Compassion Training as a Path to Well-Being in the Modern World
And You Think Your Family Bugs You:
Evolution Comes to the Clinic: The Relevance of Ancient Practices for 21st Century Psychiatry
Mental Health Meets the Microbial World
Featured Video: Rethinking How We Understand and Treat Depression: Charles Raison at TEDxTucsonSalon
Books, Articles and Publications
The New Mind-Body Science of Depression
Dispositional mindfulness in daily life: A naturalistic observation study
Everything old is new again: are psychedelic medicines poised to take mental health by storm?
Interleukin (IL)-6: A good kid hanging out with bad friends (and why sauna is good for health)
C-reactive protein and response to lurasidone in patients with bipolar depression
An evolutionary perspective on nutrition and social decision making
Whole-Body Hyperthermia for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
The role of inflammation in depression: from evolutionary imperative to modern treatment target
The neural mediators of kindness-based meditation: a theoretical model
Hygiene and other early childhood influences on the subsequent function of the immune system
Compassion meditation enhances empathic accuracy and related neural activity
The evolutionary significance of depression in Pathogen Host Defense (PATHOS-D)
Is Depression an Inflammatory Disorder?
Neurobiology of depression, fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain
Inflammation and its discontents: the role of cytokines in the pathophysiology of major depression
Cytokines sing the blues: inflammation and the pathogenesis of depression