Uchida, Hiroyuki

Psychiatry faces a major challenge in that the pathophysiology of mental disorders remains insufficiently understood; as a result, both diagnosis and treatment are still developing. The human mind and behavior arise from multiple interacting levels, including molecules, cells, neural circuits, the brain, the individual, groups, and society. A single perspective is therefore not enough to understand them. With this multilayered view, I work to elucidate the pathophysiology of mental disorders and to develop new treatments. From a microscopic perspective, I use PET, MRI, and other modalities to comprehensively visualize neuropsychiatric function and to clarify what is occurring in the brain, thereby advancing research on the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and the development of novel therapies. In recent years, I have also been focusing on research into psychedelics, which are attracting growing attention as potential new treatment options for a range of disorders, including depression. By evaluating psychedelic-induced changes in clinical symptoms from multiple perspectives, including brain imaging, neurophysiological markers, as well as changes in language and subjective experience, I aim to clarify their therapeutic mechanisms and to help build a foundation for their safe and scientifically grounded clinical application. At the same time, the relationship between the individual and society is like that between fish and the sea. Just as fish cannot thrive in polluted waters, mental health is profoundly influenced not only by a person’s internal state but also by the social environment surrounding them. From this macroscopic perspective, I seek to apply knowledge gained at the group and societal levels to the promotion of mental well-being, working not only for people with psychiatric disorders but also for healthy individuals across the broader population. Psychiatry is not only a brain science, but also a human science and a social science. Through research that connects basic science with clinical practice, and the individual with society, I hope to bring new hope to those suffering from mental distress and to contribute to the realization of a society in which everyone can live healthier and fuller lives.