Dr. Reiersen has general research interests related to epidemiology, genetics, and longitudinal course of childhood-onset psychiatric disorders. She is also interested in neurodevelopmental models of psychiatric illness and the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and neurological dysfunction. Research projects have included focus on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Tourette Syndrome (and other tic disorders), motor coordination, subtle neurological signs, Wolfram Syndrome, and childhood precursors to schizophrenia. Dr. Reiersen also collaborates on projects involving animal models which may advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying human psychiatric disorders. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Reiersen came up with the idea to use fluvoxamine for treatment of COVID-19 based on its anti-inflammatory effects through action on the Sigma1 receptor (S1R), then worked with WashU colleagues to test this in 2020. Since then, fluvoxamine has been proven beneficial in COVID-19 illness by many other clinical trials. She is continuing on with research on post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC, also known as long COVID), and is also interested in how drugs with action on the S1R might be helpful in in various neuropsychiatric conditions, especially those with a component of inflammation, dysregulated cellular stress responses, or problems related to intracellular calcium mobilization. 

Dr. Reiersen is the child & adolescent psychiatry assessment supervisor for the First Contact Assessment Service, which evaluates individuals who are showing early signs of a possible psychotic disorder such as schizophrenia, those who have known genetic disorders associated with psychiatric symptoms, and individuals who have a combination of more than one neurodevelopmental disorder. The First Contact Assessment Service generally does not follow patients over time, but provides evaluation reports to the treating psychiatrist. Before making an appointment with the First Contact Assessment Service, patients should already have a treating physician who is willing to provide ongoing treatment. In order to facilitate communication of treatment recommendations, the contact information for this treating physician (usually a psychiatrist) should be provided prior to scheduling the evaluation. There is also a referral form specifically for this clinic, which aids in planning the assessment. For more information and to download the referral form, see the following webpage:
https://childpsychiatry.wustl.edu/clinical-services/first-contact-clinic/. 

• Information for Patients

I am interested in mentoring others on research projects related to neurodevelopmental disorders, schizophrenia precursors, tic disorders, and genetic disorders affecting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) functions like the ER stress response and intracellular calcium mobilization. There may also be opportunities to work with me on analysis of some long COVID symptom data from follow up of acute COVID clinical trial participants. Medical students, psychiatry residents, and child psychiatry fellows have the option to do a clinical elective with me, focusing on schizophrenia precursors and prodromal states, which includes reading and writing components in addition to experience with clinical assessments of people who are at risk for developing schizophrenia spectrum disorders. During this elective, some students/trainees choose to work on a research project with potential for authorship on a publication.