Dr. David Brent is a world-renowned child psychiatrist and leading authority in adolescent suicide prevention whose work has fundamentally transformed clinical approaches to youth mental health. He currently serves as Academic Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital and holds the Endowed Chair in Suicide Studies at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where he is also Professor of Psychiatry, Pediatrics, and Epidemiology. Dr. Brent received his undergraduate education at Pennsylvania State University, earned his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, and completed specialized training in pediatrics at the University of Colorado and in general and child psychiatry at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. His career trajectory from clinical training to academic leadership exemplifies his dedication to integrating rigorous scientific research with practical clinical interventions for vulnerable youth populations.
Dr. Brent's pioneering research has established the critical epidemiological foundations for understanding adolescent suicide, identifying firearms access, substance abuse, and affective disorders as key risk factors that have informed national prevention strategies. His co-founding of Services for Teens at Risk (STAR), a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania-funded program, created a comprehensive model for suicide prevention that integrates clinical services, professional education, and community outreach for at-risk youth and families. His landmark NIMH-funded clinical trial demonstrated the efficacy of cognitive therapy for depressed adolescents, establishing an evidence-based treatment approach that has become standard practice worldwide. Through his extensive research on the familial and genetic transmission of suicidal behavior, Dr. Brent has illuminated the complex interplay between biological and environmental factors in suicide risk, providing clinicians with crucial insights for targeted prevention efforts.
As director of an NIMH-funded Advanced Center for Interventions and Services Research, Dr. Brent continues to advance innovative approaches to improving outcomes for youth with early-onset mood and anxiety disorders who are at high risk for suicide. His leadership extends through the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN), where his collaborative work shapes clinical guidelines for suicide risk assessment in emergency settings across the United States. Dr. Brent has authored seminal clinical publications including treatment manuals for depressed and suicidal youth that have become essential resources for practitioners worldwide, with his Cognitive Therapy Manual for Depressed and Suicidal Youth setting the standard for evidence-based interventions. His ongoing commitment to translating research into practical clinical tools and prevention programs ensures his continued influence in shaping the future of adolescent mental health care and suicide prevention strategies globally.
