Dr. Richard P. Brown
Dr. Brown is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Columbia University. After receiving his M.D. in 1977 from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Brown completed his Residency in Psychiatry and a Fellowship in Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology at New York Hospital. He is the recipient of numerous awards and has authored over 80 articles and book chapters on pharmacological and clinical studies in psychiatry.
Known for lecturing on conventional psychopharmacology, Dr. Brown developed expertise in herbal medicine. He has taught full-day courses on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at the American Psychiatric Association. He gives over 200 medical lectures every year. In 1999 Dr. Brown introduced S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) for treatment of depression at the New York Academy of Medicine. He coauthored, Stop Depression Now, presenting a holistic approach to depression. Dr. Brown’s chapters include “Alternative Treatments in Brain Injury” in Neuropsychiatry of Traumatic Brain Injury (American Psychiatric Press 2004) and “Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Psychiatry,” in Psychiatry Second Edition (John Wiley & Sons 2003). The American Botanical Council published a review by Drs. Brown, Gerbarg, and Ramazanov of the adaptogenic herb, Rhodiola rosea (2002). Dr. Brown lectured on Rhodiola rosea at the Columbia University Botanical Medicine course and co-authored The Rhodiola Revolution offering a fresh approach to the problems of stress and energy. His chapter on “Yoga in Psychiatry” will appear in the APPI publication, Clinical Manual of Complementary and Alternative Treatments in Psychiatry later this year.
Dr. Brown has engaged in yoga and meditative practices including Zen meditation, yoga and breath practices for over 30 years. He is a certified Aikido teacher (4th Dan) and a volunteer teacher of Sudarshan Kriya Yoga combining asanas, pranayamas, and meditation.
Dr. Brown developed a comprehensive neurophysiological theory of the effects of yoga breathing on the mind and body, particularly its benefits in anxiety, depression, trauma, and violence. He presented this research at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences International Symposiums, the Aspen Masters Conference on Integrative Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meetings, and other conferences.
Dr. Brown serves as the Co-Chair of the Research Committee of the Art of Living Foundation. He consults and designs research and advises PhD candidates on projects involving mind-body-spirit practices for by stress, trauma, military service, mass disasters, cancer, HIV, and other illnesses. He is interested in a broadly based integrative approach to health and well-being.
