Lawrence Yang, PhD
- Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology
Overview
Academic Appointments
- Associate Professor of Clinical Epidemiology
Administrative Titles
- Research Member, Center for the Study of Social Inequalities and Health
- Steering Committee Member, Columbia University Global Mental Health Program
- Steering Committee Member, Center for Research on Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Psychiatric, Neurologic, and Behavioral Genetics
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- BA, Wesleyan University
- PhD, Boston University
- Fellowship: Harvard Medical School- Massachusetts Mental Health Center
Committees, Societies, Councils
Award for Emerging Leadership---Committee on Socioeconomic Status (APA) (2012)
Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health- American Psychiatric Foundation (Board of Directors, American Psychiatric Association) (2012)
Young Investigator Award- NARSAD/ Brain and Behavior Foundation (2010)
Emerging Leader Award for Significant Contributions to the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Psychology- American Psychological Association) (2010)
Calderone Award for Junior Faculty- Columbia University School of Public Health (2009)
Early Career Research Award- Minority Fellowship Program, American Psychological Association (2008)
Editorial Boards
Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology (Journal of the American Psychological Association)
Stigma and Health (Journal of the American Psychological Association)
Honors & Awards
REACH for the R01 Award- Columbia University Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (2009)
Early Career Award- Asian American Psychological Association (2008)
Dalmas A. Taylor Outstanding Student Dissertation Award (American Psychological Association, Division of Clinical Psychology- Ethnic Minority Focus) (2002)
Winner- Outstanding Dissertation Award (American Psychological Association- Division of International Psychology) (2002)
High Honors and Phi Beta Kappa, Wesleyan University
Research
Research Interests
- Community Health
- Mental Health
Selected Publications
Yang, LH, Chen, F., Sia, KJ, Lam, J.J., Lam, K, Ngo, H., Lee, S., Kleinman, A., Good, B (2014). What matters most: a cultural mechanism moderating structural vulnerability and moral experience of mental illness stigma. Social Science and Medicine (special issue on Structural Stigma), 103, 84-93.
Yang, L.H.*, Purdie-Vaughns, V.*, Kotabe, H., Link, B., Saw, A., Wong, G. Phelan, J. (2013). Culture, Threat, and Mental Illness Stigma: Identifying Culture-Specific Threat among Chinese American groups. Social Science and Medicine, 88, 56-67 [* indicates co-1st authors].
Yang, L.H.*, Phillips, M.R.*, Li, X.*, Yu, G., Zhang, J., Shi, Q., Song, Z., Ding, Z., Pang, S, Susser, E. (in press). Marriage outcome and relationship with urban versus rural context for individuals with psychosis in a population-based study in China. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.
Yang, L.H.*, Phillips, M.R.*, Li, X.*, Yu, G., Zhang, J., Shi, Q., Song, Z., Ding, Z., Pang, S., Susser, E. [* indicates co-1st authors] (2013) Relation of rural versus urban context to employment outcome for people with schizophrenia in a population-based study in China British Journal of Psychiatry, 203:272-279
Yang, L.H., Chen, S., Chen, C.M., Khan, F., Forchelli, G., Javitt, D.C. Yang, L.H., Chen, S., Chen, C.M., Khan, F., Forchelli, G., Javitt, D.C. Schizophrenia, Culture and Neuropsychology: Sensory Deficits, Language Impairments, and Social Functioning in Chinese-speaking Schizophrenia Patients. Psychological Medicine, 42 (7) 1485-1494. 2012
Yang, L.H., Phillips, M.R., Lo, G., Chou, Y.W., Zhang, X., Hopper, K. ""Excessive Thinking"" as Explanatory Model for Schizophrenia: Impacts on Stigma and 'Moral' Status in Mainland China"" Schizophrenia Bulletin. 36 836-845 2010
Yang, L.H., Wonpat-Borja, A.J., Opler, M., Corcoran, C. Potential Stigma Associated with Inclusion of the Psychosis Risk Syndrome in the DSM-V: An Empirical Question Schizophrenia Research, 120 42-48 2010
Yang, L.H., Link. B.G. Comparing diagnostic methods for mental disorders in China. The Lancet 373 (9680) 2002-2004 (2009)
Yang, L.H., Kleinman, A. 'Face' and the Embodiment of Stigma: Schizophrenia and AIDS in China. Social Science and Medicine 67 (3), 398-408. (2008)
Yang, L.H., Kleinman, A., Link, B.G., Phelan, J.C., Lee, S., Good, B. Culture and Stigma: Adding Moral Experience to Stigma Theory. Social Science and Medicine, . 64(7) 1524-1535 (2007)
Global Health Activities
Characterizing Cognition of Untreated Psychosis in China: This newly funded, five year R01 (co-PI, Dr. Michael Phillips) examines cognition of psychosis among completely untreated individuals in China, compared with a matched treated sample of individuals with psychosis. This project also involves a capacity-building component to provide training for the treatment of first-episode psychosis.
Regional Network for Mental Health Research in Latin America : This Collaborative Hub for International Research in Mental Health (NIMH U-19 grant) establishes a research hub in Latin and South America (Chile, Brazil and Argentina). We are implementing a multi-site Randomized Clinical Trial creating a task-shifting intervention involving peer mentors in which primary care is linked to mental health specialty care for individuals with severe mental illness. Dr. Yang leads the Shared Research Component- which will develop a measure of barriers and facilitators to scale-up of mental health services -in Latin America and across Hub sites.
Assessing and Reducing Stigma of HIV in Botswana: This project seeks to assess culture-specific aspects of HIV stigma in Botswana to improve HIV testing, treatment adherence, and recovery. This project is being undertaken with the University of Botswana and the University of Pennsylvania.
Urban Health Activities
Anti-Stigma interventions for Chinese-Immigrants with Psychosis: This intervention, which is the first of its kind to reduce stigma of mental illness among Asian Americans, seeks to reduce stigma of psychosis among Chinese immigrants at Hamilton Madison House, NYC.
Examining Stigma of HIV among Chinese immigrants in NYC: This qualitative and psychometric project seeks to examine stigma associated with HIV among Chinese immigrants in NYC
Stigma Associated with the Clinical High-Risk State for Psychosis: This 5-year R01 project, funded by the NIMH, examines stigma experiences among the Clinical High Risk State for Psychosis (CHR) group at initial identification and then at 6 month follow-up. We also examine the neurocognitive and social cognitive underpinnings of stigma perceptions in the CHR group. We examine how stigma and its social cognitive bases in the CHR group may adversely impact psychological, social, and developmental outcomes among CHR individuals.