The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, founded in 1943, is one of 24 departments in the Duke University School of Medicine. Over the past 75+ years, the department has focused on understanding the brain and mind through research and clinical care and passing this knowledge on to the next generation of leaders in the field. Ultimately, our goal is to help people with mental health challenges live their best life.
Superior Care
Our clinicians strive to provide the highest quality of care to all of our patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Our compassionate doctors treat patients with cutting-edge, integrated care tailored to the needs of each person. Our clinical care teams offer advanced treatments for the entire spectrum of mental health disorders and illnesses. We provide comprehensive care to our patients ranging from cognitive behavioral therapy for modifying unhealthy habits or behaviors to brain stimulation, such as electroconvulsive therapy, for treating severe depression.
Learn about our patient care.
Ground-Breaking Research
As a national leader in basic, clinical and translational research, Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is consistently among the top 10 U.S. institutions in NIH funding.
We’re committed to discovering and understanding the causes of mental health conditions; finding new ways to identify, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions; investigating effective prevention strategies; and ultimately applying and disseminating our research to improve the mental health of individuals, families and communities.
Learn about our research.
Exceptional Education
Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences is a leader in mental and behavioral health education, with six nationally recognized graduate psychiatry and psychology programs. With expertise in both clinical and research settings and a passion for teaching, our faculty educators help learners gain the experience and develop the skills that will lay the foundation for success throughout their careers.
In addition to training future behavioral health leaders, the department offers our faculty a range of opportunities for continuing education and continuing medical education credits.
Learn about our education programs.