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Related Research Units

Psychiatry Research
Psychology Research

Research Overview

Dr. Christine Mrakotsky studies the impact of neuroendocrine and neuroimmune factors on brain health and development in pediatric chronic illness. Her lab utilizes neurobehavioral assessment as well as structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). 
Dr. Mrakotsky’s current research focuses on cognitive and brain development in pediatric Crohn’s disease, in particular, the effects of inflammation on white and gray matter development and neuropsychological function (i.e. memory, executive functions and mood). Further studies also include the neurotoxic effects of treatment for inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the acute and long term outcome of pediatric stroke. The Mrakotsky Lab employs advanced neuroimaging tools, neuropsychological assessment, and multiplex cytokine assays in both cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, and collaborates closely with the Boston Children’s Hospital Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Department of Neurology Stroke and Cerebrovascular Disorders Program, as well as the Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging Developmental Science Center.

 

Research Background

Dr. Mrakotsky is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Attending in Pediatric Neuropsychology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Cerebrovascular Disorders and Stroke Program, Department of Neurology.

She received her PhD from the University of Vienna, Austria, and completed a postdoctoral clinical fellowship in pediatric neuropsychology at Boston Children's Hospital, followed by research training and career development awards from both Boston Children’s Hospital and the NIH. She is the recipient of the NIH Mitchell Max Award for Research Excellence and Harvard Medical School Shore Scholar. Dr. Mrakotsky is also a licensed psychologist and health service provider in both the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and in Austria.

Education

Undergraduate School

Psychology University of Vienna
1992 Vienna Austria

Graduate School

University of Vienna
1996 Vienna Austria

Internship

University of Minnesota Medical School
1997 Minneapolis MN

Internship

University of Vienna/Washington University
2001 St. Loius MS Vienna, Austria

Residency

Medical University of Vienna
1998 Vienna Austria

Fellowship

Pediatric Neuropsychology Boston Children's Hospital
2003 Boston MA

Media

Caregiver Profile

Meet Dr. Christine Mrakotsky

Publications

  1. The eTHINK Study: Cognitive and Behavioral Outcomes in Children with Hemophilia. J Pediatr. 2024 Sep; 272:114089. View Abstract
  2. Nonacog beta pegol prophylaxis in children with hemophilia B: safety, efficacy, and neurodevelopmental outcomes for up to 8 years. Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2024 Feb; 8(2):102341. View Abstract
  3. Roadmap for the Assessment and Management of Outcomes in Pediatric Stroke. Pediatr Neurol. 2023 04; 141:93-100. View Abstract
  4. Recent Advances in Neuropsychological Outcomes and Intervention in Pediatric Stroke. Stroke. 2022 12; 53(12):3780-3789. View Abstract
  5. Rehabilitation in Pediatric Stroke: Cognition and Behavior. Semin Pediatr Neurol. 2022 12; 44:100998. View Abstract
  6. Adverse effects of erenumab on cerebral proliferative angiopathy: A case report. Cephalalgia. 2021 01; 41(1):122-126. View Abstract
  7. Functional abdominal pain symptom severity: Associations between cognition and emotion in a pediatric sample. Appl Neuropsychol Child. 2022 Jan-Mar; 11(1):69-80. View Abstract
  8. Prevalence of Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Parents and Children Following Pediatric Stroke. J Child Neurol. 2020 06; 35(7):472-479. View Abstract
  9. Neuropsychological function in children with hemophilia: A review of the Hemophilia Growth and Development Study and introduction of the current eTHINK study. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 01; 67(1):e28004. View Abstract
  10. O-003 The Brain as Extraintestinal IBD Manifestation: Are Brain and Cognitive Differences in Pediatric Crohn's Disease Associated with Immune Gene Expression? Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2017 Feb; 23 Suppl 1:S1-S2. View Abstract
  11. O-018 New Evidence for Structural Brain Differences in Pediatric Crohn's Disease: Impact of Underlying Disease Factors. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016 Mar; 22 Suppl 1:S6-7. View Abstract
  12. Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease and depression: treatment implications. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2014 Oct; 26(5):561-7. View Abstract
  13. Comparing stimulant effects in youth with ADHD symptoms and epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2014 Jul; 36:102-7. View Abstract
  14. Depression subtypes in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2014 May; 58(5):574-81. View Abstract
  15. Acute cognitive and behavioral effects of systemic corticosteroids in children treated for inflammatory bowel disease. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2013 Jan; 19(1):96-109. View Abstract
  16. Using the Children's Depression Inventory in youth with inflammatory bowel disease: support for a physical illness-related factor. Compr Psychiatry. 2012 Nov; 53(8):1194-9. View Abstract
  17. Neurobehavioral side effects of corticosteroids during active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children are age-dependent: report from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute ALL Consortium Protocol 00-01. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011 Sep; 57(3):492-8. View Abstract
  18. Adaptive phase I study of OROS methylphenidate treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with epilepsy. Epilepsy Behav. 2010 Jul; 18(3):229-37. View Abstract
  19. The Effects of Corticosteroids and Inflammation on Memory in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease: A Longitudinal Pilot Study. Central Society fo Clinical Research/Midwestern Section American Federation for Medical Research Combined 2009 Meeting. 2009. View Abstract
  20. Corticosteroids, Immune Factors and Memory in Pediatric Chronic Illness: First Results on the Long-Term Effects of Steroids. International Neuropsychological Society, Abstract Handbook. 2009. View Abstract
  21. Risperidone in Preschool Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Advances in Preschool Psychopharmacology (Eds: JL Luby, MA Riddle). 2009; 87-99. View Abstract
  22. Comparative clinical responses to risperidone and divalproex in patients with pediatric bipolar disorder. J Psychiatr Pract. 2008 May; 14(3):160-9. View Abstract
  23. The NIH MRI study of normal brain development: performance of a population based sample of healthy children aged 6 to 18 years on a neuropsychological battery. J Int Neuropsychol Soc. 2007; 13(5):729-46. PMID: 17511896. View Abstract
  24. Psychiatric disorders and behavioral characteristics of pediatric patients with epilepsy and ADHD. Journal of Epilepsy and Behavior. 2007; 10(3):384-8. PMID: 17368109. View Abstract
  25. Psychiatric disorders and behavioral characteristics of pediatric patients with both epilepsy and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Epilepsy Behav. 2007 May; 10(3):384-8. View Abstract
  26. Prospective open-label pilot trial of mirtazapine in children and adolescents with social phobia. J Anxiety Disord. 2008; 22(1):88-97. View Abstract
  27. Concepts of developmental neuropsychology (Konzepte der Entwicklungsneuro-psychologie). Kaufmann L, Nürk HC, Konrad K, Willmes K. Kognitive Entwicklungsneuropsychologie. 2007; 25-44. View Abstract
  28. Risperidone in preschool children with autistic spectrum disorders: an investigation of safety and efficacy. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2006 Oct; 16(5):575-87. View Abstract
  29. Behavioral and Emotional Functioning in Patients with Epilepsy Treated with Vagal Nerve Stimulator: A Naturalistic Follow-Up Study[abstract]. International Neuropsychological Society, Astract Handbook. 2006. View Abstract
  30. Cognitive development. Luby JL, editor. Handbook of Preschool Mental Health. 2006; 45-60. View Abstract
  31. Practiced intelligence testing based on a modern test conceptualization and its reference to the common intelligence theories. Learning and Individual Differences. 2006; 16:175-193. View Abstract
  32. Neuropsychological assessment. Luby JL, editor. Handbook of Preschool Mental Health. 2006; 283-310. View Abstract
  33. Entwicklungsneuropsychologie (Developmental neuropsychology). Lerner H, Pusswald G, Kryspin-Exner I, editors. Lehrbuch der Klinischen Neuropsychologie. 2006; 373-384. View Abstract
  34. Chemotherapy agents for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Bellinger D, editor. Human Developmental Neurotoxicology. 2006; 131-147. View Abstract
  35. The NIH MRI study of normal brain development. Neuroimage. 2006; 30(1):184-202. PMID: 16376577.. View Abstract
  36. Executive functions and memory in children treated for inflammatory bowel disease: Impact of steroids vs. disease factors [abstract]. International Neuropsychological Society, Abstract Handbook. 2006. View Abstract
  37. Impact of acute steroid treatment on memory, executive function, and mood in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease [abstract]. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition. 2005; 41(4):540-541.. View Abstract
  38. Characteristics of depressed preschoolers with and without anhedonia: evidence for a melancholic depressive subtype in young children. Am J Psychiatry. 2004 Nov; 161(11):1998-2004. View Abstract
  39. Neurobehavioral side effects of steroid treatment in children with leukemia [abstract]. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society. 2004; 10(2). View Abstract
  40. Alterations in stress cortisol reactivity in depressed preschoolers relative to psychiatric and no-disorder comparison groups. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2003 Dec; 60(12):1248-55. View Abstract
  41. Modification of DSM-IV criteria for depressed preschool children. Am J Psychiatry. 2003 Jun; 160(6):1169-72. View Abstract
  42. The clinical picture of depression in preschool children. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2003 Mar; 42(3):340-8. View Abstract
  43. Depressed preschoolers with bipolar family history: a group at high risk for later switching to mania? J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2003; 13(2):187-97. View Abstract
  44. Preschool major depressive disorder: preliminary validation for developmentally modified DSM-IV criteria. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Aug; 41(8):928-37. View Abstract
  45. Spatial cognition, face perception, and affect recognition in preschool depressive syndromes. A neuropsychological framework of social information processing [doctoral dissertation]. 2001. View Abstract
  46. Intelligenzdiagnostikum fuer das Vorschulalter: Entwicklung einer Testbatterie fuer 5jaehrige als Ergaenzung zum AID. (Intelligence scale for the preschool age: Development of a cognitive battery as supplement to the AID scale)[Master's Thesis]. 1996. View Abstract

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