Karl Goodkin, MD, PhD Director of Clinical Research, Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences
Email: karl.goodkin@cshs.org Phone: (310) 423-3533 Fax: (310) 423-3715

Academic Appointments

Awards and Activities

Research Focus

Neuropsychiatric aspects of HIV/AIDS -- with a focus on older age and HIV/AIDS, neurocognitive impairment and disorders (HIV-associated minor cognitive-motor disorder and HIV-associated dementia), novel neuroimaging techniques, primary Spanish speakers with HIV/AIDS, and stress effects on the immune system. Use neurocognitive, psychiatric, neurological, immunological, virological, and neuroradiological testing to define degenerative changes in the brain due to HIV-1 infection and its sequelae. Also examine the response to anti-HIV treatments and conduct clinical trials to improve neurocognitive function in HIV infected persons.

Research Contributions

Conducted amongst the first studies linking psychosocial stressors to decreased immune measures in persons infected with HIV-1. Conducted amongst the first studies linking older age to an increased likelihood of HIV-1-associated minor cognitive-motor disorder. Conducted a study showing the effect of the anti-HIV drug, peptide T, on reducing plasma viral load of HIV-1. Provided the first Spanish translation of the National Institute of Mental Health consensus neurocognitive research test battery for HIV/AIDS.

Current investigations include:

The association of older age with decreased neurocognitive function, immunologic and virologic changes in those infected with HIV-1 in the United States; the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in Argentina; and novel methods of neuroimaging to identify HIV-1-associated minor cognitive-motor disorder.

Selected Publications

1. Goodkin K, Fletcher MA, Cohen N: Clinical aspects of psychoneuroimmunology. Lancet, 345(8943): 183-4, 1995
2. Goodkin K, Vitiello B, Lyman WD, Asthana D, Atkinson JH, Heseltine PN, Molina R, Zheng W, Khamis I, Wilkie FL, Shapshak P: Cerebrospinal and peripheral human immunodeficiency virus type 1 load in a multisite, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of D-Ala1-peptide T-amide for HIV-1-associated cognitive-motor impairment. J. Neurovirol., 12(3): 178-89, 2006
3. Goodkin K: Evolution of neuro-AIDS during the HAART era. Journal of neuro-AIDS, 2(3): 1-17, 2002
4. Goodkin K, Shapshak P, Asthana D, Zheng W, Concha M, Wilkie FL, Molina R, Lee D, Suarez P, Symes S, Khamis I: Older age and plasma viral load in HIV-1 infection. AIDS, 18 Suppl 1: S87-98, 2004
5. Goodkin K, Wilkie FL, Concha M, Hinkin CH, Symes S, Baldewicz TT, Asthana D, Fujimura RK, Lee D, van Zuilen MH, Khamis I, Shapshak P, Eisdorfer C: Aging and neuro-AIDS conditions and the changing spectrum of HIV-1-associated morbidity and mortality. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 54 Suppl 1: S35-43, 2001
6. Goodkin K: Psychiatric disorders in HIV-spectrum illness. Texas medicine, 84(9): 55-61, 1988