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Jennifer Lynn Kruse

Photo of Jennifer Lynn Kruse
Title(s)HS Associate Clinical Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
SchoolMedicine
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0003-0628-3921 Additional info
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    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    Dr. Jennifer L. Kruse is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and physician-scientist specializing in bipolar disorder, major depression, and treatment-resistant mood conditions. Board-certified in Adult Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and Obesity Medicine, her clinical and research work centers on the biological heterogeneity of mood disorders, with particular attention to immune, metabolic, endocrine, and aging-related processes that shape illness trajectory and treatment response.

    She directs the UCLA Immunometabolism and Mood Disorders Lab, a translational research program that integrates clinical phenotyping with inflammatory profiling, metabolic assessment, neuroimaging, mitochondrial function, and biological aging metrics. Her work models mood disorders along dimensional biological gradients, advancing precision approaches to understanding and treating bipolar disorder and depression.

    As Director of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Services at UCLA Health, Dr. Kruse works at the interface of psychiatry and systemic medical illness, translating advances in immunometabolic science into clinical care and multidisciplinary collaboration. Through national and international research partnerships, she aims to develop mechanism-informed strategies that improve outcomes for individuals with mood disorders.

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    Multi-site, double-blind, randomized-controlled, efficacy trial of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction for depression symptoms in older adults with high suicide risk
    NIH/NIMH R01 MH137185Sep 1, 2024 - Aug 31, 2029
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Description: This multi-site, NIMH-funded randomized controlled trial evaluates whether targeting sleep and circadian dysfunction can reduce depressive symptoms and suicide risk in older adults. Dr. Michael Irwin serves as UCLA Site Principal Investigator. Dr. Kruse is a Co-Investigator and contributes to scientific leadership and implementation at the UCLA site.
    Accelerated Biological Aging in Mood Disorders
    Friends of Semel Institute Huvane Family Research Scholar AwardJan 1, 2024 - Dec 31, 2026
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Description: This study evaluates accelerated biological aging in bipolar I disorder and its links to immune, metabolic, and neural processes, with the goal of understanding how immunometabolic dysfunction influences illness trajectory and outcomes.
    Bipolar 1 Disorder Integrated Network Cohort Study and Learning Health Network
    Breakthrough Discoveries for Thriving with Bipolar Disorder (BD2); administered through the Milken Institute BD2 Integrated NetworkSep 1, 2023 - Jun 30, 2030
    Role: UCLA Principal Investigator; Consortium Bioassay Lead
    Description: This multi-site longitudinal study aims to advance understanding of bipolar I disorder through deep clinical phenotyping and biological characterization. As UCLA Site Principal Investigator, Dr. Kruse provides clinical and scientific leadership for all study activities at UCLA. At the network level, she leads the Biospecimen and Bioassay Working Group, shaping assay strategy and biomarker integration across sites. She also secured supplemental funding to advance immunometabolic investigations within the cohort.
    Neural Mechanisms of Generativity and Well-being in Older Adults
    NIH/NIA R01 AG078178Jul 1, 2022 - Jun 30, 2026
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Description: This NIH-funded study investigates how a generativity-focused intervention influences neural function, well-being, and inflammatory processes in older adults. Dr. Naomi Eisenberger serves as Principal Investigator. Dr. Kruse is a Co-Investigator and contributes expertise in mood and inflammatory mechanisms.
    Neurochemical and Inflammatory Biomarkers of the Trajectory of Depressive Symptoms after Acute Illness
    NIH/NIMH R21 MH127520Feb 1, 2022 - Jan 31, 2024
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Description: This NIH-funded exploratory study examined neurometabolic and inflammatory biomarkers associated with depressive symptom trajectories following acute medical illness. Dr. Brooks served as Principal Investigator. Dr. Kruse was a Co-Investigator and contributed expertise in mood and inflammatory processes.
    Depression Response to Fast-Acting Treatments: Inflammation and Reward Mechanisms
    NIH K23MH116127Sep 10, 2018 - Aug 31, 2022
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Description: This project examined how inflammation and reward system dysfunction relate to treatment resistance in major depression. Using rapid-acting interventions such as ECT and ketamine, the study evaluated whether inflammatory markers and behavioral measures of reward predicted treatment response over time, contributing to mechanistic models linking immune signaling and antidepressant outcomes.
    Perturbation of the Treatment-Resistant Depression Connectome by Fast-Acting Therapies
    NIH/NIMH U01 MH110008Sep 2, 2016 - May 31, 2020
    Role: Co-Investigator
    Description: This NIMH-funded multi-site study used advanced MRI approaches to identify neural connectivity markers associated with response to fast-acting treatments for treatment-resistant depression. Drs. Narr and Espinoza served as Principal Investigators. Dr. Kruse was a Co-Investigator and contributed to inflammatory biomarker analyses and clinical implementation; this work informed the development of her subsequent NIH K23 award.
    Evaluation of Kynurenine Metabolites as a Neurobiological Link between Inflammation and Behavior in an Experimental Model of Depression
    UCLA Center for Translational Science Institute Core Services AwardMay 1, 2015 - Apr 30, 2016
    Role: Principal Investigator
    Description: This UCLA CTSI-supported project investigated kynurenine pathway metabolites as a potential mechanistic link between inflammation and depressive behavior. Dr. Kruse served as Principal Investigator.

    Collapse Bibliographic 
    Collapse selected publications
    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Researchers can login to make corrections and additions, or contact us for help. to make corrections and additions.
    Newest   |   Oldest   |   Most Cited   |   Most Discussed   |   Timeline   |   Field Summary   |   Plain Text
    Altmetrics Details PMC Citations indicate the number of times the publication was cited by articles in PubMed Central, and the Altmetric score represents citations in news articles and social media. (Note that publications are often cited in additional ways that are not shown here.) Fields are based on how the National Library of Medicine (NLM) classifies the publication's journal and might not represent the specific topic of the publication. Translation tags are based on the publication type and the MeSH terms NLM assigns to the publication. Some publications (especially newer ones and publications not in PubMed) might not yet be assigned Field or Translation tags.) Click a Field or Translation tag to filter the publications.
    1. Trajectory of peripheral inflammation during index ECT in association with clinical outcomes in treatment-resistant depression. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2025 Feb; 43:100925. Hough CM, Kruse JL, Espinoza RT, Brooks JO, Congdon EJ, Norris V, Craske MG, Narr KL. PMID: 39834556; PMCID: PMC11743860.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2  
    2. Structural brain plasticity and inflammation are independently related to changes in depressive symptoms six months after an index ECT course. Psychol Med. 2024 Jan; 54(1):108-116. Brooks JO, Kruse JL, Kubicki A, Hellemann G, Espinoza RT, Irwin MR, Narr KL. PMID: 36600668; PMCID: PMC11798564.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Interleukin-8 and depressive responses to an inflammatory challenge: secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Sci Rep. 2022 07 24; 12(1):12627. Kruse JL, Boyle CC, Olmstead R, Breen EC, Tye SJ, Eisenberger NI, Irwin MR. PMID: 35871638; PMCID: PMC9309160.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Association of interleukin-8 and risk of incident and recurrent depression in long-term breast cancer survivors. Brain Behav Immun. 2022 10; 105:131-138. Irwin MR, Olmstead R, Kruse J, Breen EC, Haque R. PMID: 35803481.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 8     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    5. Longitudinal trajectory of response to electroconvulsive therapy associated with transient immune response & white matter alteration post-stimulation. Transl Psychiatry. 2022 05 07; 12(1):191. Andreou B, Reid B, Lyall AE, Cetin-Karayumak S, Kubicki A, Espinoza R, Kruse J, Narr KL, Kubicki M. PMID: 35523776; PMCID: PMC9076613.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 7     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Interleukin-8 and lower severity of depression in females, but not males, with treatment-resistant depression. J Psychiatr Res. 2021 08; 140:350-356. Kruse JL, Olmstead R, Hellemann G, Breen EC, Tye SJ, Brooks JO, Wade B, Congdon E, Espinoza R, Narr KL, Irwin MR. PMID: 34139457; PMCID: PMC8319139.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 19     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. It Is Too Early to Put Delirium Prophylaxis to Bed: Stronger Evidence Is Needed for Suvorexant. J Clin Psychiatry. 2021 04 27; 82(3). Brooks JO, Kruse JL. PMID: 34004097.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    8. Depression treatment response to ketamine: sex-specific role of interleukin-8, but not other inflammatory markers. Transl Psychiatry. 2021 03 15; 11(1):167. Kruse JL, Vasavada MM, Olmstead R, Hellemann G, Wade B, Breen EC, Brooks JO, Congdon E, Espinoza R, Narr KL, Irwin MR. PMID: 33723220; PMCID: PMC7960960.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 29     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    9. Non-Convulsive Status Epilepticus in the Presence of Catatonia: A Clinically Focused Review. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2021 Jan-Feb; 68:25-34. Volle DC, Marder KG, McKeon A, Brooks JO, Kruse JL. PMID: 33276270; PMCID: PMC8262079.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 6     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    10. Inflammation and depression treatment response to electroconvulsive therapy: Sex-specific role of interleukin-8. Brain Behav Immun. 2020 10; 89:59-66. Kruse JL, Olmstead R, Hellemann G, Wade B, Jiang J, Vasavada MM, Brooks Iii JO, Congdon E, Espinoza R, Narr KL, Irwin MR. PMID: 32479994; PMCID: PMC7572496.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 24     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. Kynurenine metabolism and inflammation-induced depressed mood: A human experimental study. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2019 11; 109:104371. Kruse JL, Cho JH, Olmstead R, Hwang L, Faull K, Eisenberger NI, Irwin MR. PMID: 31325802; PMCID: PMC6842695.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Inflammation and Improvement of Depression Following Electroconvulsive Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2018 Mar/Apr; 79(2). Kruse JL, Congdon E, Olmstead R, Njau S, Breen EC, Narr KL, Espinoza R, Irwin MR. PMID: 29489077; PMCID: PMC6013272.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 49     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    13. N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation in an Individual With Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency-Associated Psychosis. Biol Psychiatry. 2016 10 15; 80(8):e71-2. Monsivais SR, Wisdom N, Kruse JL, Davis MC. PMID: 27059873.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. Long-term risk of myocardial infarction and stroke in bipolar I disorder: A population-based Cohort Study. J Affect Disord. 2016 Apr; 194:120-7. Prieto ML, Schenck LA, Kruse JL, Klaas JP, Chamberlain AM, Bobo WV, Bellivier F, Leboyer M, Roger VL, Brown RD, Rocca WA, Frye MA. PMID: 26820761; PMCID: PMC4909505.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 22     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    15. Sick and tired: mood, fatigue, and inflammation in cancer. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2015 Mar; 17(3):555. Kruse JL, Strouse TB. PMID: 25704121.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    16. Psychiatric Autoimmunity: N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor IgG and Beyond. Psychosomatics. 2015 May-Jun; 56(3):227-41. Kruse JL, Lapid MI, Lennon VA, Klein CJ, Toole OO, Pittock SJ, Strand EA, Frye MA, McKeon A. PMID: 25975857.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 23     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: a targeted review of clinical presentation, diagnosis, and approaches to psychopharmacologic management. Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2014 May; 26(2):111-9. Kruse JL, Jeffrey JK, Davis MC, Dearlove J, IsHak WW, Brooks JO. PMID: 24501734.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    18. New-onset extrapyramidal symptoms following oxcarbazepine discontinuation in a child receiving risperidone. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2014 Apr; 24(3):166-7. Kruse JL, Davis MC. PMID: 24689943.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
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