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Brandon A. Kohrt

Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry

Overview


Brandon Kohrt is a medical anthropologist and psychiatrist who completed his MD-PhD at Emory University in 2009. He is currently Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Global Health, and Cultural Anthropology at Duke University. Dr. Kohrt has worked in Nepal since 1996 researching and aiding victims of war including child soldiers. Since 2006 has worked with Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Nepal. Dr. Kohrt has been a consultant to The Carter Center Mental Health Program Liberia Initiative since 2010. Dr. Kohrt is the component lead for the Grand Challenges Canada funded Mental Health Beyond Facilities (mhBeF) program in Nepal, Liberia, and Uganda. Dr. Kohrt has published scientific articles and book chapters about mental health among conflict- and disaster-affected populations in Nepal, Liberia, and Haiti. Dr. Kohrt has collaborated on numerous documentary films about human rights and global health including Returned: Child Soldiers of Nepal’s Maoist Army.  

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2024 - Present Psychiatry, Child & Family Mental Health & Community Psychiatry, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Adjunct Professor of Global Health · 2024 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published July 26, 2016
Study of Former Child Soldiers Suggests Resilience Can Minimize PTSD Effects
Published July 13, 2016
Avoiding the sickening effects of stress
Published October 15, 2015
DGHI Professor to Discuss Mental Health Response to Nepal Earthquakes Next Week

View All News

Recent Publications


Treatment of depression by traditional faith healers in Nepal: A qualitative study

Journal Article SSM - Mental Health · June 1, 2025 This study explored the assessment and treatment practices of traditional faith healers for patients with depression, as well as their beliefs about the causes of depression, in Nepal. In-depth interviews were conducted using a narrative approach to allow ... Full text Cite

Sex-Specific Alterations of the Kynurenine Pathway in Association With Risk for and Remission of Depression in Adolescence.

Journal Article Biol Psychiatry · February 13, 2025 BACKGROUND: The imbalance between neurotoxic and neuroprotective metabolites of the kynurenine pathway has been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) in adulthood but has not been fully investigated among adolescents. In this ... Full text Link to item Cite

Feasibility and Applicability of Implementing the Framework for Comprehensive Understanding of Structural Stigma in Mental Healthcare Systems: A Case Example of Nepal.

Journal Article Health Expect · February 2025 INTRODUCTION: Mental health-related structural stigma is a multifaceted issue that significantly impacts access to quality mental healthcare, particularly in low-resource settings like Nepal. Therefore, there is a clear need to understand the complexities ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Optimizing Provider Attitudes and Competence in Learning Mental Health Systems (OPAL)

ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2016 - 2017

Reducing Barriers to Mental Health Task Sharing: Stigma Reduction in Primary Care

Clinical TrialPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2014 - 2017

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Education, Training & Certifications


Emory University · 2009 M.D.
Emory University · 2009 Ph.D.

External Links


Psychiatry Profile