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Deborah Koltai

Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychology
Box 3333 Med Ctr, Durham, NC
Morreene Rd Clinic, Durham, NC

Overview


1) Investigation of factors related to care of epilepsy patients in Uganda, Africa to inform capacity building and infrastructure strengthening efforts. Studies have involved a pursuit of understanding the cultural context and its impact on health care delivery and utilization.

2) Development and psychometric validation of neuropsychological and behavioral instruments.

3) The effect of psychological interventions on the abilities and adjustment of dementia patients and those at-risk for developing neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. Interventions include modified cognitive (mnemonic; organizational) strategies, and traditional psychotherapy (dynamic and behavioral).

Current Appointments & Affiliations


Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences · 2015 - Present Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Adult Psychiatry & Psychology, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor in Neurology · 2013 - Present Neurology, Behavioral Neurology, Neurology
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery · 2017 - Present Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery
Senior Fellow in the Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development · 1996 - Present Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Institutes and Centers
Affiliate, Duke Global Health Institute · 2021 - Present Duke Global Health Institute, University Institutes and Centers

In the News


Published May 28, 2021
Understanding the Influence of Spiritual Beliefs on Epilepsy Care
Published April 21, 2021
Two Faculty Receive Inaugural Bass Connections Leadership Award
Published August 17, 2015
New brain-training app focuses on athletes

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Recent Publications


Building sustainable neurosurgical capacity: lessons from the Duke Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology.

Journal Article Neurosurg Focus · March 1, 2025 Neurosurgery has long faced significant disparities in access to care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where millions lack access to timely, lifesaving neurosurgical interventions. The Duke Division of Global Neurosurgery and Neurology (DGNN) w ... Full text Link to item Cite

Neuropsychological normative standards for late career physicians.

Journal Article Clin Neuropsychol · November 2024 Objective: In the context of an aging, vital physician workforce, there is clear value in establishing a specialized neuropsychological normative dataset for the evaluation of late career physicians practicing clinical medicine. Methods: Physicians aged 60 ... Full text Link to item Cite

Treatment-resistant depression: molecular mechanisms and management.

Journal Article Mol Biomed · October 17, 2024 Due to the heterogeneous nature of depression, the underlying etiological mechanisms greatly differ among individuals, and there are no known subtype-specific biomarkers to serve as precise targets for therapeutic efficacy. The extensive research efforts o ... Full text Link to item Cite
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Recent Grants


Building Brain Health Research Capacity in Rwanda: Neurocognition and Neurobehavior Across the Lifespan

Inst. Training Prgm or CMEPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2024 - 2029

RECOVER Infrastructure Modification 11 (Yr 3)

ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Research Triangle Institute International · 2022 - 2025

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Education, Training & Certifications


Alliant International University - California School of Professional Psychology · 1993 Ph.D.