Catherine Sugar, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences

Member, CTSI

Investigator, Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Research Design

Biography

Dr. Sugar's methodological research focuses on clustering, functional data analysis, classification and patterns of covariation in data. In particular she has looked at approaches to identifying the number of groups in a data set and extending classical methods for cluster analysis to the functional data domain. She also has a wide range of applied interests including HIV/AIDS, mental health, dentistry, nephrology, and particularly health services research where she has developed a set of cluster-analytic methods for definnig and analyzing health state models. She has applied these techniques to studies of quality of life in depression and schizophrenia and am currently working with colleagues in the British National Health System on similar projects in cancer and multiple sclerosis. She is also currently involved in a VA study of access to and quality of care in HIV/AIDS.

Rissling Anthony J, Park Sung-Hyouk, Young Jared W, Rissling Michelle B, Sugar Catherine A, Sprock Joyce, Mathias Daniel J, Pela Marlena, Sharp Richard F, Braff David L, Light Gregory A   Demand and modality of directed attention modulate "pre-attentive" sensory processes in schizophrenia patients and nonpsychiatric controls Schizophrenia research, 2013; 146(1-3): 326-35.

Townsend Jennifer D, Torrisi Salvatore J, Lieberman Matthew D, Sugar Catherine A, Bookheimer Susan Y, Altshuler Lori L   Frontal-amygdala connectivity alterations during emotion downregulation in bipolar I disorder Biological psychiatry, 2013; 73(2): 127-35.

Townsend Jennifer D, Sugar Catherine A, Walshaw Patricia D, Vasquez Roxanne E, Foland-Ross Lara C, Moody Teena D, Bookheimer Susan Y, McGough James J, Altshuler Lori L   Frontostriatal neuroimaging findings differ in patients with bipolar disorder who have or do not have ADHD comorbidity Journal of affective disorders, 2013; 147(1-3): 389-96.

Greenwood Tiffany A, Swerdlow Neal R, Gur Raquel E, Cadenhead Kristin S, Calkins Monica E, Dobie Dorcas J, Freedman Robert, Green Michael F, Gur Ruben C, Lazzeroni Laura C, Nuechterlein Keith H, Olincy Ann, Radant Allen D, Ray Amrita, Schork Nicholas J, Seidman Larry J, Siever Larry J, Silverman Jeremy M, Stone William S, Sugar Catherine A, Tsuang Debby W, Tsuang Ming T, Turetsky Bruce I, Light Gregory A, Braff David L   Genome-wide linkage analyses of 12 endophenotypes for schizophrenia from the consortium on the genetics of schizophrenia The American journal of psychiatry, 2013; 170(5): 521-32.

Green Michael F, Horan William P, Sugar Catherine A   Has the generalized deficit become the generalized criticism? Schizophrenia bulletin, 2013; 39(2): 257-62.

Dean Andy C, Altstein Lily L, Berman Mitchell E, Constans Joseph I, Sugar Catherine A, McCloskey Michael S   Secondary Psychopathy, but not Primary Psychopathy, is Associated with Risky Decision-Making in Noninstitutionalized Young Adults Personality and individual differences, 2013; 54(2): 272-277.

Calkins Monica E, Ray Amrita, Gur Ruben C, Freedman Robert, Green Michael F, Greenwood Tiffany A, Light Gregory A, Nuechterlein Keith H, Olincy Ann, Radant Allen D, Seidman Larry J, Siever Larry J, Silverman Jeremy M, Stone William S, Sugar Catherine, Swerdlow Neal R, Tsuang Debby W, Tsuang Ming T, Turetsky Bruce I, Braff David L, Lazzeroni Laura C, Gur Raquel E   Sex differences in familiality effects on neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia Biological psychiatry, 2013; 73(10): 976-84.

Foland-Ross Lara C, Thompson Paul M, Sugar Catherine A, Narr Katherine L, Penfold Conor, Vasquez Roxanne E, Townsend Jennifer, Fischer Jeffrey, Saharan Priya, Bearden Carrie E, Altshuler Lori L   Three-dimensional mapping of hippocampal and amygdalar structure in euthymic adults with bipolar disorder not treated with lithium Psychiatry research, 2013; 211(3): 195-201.

Brody Arthur L, Mukhin Alexey G, La Charite Jaime, Ta Karen, Farahi Judah, Sugar Catherine A, Mamoun Michael S, Vellios Evan, Archie Meena, Kozman Maggie, Phuong Jonathan, Arlorio Franca, Mandelkern Mark A   Up-regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in menthol cigarette smokers The international journal of neuropsychopharmacology / official scientific journal of the Collegium Internationale Neuropsychopharmacologicum (CINP), 2013; 16(5): 957-66.

Hegarty Catherine E, Foland-Ross Lara C, Narr Katherine L, Sugar Catherine A, McGough James J, Thompson Paul M, Altshuler Lori L   ADHD comorbidity can matter when assessing cortical thickness abnormalities in patients with bipolar disorder Bipolar disorders, 2012; 14(8): 843-55.

Light Gregory A, Swerdlow Neal R, Rissling Anthony J, Radant Allen, Sugar Catherine A, Sprock Joyce, Pela Marlena, Geyer Mark A, Braff David L   Characterization of neurophysiologic and neurocognitive biomarkers for use in genomic and clinical outcome studies of schizophrenia PloS one, 2012; 7(7): e39434.

Jalbrzikowski Maria, Sugar Catherine A, Zinberg Jamie, Bachman Peter, Cannon Tyrone D, Bearden Carrie E   Coping styles of individuals at clinical high risk for developing psychosis Early intervention in psychiatry, 2012; 27(6): .

Townsend Jennifer D, Bookheimer Susan Y, Foland-Ross Lara C, Moody Teena D, Eisenberger Naomi I, Fischer Jeffrey S, Cohen Mark S, Sugar Catherine A, Altshuler Lori L   Deficits in inferior frontal cortex activation in euthymic bipolar disorder patients during a response inhibition task Bipolar disorders, 2012; 14(4): 442-50.

Brennan Catherine A, Ibarrondo F Javier, Sugar Catherine A, Hausner Mary Ann, Shih Roger, Ng Hwee L, Detels Roger, Margolick Joseph B, Rinaldo Charles R, Phair John, Jacobson Lisa P, Yang Otto O, Jamieson Beth D   Early HLA-B*57-restricted CD8+ T lymphocyte responses predict HIV-1 disease progression Journal of virology, 2012; 86(19): 10505-16.

Dean Andy C, Hellemann Gerhard, Sugar Catherine A, London Edythe D   Educational attainment is not a good proxy for cognitive function in methamphetamine dependence Drug and alcohol dependence, 2012; 123(1-3): 249-54.

Peris Tara S, Sugar Catherine A, Bergman R Lindsey, Chang Susanna, Langley Audra, Piacentini John   Family factors predict treatment outcome for pediatric obsessive-compulsive disorder Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 2012; 80(2): 255-63.

Foland-Ross Lara C, Bookheimer Susan Y, Lieberman Matthew D, Sugar Catherine A, Townsend Jennifer D, Fischer Jeffrey, Torrisi Salvatore, Penfold Conor, Madsen Sarah K, Thompson Paul M, Altshuler Lori L   Normal amygdala activation but deficient ventrolateral prefrontal activation in adults with bipolar disorder during euthymia NeuroImage, 2012; 59(1): 738-44.

Ringman John M, Frautschy Sally A, Teng Edmond, Begum Aynun N, Bardens Jenny, Beigi Maryam, Gylys Karen H, Badmaev Vladimir, Heath Dennis D, Apostolova Liana G, Porter Verna, Vanek Zeba, Marshall Gad A, Hellemann Gerhard, Sugar Catherine, Masterman Donna L, Montine Thomas J, Cummings Jeffrey L, Cole Greg M   Oral curcumin for Alzheimer's disease: tolerability and efficacy in a 24-week randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2012; 4(5): 43.

Huynh Thanh N, Weigt S Sam, Sugar Catherine A, Shapiro Shelley, Kleerup Eric C   Prognostic factors and outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension admitted to the intensive care unit Journal of critical care, 2012; 27(6): 739.e7-13.

Schlosser Danielle A, Jacobson Sarah, Chen Qiaolin, Sugar Catherine A, Niendam Tara A, Li Gang, Bearden Carrie E, Cannon Tyrone D   Recovery from an at-risk state: clinical and functional outcomes of putatively prodromal youth who do not develop psychosis Schizophrenia bulletin, 2012; 38(6): 1225-33.

Green Michael F, Bearden Carrie E, Cannon Tyrone D, Fiske Alan P, Hellemann Gerhard S, Horan William P, Kee Kimmy, Kern Robert S, Lee Junghee, Sergi Mark J, Subotnik Kenneth L, Sugar Catherine A, Ventura Joseph, Yee Cindy M, Nuechterlein Keith H   Social cognition in schizophrenia, Part 1: performance across phase of illness Schizophrenia bulletin, 2012; 38(4): 854-64.

Horan William P, Green Michael F, DeGroot Michael, Fiske Alan, Hellemann Gerhard, Kee Kimmy, Kern Robert S, Lee Junghee, Sergi Mark J, Subotnik Kenneth L, Sugar Catherine A, Ventura Joseph, Nuechterlein Keith H   Social cognition in schizophrenia, Part 2: 12-month stability and prediction of functional outcome in first-episode patients Schizophrenia bulletin, 2012; 38(4): 865-72.

Dean Andy C, Sevak Rajkumar J, Monterosso John R, Hellemann Gerhard, Sugar Catherine A, London Edythe D   Acute modafinil effects on attention and inhibitory control in methamphetamine-dependent humans Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 2011; 72(6): 943-53.

Foland-Ross Lara C, Thompson Paul M, Sugar Catherine A, Madsen Sarah K, Shen Jim K, Penfold Conor, Ahlf Kyle, Rasser Paul E, Fischer Jeffrey, Yang Yilan, Townsend Jennifer, Bookheimer Susan Y, Altshuler Lori L   Investigation of cortical thickness abnormalities in lithium-free adults with bipolar I disorder using cortical pattern matching The American journal of psychiatry, 2011; 168(5): 530-9.

Dean Andy C, Sugar Catherine A, Hellemann Gerhard, London Edythe D   Is all risk bad? Young adult cigarette smokers fail to take adaptive risk in a laboratory decision-making test Psychopharmacology, 2011; 215(4): 801-11.

Zorick Todd, Sugar Catherine A, Hellemann Gerhard, Shoptaw Steve, London Edythe D   Poor response to sertraline in methamphetamine dependence is associated with sustained craving for methamphetamine Drug and alcohol dependence, 2011; 118(2-3): 500-3.

Desai Rishi, Pannaraj Pia S, Agopian Jaclyn, Sugar Catherine A, Liu George Y, Miller Loren G   Survival and transmission of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from fomites American journal of infection control, 2011; 39(3): 219-25.

Kern Robert S, Gold James M, Dickinson Dwight, Green Michael F, Nuechterlein Keith H, Baade Lyle E, Keefe Richard S E, Mesholam-Gately Raquelle I, Seidman Larry J, Lee Cathy, Sugar Catherine A, Marder Stephen R   The MCCB impairment profile for schizophrenia outpatients: results from the MATRICS psychometric and standardization study Schizophrenia research, 2011; 126(1-3): 124-31.

Rickabaugh Tammy M, Kilpatrick Ryan D, Hultin Lance E, Hultin Patricia M, Hausner Mary Ann, Sugar Catherine A, Althoff Keri N, Margolick Joseph B, Rinaldo Charles R, Detels Roger, Phair John, Effros Rita B, Jamieson Beth D   The dual impact of HIV-1 infection and aging on naïve CD4 T-cells: additive and distinct patterns of impairment PloS one, 2011; 6(1): e16459.

Bearden Carrie E, Shih Vivian H, Green Michael F, Gitlin Michael, Sokolski Kenneth N, Levander Eric, Marusak Susan, Hammen Constance, Sugar Catherine A, Altshuler Lori L   The impact of neurocognitive impairment on occupational recovery of clinically stable patients with bipolar disorder: a prospective study Bipolar disorders, 2011; 13(4): 323-33.

Frankel Fred, Myatt Robert, Sugar Catherine, Whitham Cynthia, Gorospe Clarissa M, Laugeson Elizabeth   A randomized controlled study of parent-assisted Children's Friendship Training with children having autism spectrum disorders Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2010; 40(7): 827-42.

Altshuler Lori L, Kupka Ralph W, Hellemann Gerhard, Frye Mark A, Sugar Catherine A, McElroy Susan L, Nolen Willem A, Grunze Heinz, Leverich Gabriele S, Keck Paul E, Zermeno Melanie, Post Robert M, Suppes Trisha   Gender and depressive symptoms in 711 patients with bipolar disorder evaluated prospectively in the Stanley Foundation bipolar treatment outcome network The American journal of psychiatry, 2010; 167(6): 708-15.

Feusner Jamie D, Moller Hayley, Altstein Lily, Sugar Catherine, Bookheimer Susan, Yoon Joanne, Hembacher Emily   Inverted face processing in body dysmorphic disorder Journal of psychiatric research, 2010; 44(15): 1088-94.

Wynn Jonathan K, Sugar Catherine, Horan William P, Kern Robert, Green Michael F   Mismatch negativity, social cognition, and functioning in schizophrenia patients Biological psychiatry, 2010; 67(10): 940-7.

Frankel Frederick D, Gorospe Clarissa M, Chang Ya-Chih, Sugar Catherine A   Mothers' reports of play dates and observation of school playground behavior of children having high-functioning autism spectrum disorders Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 2010; 183(3): .

Hutman Ted, Rozga Agata, DeLaurentis Angeline D, Barnwell Jenna M, Sugar Catherine A, Sigman Marian   Response to distress in infants at risk for autism: a prospective longitudinal study Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines, 2010; 51(9): 1010-20.

Zorick Todd, Nestor Liam, Miotto Karen, Sugar Catherine, Hellemann Gerhard, Scanlon Graham, Rawson Richard, London Edythe D   Withdrawal symptoms in abstinent methamphetamine-dependent subjects Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2010; 105(10): 1809-18.

Townsend Jennifer, Bookheimer Susan Y, Foland-Ross Lara C, Sugar Catherine A, Altshuler Lori L   fMRI abnormalities in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a working memory task in manic, euthymic and depressed bipolar subjects Psychiatry research, 2010; 182(1): 22-9.

Townsend Jennifer D, Eberhart Nicole K, Bookheimer Susan Y, Eisenberger Naomi I, Foland-Ross Lara C, Cook Ian A, Sugar Catherine A, Altshuler Lori L   fMRI activation in the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex in unmedicated subjects with major depressive disorder Psychiatry research, 2010; 183(3): 209-17.

McGough James J, McCracken James T, Loo Sandra K, Manganiello Marc, Leung Michael C, Tietjens Jeremy R, Trinh Thao, Baweja Shilpa, Suddath Robert, Smalley Susan L, Hellemann Gerhard, Sugar Catherine A   A Candidate Gene Analysis of Methylphenidate Response in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2009; 105(1-2): .

Kee Kimmy S, Horan William P, Salovey Peter, Kern Robert S, Sergi Mark J, Fiske Alan P, Lee Junghee, Subotnik Kenneth L, Nuechterlein Keith, Sugar Catherine A, Green Michael F   Emotional intelligence in schizophrenia Schizophrenia research, 2009; 107(1): 61-8.

Kern Robert S, Liberman Robert P, Becker Deborah R, Drake Robert E, Sugar Catherine A, Green Michael F   Errorless learning for training individuals with schizophrenia at a community mental health setting providing work experience Schizophrenia bulletin, 2009; 35(4): 807-15.

Altshuler Lori L, Post Robert M, Hellemann Gerhard, Leverich Gabriele S, Nolen Willem A, Frye Mark A, Keck Paul E, Kupka Ralph W, Grunze Heinz, McElroy Susan L, Sugar Catherine A, Suppes Trisha   Impact of antidepressant continuation after acute positive or partial treatment response for bipolar depression: a blinded, randomized study The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 2009; 70(4): 450-7.

Dean Andy C, London Edythe D, Sugar Catherine A, Kitchen Christina M R, Swanson Aimee-Noelle, Heinzerling Keith G, Kalechstein Ari D, Shoptaw Steven   Predicting adherence to treatment for methamphetamine dependence from neuropsychological and drug use variables Drug and alcohol dependence, 2009; 105(1-2): 48-55.

Foland Lara C, Altshuler Lori L, Sugar Catherine A, Lee Agatha D, Leow Alex D, Townsend Jennifer, Narr Katherine L, Asuncion Dina M, Toga Arthur W, Thompson Paul M   Increased volume of the amygdala and hippocampus in bipolar patients treated with lithium Neuroreport, 2008; 19(2): 221-4.

Black Vivian, Hoffman Risa M, Sugar Catherine A, Menon Priya, Venter Francois, Currier Judith S, Rees Helen   Safety and efficacy of initiating highly active antiretroviral therapy in an integrated antenatal and HIV clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999), 2008; 49(3): 276-81.

Lee Junghee, Nuechterlein Keith H, Subotnik Kenneth L, Sugar Catherine A, Ventura Joseph, Gretchen-Doorly Denise, Kelly Kimberly, Green Michael F   Stability of visual masking performance in recent-onset schizophrenia: an 18-month longitudinal study Schizophrenia research, 2008; 103(1-3): 266-74.

Horan William P, Braff David L, Nuechterlein Keith H, Sugar Catherine A, Cadenhead Kristin S, Calkins Monica E, Dobie Dorcas J, Freedman Robert, Greenwood Tiffany A, Gur Raquel E, Gur Ruben C, Light Gregory A, Mintz James, Olincy Ann, Radant Allan D, Schork Nicholas J, Seidman Larry J, Siever Larry J, Silverman Jeremy M, Stone William S, Swerdlow Neal R, Tsuang Debbie W, Tsuang Ming T, Turetsky Bruce I, Green Michael F   Verbal working memory impairments in individuals with schizophrenia and their first-degree relatives: findings from the Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia Schizophrenia research, 2008; 103(1-3): 218-28.

Stein Ken, Sugar Catherine, Velikova Galina, Stark Dan   Putting the 'Q' in quality adjusted life years (QALYs) for advanced ovarian cancer - An approach using data clustering methods and the internet European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990), 2007; 43(1): 104-13.

James Gareth M, Sugar Catherine A, Desai Rani, Rosenheck Robert A   A comparison of outcomes among patients with schizophrenia in two mental health systems: a health state approach Schizophrenia research, 2006; 86(1-3): 309-20.

Sugar Catherine A, James Gareth M, Lenert Leslie A, Rosenheck Robert A   Discrete state analysis for interpretation of data from clinical trials Medical care, 2004; 42(2): 183-96.

James, G. M., and Sugar, C.A.   Clustering Sparsely Sampled Functional Data, Journal of the American Statistical Association, 2003; 98(462): 397-408.

Slots, J., Sugar, C.A., Kamma, J.J.   Cytomegalovirus Periodontal Presence Is Associated with Subgingival Dialister Pneumosintes and Aveolar Bone Loss, Oral Microbiology and Immunology, 2003; 17(6): 369-374.

Sugar, C.A. and James, G. M.   Finding the Number of Clusters in a Dataset: An Information-Theoretic Approach, Journal of the American Statistical Association, 2003; 98(463): 750-763.

Sirinian Garo, Shimizu Tota, Sugar Catherine, Slots Jørgen, Chen Casey   Periodontopathic bacteria in young healthy subjects of different ethnic backgrounds in Los Angeles Journal of periodontology, 2002; 73(3): 283-8.

Sugar, C.A., Sturm, R. et al.   Empirically Defined Health States for Depression from the SF-12, Health Services Research, 1998; 33(4): Part 1, 911-928.