Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences Department

Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences Department

Cedars-Sinai's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences offers a wide range of services to maintain and ensure mental health. We treat all types of mental illnesses, and we develop strategies to enhance mental health in our community. As a vital part of a world-renowned teaching facility, we are also deeply involved in training and research.

We uphold the best of the past while embracing current discoveries. We have a rich tradition dating back to Dr. Franz Alexander. Known as the Father of Psychosomatic Medicine, Dr. Alexander established the Department of Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital in 1957 and was its first chairman.

The tradition of excellence at Cedars-Sinai is inspiring. The scope of Cedars-Sinai's programs has placed them among the best in the country. Our patients receive the most complete, up-to-date mental health care possible.

We understand that results must go beyond "just believing". We have tough quality improvement and review programs to measure our progress, and we weave our outcomes research into the fabric of our daily practice. We constantly improve our programs, based on our own research and that of others. As a result, our patients can expect to receive real value from our services.

For several decades, the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai has served the mental health needs of our community. We continue in our mission to help individuals and their loved ones achieve a higher level of functioning. We do that through services that range from inpatient to partial hospitalization to outpatient settings. We also do it through our many community outreach services. Our goal is to provide the highest quality patient care possible. We also train mental health professionals, research the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and provide a broad array of community services.

The Thalians and Our Community Support

The achievements of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences would not be possible without the tireless efforts of The Thalians, our namesake organization and fundraising group. The Thalians has provided one-third of the construction costs of our building. Their ongoing fundraising efforts continue to support our training programs and services.

In 1955 a group of entertainment industry members, including Debbie Reynolds and Ruta Lee, sought a worthy cause. They wanted to prove there is much more to Hollywood than glitter and greed. In searching for a name, the group came across the story of Thalia, the Greek goddess of comedy and muse. They thought it the perfect choice for entertainers who wanted to harness their talents to bring light to the darkness of mental illness. Over the years, these selfless community leaders have contributed millions to meet the department's needs.

The Thalians is a true working organization. The general membership meets each month, as does the Board of Directors. The group's leaders encourage members to serve on at least one committee. By contributing to or by joining The Thalians, you can play a vital role in ensuring that the nationally recognized Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences will maintain its commitment to the community.

For more information about The Thalians, please contact: