Joseph Sakai, MD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry-Substance Dependence

Website
Website
Photo
Medical School:
  • MD, Tulane University School of Medicine (1997)
Undergraduate School:
  • BA, Pomona College (1993)
Internship:
  • University of Colorado (1998)
Residency:
  • University of Colorado, Psychiatry (2001)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Addiction Psychiatry (2003)
Languages: English
Department: Psychiatry-Substance Dependence

Publications

  • Curry A, Butterfield A, Kunkle L, Sakai J. Adapting a first- and second-year medical student psychiatric interview course for virtual learning. MedEdPublish (2016). 2022;12:35. PubMed PMID: 36168526
  • Winters DE, Sakai JT. Emotion Identification for Self and Other Associated with Callous-Unemotional Traits and Sex Differences in Early Adolescents. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2022 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36088498
  • Winters DE, Pruitt P, Damoiseaux J, Sakai JT. Callous-unemotional traits in adolescents moderate neural network associations with empathy. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2022 Mar;320:111429. PubMed PMID: 34968822
  • Kunkle L, Butterfield A, Lovato L, Sakai J. Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Medical Student Education. Acad Psychiatry. 2022 Apr;46(2):278-279. PubMed PMID: 34449053
  • Bhatia D, Hinckley J, Mikulich S, Sakai J. Cannabis Legalization and Adolescent Use of Electronic Vapor Products, Cannabis, and Cigarettes. J Addict Med. 2022 Jan-Feb 01;16(1):e16-e22. PubMed PMID: 35120066
  • Winters DE, Mikulich SK, Hopfer C, Sakai JT. Adolescents in Treatment for Substance Use Disorders: Callous-Unemotional Traits Moderate Associations Between Transdiagnostic Symptoms and Adolescent Suicidality. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2021 Sep 24. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34559328
  • Kunkle L, Butterfield A, Lovato L, Sakai J. Addressing Mental Health Stigma in Medical Student Education. Acad Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 26. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 34449053
  • Winters DE, Sakai JT, Carter RM. Resting-state network topology characterizing callous-unemotional traits in adolescence. Neuroimage Clin. 2021;32:102878. PubMed PMID: 34911187
  • Bhatia D, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Sakai JT. Prescription Opioid Misuse and Risky Adolescent Behavior. Pediatrics. 2020 Feb;145(2). PubMed PMID: 31907292
  • Simpson SA, Sakai J, Rylander M. A Free Online Video Series Teaching Verbal De-escalation for Agitated Patients. Acad Psychiatry. 2020 Apr;44(2):208-211. PubMed PMID: 31863414
  • Stewart SB, Bhatia D, Burns EK, Sakai JT, Martin LF, Levinson AH, Vaughn AM, Li Y, James KA. Association of Marijuana, Mental Health, and Tobacco in Colorado. J Addict Med. 2020 Jan Feb;14(1):48-55. PubMed PMID: 30939501
  • Hagler DJ Jr, Hatton S, Cornejo MD, Makowski C, Fair DA, Dick AS, Sutherland MT, Casey BJ, Barch DM, Harms MP, Watts R, Bjork JM, Garavan HP, Hilmer L, Pung CJ, Sicat CS, Kuperman J, Bartsch H, Xue F, Heitzeg MM, Laird AR, Trinh TT, Gonzalez R, Tapert SF, Riedel MC, Squeglia LM, Hyde LW, Rosenberg MD, Earl EA, Howlett KD, Baker FC, Soules M, Diaz J, de Leon OR, Thompson WK, Neale MC, Herting M, Sowell ER, Alvarez RP, Hawes SW, Sanchez M, Bodurka J, Breslin FJ, Morris AS, Paulus MP, Simmons WK, Polimeni JR, van der Kouwe A, Nencka AS, Gray KM, Pierpaoli C, Matochik JA, Noronha A, Aklin WM, Conway K, Glantz M, Hoffman E, Little R, Lopez M, Pariyadath V, Weiss SR, Wolff-Hughes DL, DelCarmen-Wiggins R, Feldstein Ewing SW, Miranda-Dominguez O, Nagel BJ, Perrone AJ, Sturgeon DT, Goldstone A, Pfefferbaum A, Pohl KM, Prouty D, Uban K, Bookheimer SY, Dapretto M, Galvan A, Bagot K, Giedd J, Infante MA, Jacobus J, Patrick K, Shilling PD, Desikan R, Li Y, Sugrue L, Banich MT, Friedman N, Hewitt JK, Hopfer C, Sakai J, Tanabe J, Cottler LB, Nixon SJ, Chang L, Cloak C, Ernst T, Reeves G, Kennedy DN, Heeringa S, Peltier S, Schulenberg J, Sripada C, Zucker RA, Iacono WG, Luciana M, Calabro FJ, Clark DB, Lewis DA, Luna B, Schirda C, Brima T, Foxe JJ, Freedman EG, Mruzek DW, Mason MJ, Huber R, McGlade E, Prescot A, Renshaw PF, Yurgelun-Todd DA, Allgaier NA, Dumas JA, Ivanova M, Potter A, Florsheim P, Larson C, Lisdahl K, Charness ME, Fuemmeler B, Hettema JM, Maes HH, Steinberg J, Anokhin AP, Glaser P, Heath AC, Madden PA, Baskin-Sommers A, Constable RT, Grant SJ, Dowling GJ, Brown SA, Jernigan TL, Dale AM. Image processing and analysis methods for the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. Neuroimage. 2019 Aug 12;202:116091. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 31415884
  • Stewart SB, Bhatia D, Burns EK, Sakai JT, Martin LF, Levinson AH, Vaughn AM, Li Y, James KA. Association of Marijuana, Mental Health, and Tobacco in Colorado. J Addict Med. 2019 Apr 2. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 30939501
  • Tanabe J, Regner M, Sakai J, Martinez D, Gowin J. Neuroimaging reward, craving, learning, and cognitive control in substance use disorders: review and implications for treatment. Br J Radiol. 2019 Sep;92(1101):20180942. PubMed PMID: 30855982
  • Sakai JT, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK. Testing helping behavior and its relationship to antisocial personality and psychopathic traits. Psychiatry Res. 2019 Apr;274:98-104. PubMed PMID: 30780067
  • Whitmore CA, Sakai J, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Davies RD. A Four-Week Reflective Writing Program in the Psychiatry Clerkship: Testing Effects on Reflective Capacity. Acad Psychiatry. 2019 Apr;43(2):171-174. PubMed PMID: 29704195
  • Carrico JA, Mahoney K, Raymond KM, Mims L, Smith PC, Sakai JT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Hopfer CJ, Bartels K. The Association of Patient Satisfaction-Based Incentives with Primary Care Physician Opioid Prescribing. J Am Board Fam Med. 2018 Nov-Dec;31(6):941-943. PubMed PMID: 30413550
  • Whitmore CA, Sakai J, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Davies RD. A Four-Week Reflective Writing Program in the Psychiatry Clerkship: Testing Effects on Reflective Capacity. Acad Psychiatry. 2018 Apr 27. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29704195
  • Kim J, Coors ME, Young SE, Raymond KM, Hopfer CJ, Wall TL, Corley RP, Brown SA, Sakai JT. Cannabis use disorder and male sex predict medical cannabis card status in a sample of high risk adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2018 Feb 1;183:25-33. PubMed PMID: 29223914
  • Kim J, Coors ME, Young SE, Raymond KM, Hopfer CJ, Wall TL, Corley RP, Brown SA, Sakai JT. Cannabis use disorder and male sex predict medical cannabis card status in a sample of high risk adolescents. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Dec 2;183:25-33. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29223914
  • Yamamoto DJ, Banich MT, Regner MF, Sakai JT, Tanabe J. Behavioral approach and orbitofrontal cortical activity during decision-making in substance dependence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Nov 1;180:234-240. PubMed PMID: 28934666
  • Crowley TJ, Dalwani MS, Sakai JT, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Banich MT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK. Children's brain activation during risky decision-making: A contributor to substance problems?. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Sep 1;178:57-65. PubMed PMID: 28641131
  • Sakai JT, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Raymond K, McWilliams S, Tanabe J, Rojas D, Regner M, Banich MT, Crowley TJ. Imaging decision about whether to benefit self by harming others: Adolescents with conduct and substance problems, with or without callous-unemotionality, or developing typically. Psychiatry Res. 2017 May 30;263:103-112. PubMed PMID: 28371655
  • Crowley TJ, Dalwani MS, Sakai JT, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Banich MT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK. Children's brain activation during risky decision-making: A contributor to substance problems?. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Sep 1;178:57-65. PubMed PMID: 28641131
  • Sakai JT, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Raymond K, McWilliams S, Tanabe J, Rojas D, Regner M, Banich MT, Crowley TJ. Imaging decision about whether to benefit self by harming others: Adolescents with conduct and substance problems, with or without callous-unemotionality, or developing typically. Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2017 May 30;263:103-112. PubMed PMID: 28371655
  • Yamamoto DJ, Banich MT, Regner MF, Sakai JT, Tanabe J. Behavioral approach and orbitofrontal cortical activity during decision-making in substance dependence. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017 Nov 1;180:234-240. PubMed PMID: 28934666
  • Coors ME, Raymond KM, Hopfer CJ, Sakai J, McWilliams SK, Young S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK. Adolescents with substance use disorder and assent/consent: Empirical data on understanding biobank risks in genomic research. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Feb 1;159:267-71. PubMed PMID: 26774949
  • Sakai JT, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, McWilliams SK, Raymond KM, Crowley TJ. A Behavioral Measure of Costly Helping: Replicating and Extending the Association with Callous Unemotional Traits in Male Adolescents. PLoS One. 2016 Mar 15;11(3):e0151678. PubMed PMID: 26977935
  • Boulos PK, Dalwani MS, Tanabe J, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Banich MT, Crowley TJ, Sakai JT. Brain Cortical Thickness Differences in Adolescent Females with Substance Use Disorders. PLoS One. 2016 Apr 6;11(4):e0152983. PubMed PMID: 27049765
  • Boulos PK, Dalwani MS, Tanabe J, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Banich MT, Crowley TJ, Sakai JT. Brain Cortical Thickness Differences in Adolescent Females with Substance Use Disorders. PLoS One. 2016;11(4):e0152983. PubMed PMID: 27049765
  • Sakai JT, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, McWilliams SK, Raymond KM, Crowley TJ. A Behavioral Measure of Costly Helping: Replicating and Extending the Association with Callous Unemotional Traits in Male Adolescents. PLoS One. 2016;11(3):e0151678. PubMed PMID: 26977935
  • Coors ME, Raymond KM, Hopfer CJ, Sakai J, McWilliams SK, Young S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK. Adolescents with substance use disorder and assent/consent: Empirical data on understanding biobank risks in genomic research. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2016 Feb 1;159:267-71. PubMed PMID: 26774949
  • Sakai JT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Young SE, Rhee SH, McWilliams SK, Dunn R, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Thurstone C, Hopfer CJ. Adolescent Male Conduct-Disordered Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment: Examining the "Limited Prosocial Emotions" Specifier. J Child Adolesc Subst Abuse. 2016;25(6):613-625. PubMed PMID: 28979087
  • Chumachenko SY, Sakai JT, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Dunn R, Tanabe J, Young S, McWilliams SK, Banich MT, Crowley TJ. Brain cortical thickness in male adolescents with serious substance use and conduct problems. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2015 Sep;41(5):414-24. PubMed PMID: 26337200
  • Crowley TJ, Dalwani MS, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Young SE, Sakai JT, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Roark MJ, Banich MT. Adolescents' Neural Processing of Risky Decisions: Effects of Sex and Behavioral Disinhibition. PLoS One. 2015;10(7):e0132322. PubMed PMID: 26176860
  • Dalwani MS, McMahon MA, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Young SE, Regner MF, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Banich MT, Tanabe JL, Crowley TJ, Sakai JT. Female adolescents with severe substance and conduct problems have substantially less brain gray matter volume. PLoS One. 2015;10(5):e0126368. PubMed PMID: 26000879
  • Krmpotich T, Mikulich-Gilbertson S, Sakai J, Thompson L, Banich MT, Tanabe J. Impaired Decision-Making, Higher Impulsivity, and Drug Severity in Substance Dependence and Pathological Gambling. J Addict Med. 2015 Jul-Aug;9(4):273-80. PubMed PMID: 25918968
  • Regner MF, Dalwani M, Yamamoto D, Perry RI, Sakai JT, Honce JM, Tanabe J. Sex Differences in Gray Matter Changes and Brain-Behavior Relationships in Patients with Stimulant Dependence. Radiology. 2015 Jul 14;:142541. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 26133201
  • Dalwani MS, Tregellas JR, Andrews-Hanna JR, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Raymond KM, Banich MT, Crowley TJ, Sakai JT. Default mode network activity in male adolescents with conduct and substance use disorder. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jan 1;134:242-50. PubMed PMID: 24210423
  • Schuermeyer J, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Price RK, Balan S, Thurstone C, Min SJ, Sakai JT. Temporal trends in marijuana attitudes, availability and use in Colorado compared to non-medical marijuana states: 2003-11. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jul 1;140:145-55. PubMed PMID: 24837585
  • Salomonsen-Sautel S, Min SJ, Sakai JT, Thurstone C, Hopfer C. Trends in fatal motor vehicle crashes before and after marijuana commercialization in Colorado. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jul 1;140:137-44. PubMed PMID: 24831752
  • Dalwani MS, Tregellas JR, Andrews-Hanna JR, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Raymond KM, Banich MT, Crowley TJ, Sakai JT. Default mode network activity in male adolescents with conduct and substance use disorder. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014 Jan 1;134:242-50. PubMed PMID: 24210423
  • Melroy WE, Stephens SH, Sakai JT, Kamens HM, McQueen MB, Corley RP, Stallings MC, Hopfer CJ, Krauter KS, Brown SA, Hewitt JK, Ehringer MA. Examination of genetic variation in GABRA2 with conduct disorder and alcohol abuse and dependence in a longitudinal study. Behav Genet. 2014 Jul;44(4):356-67. PubMed PMID: 24687270
  • Thurstone C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Hartman CA, Sakai JT, Hoffenberg AS, McQueen MB, Min SJ, Crowley TJ, Corley RP, Hewitt JK, Hopfer CJ. Prevalence and predictors of injection drug use and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents in substance treatment. Am J Addict. 2013 Nov-Dec;22(6):558-65. PubMed PMID: 24131163
  • Tanabe J, York P, Krmpotich T, Miller D, Dalwani M, Sakai JT, Mikulich-Gilbertson SK, Thompson L, Claus E, Banich M, Rojas DC. Insula and orbitofrontal cortical morphology in substance dependence is modulated by sex. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013 Jun-Jul;34(6):1150-6. PubMed PMID: 23153869
  • Hopfer C, Salomonsen-Sautel S, Mikulich-Gilbertson S, Min SJ, McQueen M, Crowley T, Young S, Corley R, Sakai J, Thurstone C, Hoffenberg A, Hartman C, Hewitt J. Conduct disorder and initiation of substance use: a prospective longitudinal study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013 May;52(5):511-518.e4. PubMed PMID: 23622852
View All (46 Total) View Less

Professional Memberships

  • College on Problems of Drug Dependence, Member
  • Research Society on Alcoholism, Member

Practice Locations

UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)
12605 E. 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-848-0000

Department of Psychiatry - Faculty and Staff Mental Health
1890 N Revere Ct
Anschutz Health Sciences Bldg, Suite 5242
Aurora, CO 80045
303-724-4987

Hospital Affiliation
  • University of Colorado Hospital

Specialty Information

Specialties
  • Psychiatry, Board Certification (2003)
  • Addiction Psychiatry, Board Certification (2004)
Conditions & Treatments
  • Substance Abuse - Smoking Cessation
  • Substance Abuse - Drug Abuse
  • Substance Abuse - Alcoholism
  • Substance Abuse
  • Mental Health and Behavior
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Anxiety
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Bereavement
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Bipolar Disorder
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Depression
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Panic Disorder
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Mental Health and Behavior - Stress

General Information

Medical Schools:
  • MD, Tulane University School of Medicine (1997)
Undergraduate Schools:
  • BA, Pomona College (1993)
Internships:
  • University of Colorado (1998)
Residency Programs:
  • University of Colorado, Psychiatry (2001)
Fellowships:
  • University of Colorado, Addiction Psychiatry (2003)
Languages: English
Department: Psychiatry-Substance Dependence
SOM Resources
CU Resources
Contact Us
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Campus Box C290
Aurora, CO 80045

Update My Profile
;