About Me
As a psychiatrist at NYU Langone, I am dedicated to providing compassionate care to my patients. My journey into medicine began as a humanities major in college. I was drawn to medicine as the ultimate humane and intellectually stimulating profession, and I have found my calling in the field of psychiatry, particularly in the treatment of schizophrenia.
With over 40 years of experience, I specialize in the management and study of schizophrenia. My extensive background includes both clinical care and research, allowing me to offer a unique blend of practical experience and cutting-edge knowledge. I have dedicated my career to understanding existing treatments and developing new, more effective approaches. My credentials and decades of practice underscore my expertise in this challenging field.
Throughout my career, I have emphasized the importance of second opinions and consultations, especially when treatment responses are unsatisfactory. My work has involved studying new pharmacologic treatments and exploring innovative neuromodulation approaches, such as using ultrasound to stimulate specific brain regions. Additionally, my team is investigating autoantibodies as potential treatment targets for some individuals with schizophrenia.
My educational journey and professional development have been driven by a deep commitment to helping patients with schizophrenia. I have received several prestigious awards, including the Wayne Fenton Award for Exceptional Clinical Care and the Research Award from the American Psychiatric Association. These recognitions reflect my dedication to quality patient care and my ongoing contributions to the field of psychiatric research.
At NYU Langone, I primarily offer consultation and second opinions. My goal is to build trust and rapport with each patient, leveraging my extensive experience and the latest research to provide the best possible outcomes.
Conditions and Treatments
Conditions
- schizophrenia
Treatments
- post covid-19 care
Learn more about conditions we treat at NYU Langone:
SchizophreniaCredentials
Positions
- Marvin Stern Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
- Vice Chair, Research, Department of Psychiatry
Board Certifications
- American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology - Psychiatry, 1986
Education and Training
- Fellowship, Tufts Medical Center, Psychiatry, 1985
- Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatry, 1984
Is this your profile?
Edit profileInsurance Plans Accepted
This provider accepts the following insurance plans.
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Aetna
- AETNA EPO (NYULH Employees)
- AETNA EPO (Sunset Park Employees)
- Aetna EPO (AMEX employees)
- Aetna POS (American Express Employer)
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Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
- BCBS EPO (BlackRock Employees)
- BCBS EPO (LICH Employees)
- BCBS PPO (BlackRock Employees)
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United Healthcare
- United Healthcare (NY University Care Plan)
- United Healthcare Choice (AMEX employees)
- United Healthcare Choice (Blackrock employees)
- United Healthcare Choice (CBS employees)
- United Healthcare Choice (Simon and Schuster)
- United Healthcare EPO (NYU Langone Health Employees)
- United Healthcare EPO (Sunset Park Employees)
- United Healthcare Indemnity (NYU Langone Health Employees)
- United Healthcare NYU Care (NYULH Employees)
- United Healthcare NYU Care (Sunset Park Employees)
- United Healthcare Nexus (Amex Employees)
- United Healthcare Plus (NYU Langone Health Employees)
- United Healthcare Plus (Sunset Park Employees)
- United Healthcare Student Resources (NYU)
- United Healthcare Value, Advantage and HDHP (New York University employees)
Donald C. Goff, MD does not accept insurance.
Locations and Appointments
NYU Langone Psychiatry Associates
1 Park Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016
Research My Research
Research Summary
I study schizophrenia with the goal of developing better treatments. As the medical director of a clinic treating people with schizophrenia, I learned first-hand the shortcomings of available medications and the toll that this illness takes on individuals and their families. Over the years my research has included the use of neuroimaging, genetics and other biomarkers to guide drug discovery. I’ve also been studying the early course of psychosis to identify factors that may contribute to clinical deterioration in the hopes of developing preventive measures to improve longer-term outcomes.
One new direction that my research has taken is neuromodulation. In collaboration with Drs. Wei Qi and Shy Shohan, I’m exploring the use of transcranial focused ultrasound to noninvasively activate a brain circuit that we identified as playing a key role in psychosis. Our preliminary findings are quite promising and we hope this novel approach will become a useful alternative to antipsychotic medication or a supplement to medication for those who have not fully responded.
Another exciting new area of research is the study of autoimmune mechanisms in schizophrenia. My colleague, Dr. Katlyn Nemani, and I found evidence of immune dysfunction in people with schizophrenia that was associated with a three-fold increase in COVID-related mortality compared to the general population. Our current work suggests that autoantibodies may play an important role in causing psychosis in a substantial percentage of people with schizophrenia. We are characterizing autoantibodies in schizophrenia with the goal of identifying people who might be successfully treated with immunotherapy.
I am quite optimistic that our research in the areas of neuromodulation and autoimmunity might transform the treatment of this difficult illness.
Academic Contact
Academic office
One Park Avenue
Eighth Floor
New York, NY 10016
Phone
Research Interests Timeline
Clinical Trials and Research Studies
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A 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial investigating the effects of Levetiracetam in early psychosis
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CLOZAPINE FOR THE PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
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A sham-controlled pilot trial of focused ultrasound modulation of the globus pallidus interna in schizophrenia
Publications
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Goff, Donald C
Journal of clinical psychopharmacology. 2025 Mar-Apr 01; 45(2):63-64
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Sui, Yu Veronica...
Molecular psychiatry. 2025 Jan 08;
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Kitaj, Max; Goff, Donald C
Harvard review of psychiatry. 2024 Jul 01; 32(4):160-163