Education
- 1995 Medical Degree, “summa cum laude”, School of Medicine, State University of Milan.
- 1995−1999 Residency in Psychiatry, State University of Milan; 1999, Specialization in Psychiatry, “summa cum laude”, State University of Milan.
- 2004 Doctoral Degree (PhD) in Psychiatry, Maastricht University (The Netherlands). Research topic: “Respiration and panic”
Research activities
- 1996-2004 Research Assistant at Anxiety Disorders Unit (Director, Prof. Laura Bellodi), Clinical Neuroscience Department San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute-University, Milan.
- 2004-2008 Postdoctoral Fellow, Anxiety Disorders Unit, Clinical Neuroscience Department San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute-University, Milan. Research topic: “Psychophysiology of homeostatic systems in Panic Disorder” (MED/25 Psychiatry)
- 2005-2007 Collaborator in the Funded Research Project “Neuropsychological approach to the comprehension of behavior in psychiatric disorders” (PRIN 2005-2007 – Prot. 2005069457), Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Minister for Education. University and Research (MIUR).
- 2009-pres, Coordinator of Scientific Research at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, San Benedetto Menni Hospital, Albese con Cassano (Como).
- 2015 Collaborator in the Funded Research Project (4 years) “Are Anxiety Disorders associated with cognitive decline and molecular mechanisms of dementia? A multi-centric Italian study in middle-aged and older patients and controls” (Cariplo Foundation, N°Grant: 2014:0664), Department of Clinical Neuroscience, San Benedetto Menni Hospital, Albese con Cassano (Como) (www.anchorageteam.it).
Teaching appointments
- 2000-2009 Teaching Staff, Residency School in Psychiatry, Vita-Salute-University, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan.
- 2010-2011 Teaching Staff, Master in Neuropsychiatry and Neuropsychology, LUMSA University, Rome.
- 2018-pres Adjunct Professor in Psychiatry (SSD, MED/25), School of Medicine, Humanitas University.
Clinical activities
- 1999-2009 Psychiatrist, San Raffaele Hospital Clinical Neuroscience Department, Milan.
- 2009-pres Psychiatrist, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, San Benedetto Menni Hospital, Albese con Cassano (Como).
- 2019-pres Psychiatrist, Personalized Medicine Center for Anxiety and Panic Disorders, Humanitas San Pio X, Milan.
Main fields of interest of Dr. Caldirola are the psychophysiology and psychopharmacology of psychiatric disorders, with a specific focus on Anxiety Disorders. In particular, her research field is focused on the identification of biomarkers (diagnostic, prognostic, predictive) of Anxiety Disorders in the framework of evidence-based, personalized medicine approach to psychiatric disorders. In addition, Dr. Caldirola is interested in the study of comorbidity between mental and medical diseases, in terms of underlying mechanisms and impact on clinical symptoms and therapeutic outcomes.
- Caldirola D, Perna G. Toward a personalized therapy for panic disorder: preliminary considerations from a work in progress. Neuropsychiatr Diseases and Treatment, 2019 Jul 11;15:1957-1970
- Perna G, Iannone G, Alciati A, Caldirola D. Are Anxiety Disorders Associated with Accelerated Aging? A Focus on Neuroprogression..Neural Plast. 2016; 2016:8457612. doi: 10.1155/2016/8457612.
- Caldirola D, Schruers KR, Nardi AE, De Berardis D, Fornaro M, Perna G. Is there cardiac risk in panic disorder? An updated systematic review. J Affect Disord. 2016 Apr;194:38-49.
- Caldirola D, Daccò S, Grassi M, Citterio A, Menotti R, Cavedini P, Girardi P, Perna G. Effects of cigarette smoking on neuropsychological performance in mood disorders: a comparison between smoking and nonsmoking inpatients..J Clin Psychiatry, 2013 Feb; 74(2):e130-6.
- Caldirola D, Teggi R, Bondi S, Lopes FL, Grassi M, Bussi M, Perna G. Is there a hypersensitive visual alarm system in panic disorder? .Psychiatry Res., 2011 May 30;187(3):387-91.