John Zajecka MD

Neuropsychiatry, Psychopharmacology

Professor of Psychiatry and the Director of the Woman’s Board Depression Treatment and Research Center at Rush University Medical Center Chicago, IL Founding Partner, Psychiatric Medicine Associates, LLC Skokie, IL

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4711 Golf RdSte 1200Skokie, IL 60076
Phone+1 847-679-8000
Fax+1 847-679-8002

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Summary

John Zajecka, MD is a psychiatrist based in Chicago, IL, with sub-specialties in Neuropsychiatry and Psychopharmacology. He is a Professor of Psychiatry, and the Director of the Woman's Board Depression Treatment Research Center at Rush University Medical Center, and is a founding partner at Psychiatric Medicine Associates, LLC in Skokie, IL where he has a private practice and does clinical research trials. His medical education was completed at Rush University Medical Center and Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, after completing his undergraduate degree from Marquette University. Dr. Zajecka has extensive experience in the management of treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, and related conditions. He has carried out over 100 multiple clinical trials with a focus on treatment-resistant mood disorders and other psychiatric conditions. His clinical research led to the approval of many novel treatments including vagus nerve stimulation. He was awarded NIH-funding to study CBT and pharmacotherapy in preventing recurrence in depression, and a landmark trial to study an antidepressant combined with a mood stabilizer in bipolar depression. More recent research include psychedelics in managing psychiatric conditions, deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression, and other novel treatment approaches. He has made numerous contributions to scholarly publications and received many citations. He serves on the scientific advisory boards for the National Depressive Bipolar Support Alliance and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is also the founder of the Cherly T. Herman Foundation. Throughout his career he has educated, mentored, and inspired countless clinicians, as well as the community to address the unmet needs of psychiatric disorders. His work in the field of Psychiatry has earned him various awards including a Regional Top Doctor award from Castle Connolly since 2014.

Education & Training

Rush University Medical CenterResidency, Psychiatry, 1984 - 1988
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of MedicineClass of 1984
Marquette UniversityBA, Psychology, Magna Cum Laude, 1976 - 1980

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Certifications & Licensure

IL State Medical License 1985 - 2029
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychiatry

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

Special Recognition Award for the Training of Psychiatric Residents 1991, 1995, 2025
Regional Top Doctor Castle Connolly, 2014
The Lawrence Summers Memorial Award 2000

Clinical Trials

Treatment-Resistant Depression Registry
COMPLETED
A 12-Week, Placebo Controlled Trial of Ziprasidone as Monotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder
COMPLETED
PHASE2
Prevention of Relapse & Recurrence of Bipolar Depression Start of enrollment: 2009 Jul 01
COMPLETED
PHASE4

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Impact of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Suicidal Ideation in Markedly Treatment-Resistant Major Depression: A RECOVER Study Report.
Vasilis C Hristidis, Victoria De Leon, Andrew D Van Der Vaart, Harold A Sackeim, A John Rush
The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. 2026-07-08
7 citations
Durability of the benefit of vagus nerve stimulation in markedly treatment-resistant major depression: a RECOVER trial report.
Charles R Conway, Augustus John Rush, Scott T Aaronson, Mark T Bunker, Charles Gordon
The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology. 2026-01-06
3 citations
The Use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) in the Management of Patients with Difficult-to-Treat Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): An Expert Consensus Statement.
R Hamish McAllister-Williams, Gustavo Alva, Michael Banov, Charles R Conway, Cristina Cusin
Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2026-01-01

Journal Articles

Association of obesity and inflammatory marker levels on treatment outcome: Results from a double-blind, randomized study of adjunctive L-methylfolate calcium in pati...
Shelton RC, Pencina MJ, Barrentine LW, Ruiz JA, Fava M, Zajecka JM, Papakostas GI, J Clin Psychiatry, 1/1/2015
The pro-inflammatory profile of depressed patients is (partly) related to obesity
Shelton R, Falola M, Papakostas G, Zajecka J, Barrentine L, Ruiz J, Fava M, J Psych Research, 1/1/2015
A Randomized, placebo-controlled, active-reference, double-blind, flexible-dose tudy of the efficacy of vortioxetine on cognitive function in major depressive disorder
Mahableshwarkar AR, Zajecka J, Jacobson W, Chen Y, Keefe RSE, Neuropsychopharm, 1/1/2015

Books/Book Chapters

Second Generation Antipsychotic Medications in the Treatment of Affective Disorders
Chapter: Antipsychotic Drugs:P Pharmacology, Side Effects and Abuse Prevention
Goldstein CN, Topel ME, Zajecka JMEditors: Schwartz TL, Megna J, Topel ME.Nova Biomedical2013
Depression: Treatment Strategies and Management
Chapter: Combining Medications to Achieve Remission
Zajecka J, Goldstein CEditors: Schwartz TL, Petersen T.Informa Healthcare, LondonEdition 2nd,2009
Handbook of Treating Depression/Depression: Treatment Strategies and Management
Chapter: Combining Drug Treatments to Achieve Remission
Zajecka J, Goldstein C, Barowski JEditors: Schwartz TL, Petersen T.Taylor and Francis Group, New York, NY2006

Abstracts/Posters

Association of ob esity and levels of inflammatory markers on outcome with adjunctive L-methylfolate in MDD patients who are inadequate responders to SSRIs
Shelton R, Pancina M, Barrentine L, Ruiz J, Papakostas G, Zajecka J, Fava M, Biological Psychiatry, Toronto, Canada, 1/1/2015
Symptomatic response to lamotrigine maintenance in bipolar I disorder
Gyulai L, Zajecka JM, Forrester BR, et al, APA, San Francisco, CA, 1/1/2003
A double-blind, randomized trial of st. john's wort, fluoxetine and placebo in major depressive disorder
Fava M, Alpert J, Nierenberg AA, Mischoulon D, Otto M, Zajecka J, et al, APA/NIMH NCDEU, Philadelphia, PA, 2002; Boca Raton, Florida, 2002, 1/1/2002

Lectures

Strategies for the Treatment of Anxious Depression
162nd Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA
Strategies for the Treatment of Anxious Depression
American Psychiatric Association, 162nd Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California, USA

Other

Introduction to Bipolar Disorder with Dr. John Zajecka
Zajecka J, National Depressive and Bipolar Support Alliance
1/1/2013
Assessing and Managing Residual Depressive Symptoms in the Continuation/Maintenance Phase of Treatment
Zajecka J, Teleconference series, “Residual Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder: Prevalence, Effects, and Ma
1/1/2012
Treatment-resistant depression: benefits of tricyclic antidepressants
Goldstein C, Zajecka J, Monograph, CNS News
New York, New York - 1/1/2005