Skip to main content
Michael Ostacher, MD, Psychiatry, Palo Alto, CA

MichaelJoshuaOstacherMDMPH, MMSc

Psychiatry Palo Alto, CA

Addiction, Psychopharmacology

Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

Dr. Ostacher is on Doximity

As a Doximity member you'll join over two million verified healthcare professionals in a private, secure network.

  • Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
  • Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
  • Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.

See Dr. Ostacher's full profile

Already have an account?

  • Office

    VA Palo Alto HCS
    3801 Miranda Ave 151T
    Palo Alto, CA 94304
    Phone+1 650-493-5000
    Fax+1 888-256-2894

Education & Training

  • Harvard Medical School
    Harvard Medical SchoolM.M.Sc, 2010
  • Harvard Medical School Cambridge Health Alliance
    Harvard Medical School Cambridge Health Alliance1996 - 1997
  • Harvard Medical School Cambridge Hospital
    Harvard Medical School Cambridge HospitalPublic Psychiatry, 1992 - 1994
  • Harvard School of Public Health
    Harvard School of Public HealthM.P.H, 1994
  • Cambridge Health Alliance
    Cambridge Health AllianceResidency, Psychiatry, 1989 - 1992
  • Cambridge Health Alliance
    Cambridge Health AllianceInternship, Transitional Year, 1988 - 1989
  • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    Vanderbilt University School of MedicineClass of 1988, MD
  • Wesleyan University
    Wesleyan UniversityB.A, Honors in the College of Letters, 1978 - 1982

Certifications & Licensure

  • CA State Medical License
    CA State Medical License 2009 - 2025
  • MA State Medical License
    MA State Medical License 1990 - 2011
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Psychiatry
  • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology Addiction Psychiatry
  • American Board of Preventive Medicine Addiction Medicine

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

  • Scholars in Clinical Science Program Harvard Medical School, 2008
  • Honors in the College of Letters Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 1982

Clinical Trials

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

Journal Articles

  • Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder  
    Michael J Ostacher, Adam S Cifu, JAMA
  • Aims and Results of the NIMH Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder (STEP-BD).  
    Bowden CL, Perlis RH, Thase ME, Ketter TA, Ostacher MM, Calabrese JR, Reilly-Harrington NA, Gonzalez JM, Singh V, Nierenberg AA, Sachs GS, CNS Neurosci Ther
  • Bipolar and substance use disorder comorbidity: Diagnostic and treatment considerations.  
    Ostacher MJ, Focus
  • Join now to see all

Books/Book Chapters

  • Join now to see all

Abstracts/Posters

  • The Impact of Caffeine, Nicotine, and Alcohol on Outcome in Bipolar Disorder: A STEP-BD Examination.
    Ostacher MJ, Hoblyn J, Perlis RH, Society of Biological Psychiatry, Philadelphia, PA
  • STEP-BD: lessons learned, outcomes and directions.
    Ostacher MJ, Society of Biological Psychiatry's 65th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA
  • Neuropsychological functioning in patients with bipolar disorder with and without a history of substance use disorders.
    Ostacher MJ, Nierenberg AA, Perlis RH, Deckersbach T, 48th American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting, Hollywood, FL
  • Join now to see all

Lectures

  • Rethinking comorbid substance use disorders in bipolar disorder. 
    The 160th American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA
  • How do you know if the medication is working in patients with bipolar disorder? 
    The 162nd American Psychiatric Association Meeting, San Francisco, CA
  • Do a few drinks really matter?: the impact of drugs and alcohol in bipolar disorder. 
    Grand Rounds, Temple University School of Medicine. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Join now to see all

Press Mentions

  • Can a Monthly Injection Be the Key to Curbing Addiction? These Experts Say Yes
    Can a Monthly Injection Be the Key to Curbing Addiction? These Experts Say YesMay 6th, 2022
  • MGH Psychiatry Explains Bipolar Disorder to Probation Officers
    MGH Psychiatry Explains Bipolar Disorder to Probation OfficersApril 10th, 2009
  • The Case for MDMA's Approval Is Riddled with Problems
    The Case for MDMA's Approval Is Riddled with ProblemsJune 7th, 2024

Committees

  • Co-Chair, Bipolar Disorder Task Group, National Network of Depression Centers 2012 - Present