Benson S. Ku, MD
Dr. Benson Ku, MD, is a psychiatrist at Grady who specializes in caring for adolescents and young adults experiencing early signs of psychosis. He provides care through Grady’s Achieving Recovery through Resilience, Optimism, and Wellness (ARROW) program, helping patients and families navigate a first episode of psychosis with compassionate, coordinated treatment and support.
Dr. Ku is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding why some young people are at greater risk of developing psychosis and how factors such as where they live and their environment can affect mental health.
Through his clinical care and research, Dr. Ku works to identify psychosis earlier, improve treatment, and help young people achieve better long-term health and recovery.
Board Certifications
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Affiliations
Emory
Education & Training
- Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
- Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
Fellowships
Emory University School of Medicine
Locations and Directions
Behavioral Health Outpatient Center
Monday - Friday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Grady Memorial Hospital
OPEN 24 HOURS
Visiting hours are from 8 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. daily
Publications
- Hippocampal volume and persistent distressing psychotic-like experiences across early adolescence: the moderating role of physical activity.
Ku BS, Arrant EJ, Damme KSF, Walker EF
Schizophrenia research. 2026;
PMID: 42832871 - Epigenetic C-reactive protein and corticolimbic gray matter volume in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis.
Ku BS, Xu Y, Goldsmith DR, Sawyers C, Addington J, Bearden CE, Cadenhead KS, Cannon TD, Carrion RE, Keshavan MS, Mathalon DH, Stone WS, Woods SW, Walker EF, Perkins DO, Bozack AK
Brain, behavior, and immunity. 2026;
PMID: 42805423 - Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and mental health among US veterans.
Fischer IC, Na PJ, Jeste DV, Ku BS, Pietrzak RH
World psychiatry : official journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). 2026;25(3):486-487.
PMID: 42742621 - Right hippocampal volume and attenuated psychotic symptoms distinguish subgroups of youth with common patterns of temporoparietal effective connectivity.
Aberizk K, Ku BS, Cao H, Schleifer CH, Addington JM, Bearden CE, Cadenhead KS, Cannon TD, Carrión RE, Keshavan M, Mathalon DH, Perkins DO, Stone WS, Woods SW, Walker EF
Brain structure & function. 2026;
PMID: 42570037 - Deconstructing Social Functioning in Psychosis Risk-From Prediction to Recovery.
Carrión RE, Ku BS, Correll CU
JAMA psychiatry. 2026;
PMID: 42555054 - Neighborhood opportunity, white matter, and cognition in a large pediatric neuroimaging study.
Yildiz-Ozhan N, Ku BS, Zekelman LR, Zurrin R, Zhang F, O'Donnell LJ, Rathi Y, Seitz-Holland J, Cetin-Karayumak S
Translational psychiatry. 2026;
PMID: 42248835 - Neighborhood Deprivation Is Associated with Accelerated Epigenetic Aging Via Greater Individual Adversity.
Koirala A, Shields JR, Vijan AS, Wemm S, Xu K, Ku BS, Sinha R, Harvanek ZM
medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences. 2026;
PMID: 42094156 - Neighborhood Characteristics and Psychosis Risk Across Development.
Ku BS, Arrant EJ, Walker EF
Schizophrenia research. 2026;
PMID: 42055526 - Social withdrawal and hippocampal volume among adolescents at clinical high risk for psychosis and healthy comparisons: The moderating role of neighborhood residential stability.
Ku BS, Arrant EJ, Yuan QE, Aberizk KM, Addington JM, Bearden CE, Cadenhead KS, Cannon TD, Carrión RE, Keshavan MS, Mathalon DH, Perkins DO, Stone WS, Woods SW, Walker EF
Schizophrenia research. 2026;
PMID: 41955767 - Neighborhood social fragmentation and cerebello-thalamo-cortical connectivity in youth at clinical high-risk for psychosis and healthy comparisons.
Ku BS, Arrant EJ, Addington J, Bearden CE, Cadenhead KS, Cannon TD, Carrion RE, Keshavan MS, Mathalon DH, Stone WS, Woods SW, Walker EF, Perkins DO, Cao H
Brain and environment. 2026;
PMID: 41907310
PLANNING
PREPARING FOR YOUR VISIT
Whether you’re a patient or you’re visiting one, a little planning beforehand can make your visit to Grady easier and more comfortable. Here, you’ll find everything you need to prepare for your visit, including an appointment checklist, admissions information, dining options, and much more.