Dr. Theodore A. Henderson, MD, PhD

Expert Publications

• Development of the alpha7 nicotinic cholinergic receptor in rat hippocampal formation.
• Aggression, mania, and hypomania induction associated with atomoxetine.
• Mania induction associated with atomoxetine.
• The diagnosis and evaluation of dementia and mild cognitive impairment with emphasis on SPECT perfusion neuroimaging.
• Valacyclovir treatment of chronic fatigue in adolescents.
• Functional Neuroimaging Distinguishes Posttraumatic Stress Disorder from Traumatic Brain Injury in Focused and Large Community Datasets.
• Near-infrared photonic energy penetration: can infrared phototherapy effectively reach the human brain?
• Treatments for traumatic brain injury with emphasis on transcranial near-infrared laser phototherapy.
• SPECT Perfusion Imaging Demonstrates Improvement of Traumatic Brain Injury With Transcranial Near-infrared Laser Phototherapy.
• Practical application of the neuroregenerative properties of ketamine: real world treatment experience.
• Multi-watt near-infrared light therapy as a neuroregenerative treatment for traumatic brain injury.
• Multi-Watt Near-Infrared Phototherapy for the Treatment of Comorbid Depression: An Open-Label Single-Arm Study.
• PET and Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography in Brain Concussion.

Media Releases

Get to know Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist Dr. Theodore A. Henderson, who serves patients in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Henderson is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist & psychopharmacology expert with extensive training and experience in radiology, nuclear medicine, psychopharmacology, brain sciences, laser technology, and psychiatric genetics. He is the Co-Founder of Neuro-Luminance Brain Health Centers, Inc., the Director of The Synaptic Space, and Medical Director of a private psychiatry practice in Denver, Colorado.

Dr. Henderson has developed new and unique treatments using a variety of modalities. He currently holds three patents and has a patent-pending. In particular, he has two patents on using infrared light therapy to treat brain injury and other neurological and/or psychiatric conditions. Proud of his patients’ responses to his methodology and treatments, Dr. Henderson has specific expertise treating traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, dementia, and fibromyalgia.

Academically, he attended medical school and graduate school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, earning both an MD and a PhD. While in medical school, he studied heart pathology under Dr. Vernon Fischer. He earned an American Heart Association Medical Student Research Fellowship. His graduate work focused on how the brain develops its complex organization. After completing graduate school in 1992, he returned to the clinical years of medical school while simultaneously being awarded NIH research funding for his ongoing research. He graduated medical school in 1994 and continued his dual track of Medicine and research. 1997, he was awarded the National Institute of Mental Health Outstanding Resident Award for his ongoing efforts in child abuse prevention and neurobiological research.

Wanting to further his education, Dr. Henderson trained for one year in radiology, focusing on neuroimaging and pediatrics. With this strong base, he then undertook a residency in psychiatry at Washington University’s program at Barnes/Jewish Hospitals in St. Louis, and completed a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Colorado. This included additional specialization in programs specifically for children and adults with autism, mental retardation, and other developmental disabilities. 

Dr. Henderson has always been passionate about helping his community. In 1991, he founded the Child Abuse Prevention Task Force at Saint Louis University while in medical school. This program taught children, parents, and teachers about child sexual abuse and how to prevent it. Each year, this program reached over 8,000 children throughout the metro St. Louis area, primarily in the poor inner-city schools. The program was awarded numerous awards, including a Saint Louis University Community Service Award, Commendations from the school districts, and an award from the American Medical Student Association. He also wrote a training manual on this program that was implemented at other medical schools and he co-wrote a book chapter in the book, A Parent’s & Teacher’s Handbook on Identifying and Preventing Child Abuse (1998).

With a passion for teaching, Dr. Henderson has taught neuroimaging courses, continuing medical education courses, and lectures regularly at national and international meetings. His numerous published works – research articles, lay press articles, book chapters, and books – cover a broad range of topics including infrared light treatment of brain disorders and neuroimaging, as well as unique treatment approaches to depression, chronic fatigue, ADHD, and anxiety.

In good standing with a number of professional organizations, he is an active member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine –Brain Imaging Council, the Society for Neuroscience, the American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society, the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society, and the Phi Sigma Biology Honorary Society. He is currently president of the International Society of Applied Neuroimaging. 

A noted researcher, Dr. Henderson’s work has resulted in scientific and medical breakthroughs. His team’s work was recognized by Discover Magazine as one of the top scientific breakthroughs of 2015. He recently co-authored the procedure guidelines for SPECT brain imaging used by the Canadian Association of Nuclear Medicine. He is a guest editor for a number of journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Neuropsychiatry, and the Journal of Nuclear Medicine.

Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders. These include various maladaptations related to mood, behavior, cognition, and perceptions. Child and adolescent psychiatrists advocate for the mental health, educational and care needs of young people as well as the prevention of disorder and distress and promotion of emotional well-being.

Among his most notable achievements, Dr. Henderson received the Weis Humanitarian Award recognizing outstanding humanitarian care as a medical student. He was also nominated for a Student Life Leadership Award and earned a Departmental Award from the Department of Community and Family Medicine. More recently, he has been the recipient of the Patients; Choice Award (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008), Compassionate Doctor Recognition (2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011), On-Time Doctor Award (2015, 2014), Patients’ Choice 5th Anniversary Award (2015), Top 10 Doctor – Metro Area (2014), and Top 10 Doctor – State (2014).

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