Anita H Clayton, MD
Psychiatry
Additional Locations
Bio & Overview
Dr. Anita Clayton’s clinical practice and research interests focus on women’s mental health and sexual dysfunctions. She is the Wilford W. Spradlin Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, with a secondary appointment as professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology. She is board certified in psychiatry and neurology.
Dr. Clayton was born in Pensacola, FL, where her father was stationed as a Navy pilot; she grew up traveling throughout the world for her father’s assignments. She finished high school in Virginia Beach and then attended the University of Virginia for her undergraduate and medical degrees. She also completed her internship and residency in behavioral medicine and psychiatry at UVA. Dr. Clayton then served as a U.S. Navy physician for four years before returning to join the faculty at UVA in 1990.
Married for 34 years, Dr. Clayton has a son, a daughter and three stepsons. She enjoys traveling and the arts.
Academic Information
- Department
- Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences
- Academic Role
- Professor
- Division
- Psychiatric Medicine
- Research Interests
- Psychopharmacology|Sexual dysfunction with psychiatric illness and treatment|Sexual disorders|Depressive disorders associated with the female reproductive cycle
- Gender
- Female
- Languages
- English
- Age Groups Seen
- Adults (21-65)
Older Adults (65+)
- Primary Education
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Residency
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Certification
- American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry)
Highlights
Dr. Anita Clayton profile video
I'm Dr. Anita Clayton. I'm in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences, and I also work closely with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. My area of expertise is women's mental health, and that would include areas like reproductive related mood and anxiety disorders in women. Those are areas people don't talk about, so when people get to me they basically are given permission to talk about it. That's a big relief for people. It means that we can do a lot of education. I think UVA has a broad spectrum of care and it has excellence in care. On the inpatient team it's very multidisciplinary. We have psychiatrists and psychiatrists in training, we have psychologists who might do testing, and we have nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, physical therapists. One of the other areas where we have expertise, where there are even fewer providers, is child psychiatry and we have a very strong program in that. I think what's really important to patients is to take that step, to go forward and see a therapist, see a psychologist, see a psychiatrist, whoever you need to see to try to help with the problem that you're experiencing now. Once you start to talk about it, other people chime in and say, "Yes, I've had that" or they're supportive in other ways.
Awards
- 2019-2020 Best Doctors in America® List