The DemystifySci Podcast Inside the Mind of a Psychotic - Dr. Ragy Girgis, DemystifySci #410
Mar 15, 2026
Dr. Ragy Girgis, a Columbia psychiatrist and neuropsychiatrist specializing in schizophrenia and AI-related psychosis, discusses rising psychological breakdowns. He explores limits of current mental-health frameworks. Conversations touch on medication culture, the power of relationships and community, and how social media and AI can mirror and reinforce harmful thinking.
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Expectancy Effects Inflate Medication Outcomes
- Placebo/expectancy effects drive a large part of antidepressant benefit; number needed to treat shows medication-specific effect is smaller than perceived overall improvement.
- Girgis explains number needed to treat ~7 (≈14% medication-specific benefit) while overall response rates including expectancy reach 60–70%.
Leverage The Therapeutic Relationship Intentionally
- Use the therapeutic relationship deliberately because transference and expectancy produce measurable clinical benefits.
- Girgis highlights psychodynamic techniques (transference-focused therapy) as mechanisms that harness expectancy to help mild–moderate cases.
Denied Access To Exorcisms But Saw Videos
- Girgis recounts attempts to view real exorcisms and being denied access because exorcists feared nonbelievers might be at risk.
- He saw videos instead and notes exorcisms resemble 'flight into health' phenomena seen in prayer healing.
