NYU Langone Insights on Psychiatry

Dr. Christin Drake is Clinical Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity and Equity in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. On this episode, Dr. Drake discusses ongoing efforts to improve mental health equity, including by improving psychiatric services for underserved groups, gathering better data, and boosting diversity among health care providers. She also discusses the importance of integrating mental health care into perinatal services and challenges the conventional wisdom about stigma toward mental health care in the Black community.00:00 Introduction00:55 Dr. Drake's Vision for Equity in Mental Health Care03:46 Addressing Racial Inequities in Psychiatry: A Critical Conversation04:45 The Importance of Representation and Mentorship in Psychiatry10:32 Building Foundations for Health Equity: Data and Systemic Change22:16 Integrating Psychiatric Care into Perinatal Health33:31 Rethinking Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community38:08 Future Projects and Closing ThoughtsThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. John Krystal is Chair of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, which paved the way for the first major new antidepressant drug in decades. Here, Dr. Krystal talks about what we’ve learned in the five years since esketamine nasal spray was approved by the FDA, including efforts to predict treatment response, dosage and frequency, safety, and long-term impact. He also discusses advances in our understanding of alcohol use disorder and weighs in on the search for psychiatric biomarkers.00:00 Introduction01:01 Dr. Krystal's Research Journey03:32 What We’ve Learned Since Esketamine’s FDA Approval05:59 Avoiding Misuse08:11 Optimizing Dosage16:25 Predicting Treatment Outcomes24:17 Ketamine vs. Psychedelics25:48 Advances in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder32:33 Precision Psychiatry and Personalized Treatment Approaches39:49 Psychiatric Biomarkers41:03 The Future of Psychiatric Research and TreatmentThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Robert Findling discusses recent advances in pediatric mental health, including his research on aggression and schizophrenia. He emphasizes the crisis of teen suicide, the impact of COVID-19 on children's mental health, and the need for early interventions. The podcast delves into the loneliness epidemic among children, improving access to pediatric mental health care, and future research on bipolar disorder.

Dr. Charles Nemeroff discusses childhood maltreatment as a risk factor, advances in precision psychiatry, and the potential of psychedelics in disrupting mental health disorders. The podcast also explores the use of psilocybin for anorexia nervosa, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the challenges of prescribing MAOIs.

Dr. Helen Riess discusses the importance of empathy in healthcare, addressing burnout and caregiver support. She highlights the training and development of empathy, the role of leadership, and the benefits of empathy training. The podcast explores the future of empathy training, technology's impact, and the potential of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in enhancing empathetic connections.

Dr. Christopher Pittenger is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and Director of the Yale OCD Research Clinic. In this episode, he discusses the neurobiology, symptomology, and treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including potential new treatments such as psychedelics, neurofeedback, glutamate modulators, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 00:00 Introduction00:41 Why is OCD Underdiagnosed?02:19 Impact of OCD on Individuals03:40 Taboo Nature of OCD Thoughts06:10 Biomarkers08:06 Neurobiology14:20 Serotonin16:48 Heterogeneity of OCD24:00 Glutamate Modulators29:33 Ketamine33:13 Psilocybin38:23 Neurofeedback44:01 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)47:22 Relationship Between Depression and OCD50:24 Future of OCD TreatmentThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Richard Davidson is the William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and Founder & Director of the Center for Healthy Minds.  In this episode, he discusses the current state of research on mindfulness and meditation as mental health interventions.00:00 Introduction02:15 Focus areas in current research04:37 Well-being as a universal intervention06:21 Beyond mindfulness: other forms of meditation 07:24 Four pillars of well-being: awareness, connection, insight, and purpose13:04 Healthy Minds Program and the impact of short daily meditation practices17:05 Comparison of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the Healthy Minds Program, focusing on accessibility and time commitment20:55 The potential for structural changes in the brain with meditation26:24 Integrating mindfulness and meditation into clinical practice28:06 Micro-supports for everyday well-being33:27 Mindfulness and social connection35:06 Future research directions, including the concept of a flourishing cityThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Ronald Kessler is the McNeil Family Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. His groundbreaking work on the social determinants of mental health, studied from an epidemiological perspective, has made him the most widely cited psychiatric researcher in the world.  In this wide-ranging conversation, he talks about precision psychiatry's enormous potential and incremental development, delving into his own efforts to better identify at-risk patients and predict treatment efficacy. Dr. Kessler stresses the need for better data and bigger studies, and envisions a future of AI-supported clinicians.00:00 Introduction00:53 Dr. Kessler's Journey to Precision Psychiatry02:45 The Importance of Data04:14 Risk Factors and Treatment Optimization10:42 Successes and Challenges13:23 The Importance of Baseline Information23:46 Machine Learning in Veterans Health24:27 Determining Suicide Risk25:35 Interventions and Cost-Effectiveness26:16 Esketamine Trials and Response Prediction27:07 Risk Models and Comparative Risk Models27:15 Insomnia Treatment in Military Personnel29:36 Cost-Benefit Analyses35:45 AI in Medicine and Patient Response42:21 Future of Precision Psychiatry45:51 Closing RemarksThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Petros Levounis is President of the American Psychiatric Association and a leader in addiction research. He joins host Thea Gallagher, PsyD, to talk about the latest in addiction medicine, the state of the opioid crisis, the growing problem of technology addiction, and the promise and risks of psychedelic medicine. He also shares his hopes for the future of psychiatry, including better integration of diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes for people with mental health disorders.00:00 Introduction to NYU Langone Insights on Psychiatry00:16 Dr. Levounis's role and priorities as APA president00:46 The State of Addiction Medicine02:12 Neurobiology of Addiction03:37 Interplay Between Mental Health and Addiction06:03 Potential and Challenges of Psychedelic Medicine08:37 Cannabis and Tech Addictions10:11 Addressing the Opioid Crisis: Strategies and Solutions15:28 Addressing Technological Addictions28:55 The Future of Psychiatry: Goals and Aspirations35:47 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsThis discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Starting this fall, we're releasing 12 more conversations with the best minds in psychiatry. Subscribe wherever you're listening, so you won't miss an episode.This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.Senior Producer: Jon Earle