Psychiatrist Awais Aftab discusses criticisms of psychiatry, rising rates of mental illness, and the public health approach to treatment. He also explores the difficulty of interpreting psychiatric studies and the dismissal of useful treatments like antidepressants by critics.

Awais Aftab, a psychiatrist in Cleveland and Clinical Assistant Professor at Case Western Reserve University, explores the dynamic intersection of philosophy and psychiatry. He shares insights from his journey and emphasizes the significance of 'conceptual competence' in transforming mental health care. Aftab discusses disparities in psychiatric practices between Pakistan and the US, and how critical psychiatry challenges established views, particularly regarding psychotropic medications. His interview series promotes constructive dialogues, encouraging a respectful, nuanced approach to treatment.

Schizophrenia researcher E. Fuller Torrey and philosopher Awais Aftab discuss the genetic origins of schizophrenia. They question whether schizophrenia should be categorized as 'mostly genetic' and explore biases in twin studies and the interpretation of heritability numbers. They also explore the role of genetic and environmental factors in schizophrenia and debunk the misconception that genetic causes are less desirable. The podcast concludes by discussing different perspectives on classifying schizophrenia as an autoimmune, viral, or genetic disease.