Charles Raison

Charles Raison, a psychiatrist and co-author of 'The New Mind-Body Science of Depression,' discusses the intriguing link between inflammation and depression. He questions the very existence of major depression and explores how inflammation can arise from both physical illness and psychological stress. Raison highlights the surprising benefits of short-term inflammation through exercise and sauna use, and the potential of intermittent fasting. He also emphasizes the importance of personalized treatment approaches for mental health.

David Olson, a neuroscientist pioneering non-hallucinogenic treatments, joins psychiatrist Charles Raison and retired psychologist Rachel Harris to explore the dual nature of psychedelics in mental health. They debate whether profound experiences or molecular changes drive healing. The trio discusses the evolution of psychiatric practices, the potential of psychedelics versus traditional antidepressants, and the spiritual wisdom from underground healers. Engaging personal stories reveal the transformative power of psychedelics and the importance of women's voices in this burgeoning field.

Charles Raison Charles Raison, M.D. is a professor at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Founding Director of the Center for Compassion Studies in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Arizona. Dr. Raison’s research focuses on inflammation and the development of depression in response to illness and stress. He also examines the physical and behavioral effects of compassion training on the brain, inflammatory processes, and behavior as well as the effect of heat stress as a potentially therapeutic intervention major depressive disorder. In this episode, you'll discover: (00:00) Introduction (06:26) Role of inflammation in depression (10:08) Evolutionary mechanism (16:19) Genetics of depression (22:57) How obesity causes depression biochemically (33:32) Does exercise treat depression (36:08) Hyperthermia as treatment (46:08) Inflammation promotes depression (53:39) Did we evolve to need hormetic stress? (01:03:38) Heat-shock proteins (01:06:10) Repurposing ancient wisdom (01:17:31) Psychedelics and meditation (01:27:51) What is the role of conventional pharmacotherapy? (01:35:19) Lifestyle modifications for depression (01:42:21) Why light and circadian rhythm are important for mental health If you’re interested in learning more, you can read the full show notes here. Join over 300,000 people and get the latest distilled information on depression straight to your inbox weekly: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/newsletter Become a FoundMyFitness premium member to get access to exclusive episodes, emails, live Q+A’s with Rhonda and more: https://www.foundmyfitness.com/crowdsponsor