Updates from the 2023 International Bipolar Conference, including new diagnostic tools for bipolar disorder. Stanford researchers propose a new subtype of depression.CME: Take the CME Post-Test for this EpisodePublished On: 07/10/2023Duration: 30 minutes, 43 secondsChris Aiken, MD, and Kellie Newsome, PMHNP have disclosed no relevant financial or other interests in any commercial companies pertaining to this educational activity.

Dr. Chris Aiken discusses the risks of anti-anxiety medication in older adults, emphasizing the importance of tapering off to reduce adverse effects. Topics include dangers of deprescribing, risks of abrupt discontinuation, navigating anti-psychotic meds in dementia patients, and guidance on tapering and substituting anxiety medications for the elderly.

Dr. Chris Aiken and Kellie Newsome discuss controversies around Auvelity, a fast-acting antidepressant, examining side effects, addictive potential, and generic components. They explore the combination of dextromethorphan and bupropion, generic substitution risks, treatment options for resistant depression, and concerns about long-term efficacy and medication use.

Learn about stimulant dosing in psychiatry with Chris Aiken, MD and Kellie Newsome, PMHNP. Topics include challenges in diagnosing adult ADHD, risks of high stimulant doses, optimal dosing of Adderall XR, maximizing ADHD treatment, exploring methylphenidate dosage and effects.

Psychiatrist Chris Aiken, MD, and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Kellie Newsome discuss the generic form of Vilazodone, exploring its efficacy in managing depression and anxiety disorders, its impact on treating anxious depression, and its tolerability compared to SSRIs. They highlight the importance of understanding the drug's mechanism of action, onset of action, and remission rates from trials and studies.

Dr. Aiken and Kellie discuss Auvelity, a fast-acting antidepressant, exploring its pharmacodynamics, benefits of pairing with bupropion, and update on treatment-resistant depression trial. They also delve into Aveleti's efficacy in depression treatment and ongoing studies.

Psychiatrist Chris Aiken and PMHNP Kellie Newsome discuss the recent FDA rejection of MDMA therapy for PTSD, exploring issues like boundary violations and functional unblinding. They analyze biases in medication trials, potential risks of MDMA, and the advocacy for its medical use in treating PTSD. The podcast also explores cardiovascular risks of MDMA, therapist influence on patient outcomes, and the need for standardized evaluation methods.

Chris Aiken, MD, a psychiatrist specializing in psychedelic therapy, discusses the FDA panel's rejection of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy and the challenges in accessing such therapy in the United States. The podcast explores contrasting experiences in MDMA therapy, origins of MDMA in therapy, the role of therapists in maintaining boundaries, and the positive effects of MDMA on PTSD symptoms.

Psychiatrist Chris Aiken, MD, and PMHNP Kellie Newsome discuss the interplay between genetics and environmental factors in depression, focusing on the serotonin transporter gene. They explore the impact of serotonin genes on antidepressant response rates, ethnic variations, and traits like stress resilience. The podcast also highlights the correlation between genotype and sensory information processing in babies and the role of the CERT gene in treatment response for PTSD.

Chris Aiken, MD and Kellie Newsome, PMHNP discuss the impact of untreated mental illness on a child's identity, the consequences of ADHD on individuals who have received treatment compared to those who haven't, the role of shame and avoidance in ADHD, and the latest research findings related to ADHD and therapy options.