Chris Aiken, MD

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, a psychiatrist and the director of the Mood Treatment Center, dives into the intricate world of bipolar disorder. He reveals how cultural contexts can shape the signs of mania, discussing distinct examples from various communities. Aiken emphasizes the bipolar-unipolar spectrum and the role of circadian rhythms in managing mood disorders. He shares exciting insights about the gut microbiome's impact on mood and offers practical strategies like 'social rhythm therapy' to help stabilize mental health. A thought-provoking exploration of mood in modern life!

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.

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.