American Journal of Psychiatry Audio

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Jennifer Dwyer, M.D., Ph.D., and Awais Aftab, M.D., about the physiology of three major endocrine systems and about the evidence for hormone-based interventions in the treatment of major depressive disorder. Dr. Dwyer is an assistant professor at Yale University, where she is affiliated with the Child Study Center and the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging. Dr. Aftab is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. He is also an attending psychiatrist at Northcoast Behavioral HealthCare Hospital. Why are effective treatments for major depressive disorder lacking? [2:22] Why have hormones been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depression? [4:28] Three particular parts of the hormonal system that have been linked to alterations in mood [7:05] The role of the HPA axis in major depression [8:44] The role of the HPT axis in major depression [11:39] The role of the HPG axis in major depression, and differences between men and women [19:42] The efficacy, or drawbacks, of different kinds of hormonal interventions to treat depression [31:15] Overall conclusions as to the utility of hormonal treatments for major depression [39:04] The main messages that researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals should take away from the article [40:22] Recommendations for further research in this area [41:32] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Watch Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the August issue. Follow the journals of APA Publishing on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Stéphane Potvin, Ph.D., and Alexandre Dumais, M.D., Ph.D., about their meta-analysis investigating the association between cannabis use and violence, and, more specifically, the perpetration of any type of physical violence by adolescents and young adults. How prevalent is the use of cannabis among young people? [2:23] What are some of the adverse outcomes that are linked to the use of cannabis, and are these outcomes linked to other difficulties over time? [4:06] Why has the literature been mixed as to whether there is a link between the use of cannabis and violent behavior and aggression? [6:11] How the authors chose their research objective [8:15] Steps of the meta-analysis [9:51] Methods used to analyze the data [11:33] Main findings [14:12] Potential mechanisms that may have a role in the perpetration of violence [16:17] Implications for young people who use cannabis [18:07] Limitations affecting the results [19:19] Does the medical use of marijuana have any bearing on the work? [21:43] Takeaways for mental health professionals and the general public [22:31] Recommendations for further research [23:55] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Follow the journals of APA Publishing on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Katherine MacDuffie, Ph.D., and Annette Estes, Ph.D., about their longitudinal neuroimaging study examining associations between sleep difficulties and developmental trajectories among infants who go on to develop autism spectrum disorder. Why is sleep so important during early life? [2:16] How can sleep affect a child's behavioral and mental development, as well as overall functioning? [3:34] Why the authors conducted this research [4:47] Areas of the brain that were of particular interest [6:35] Methods used in the research [8:34] Main findings of the research [10:54] How results aligned with previous research [12:22] Potential neurobiological mechanisms underlying the results [13:57] Limitations of the work [15:26] Conclusions that researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals can take away from the work [17:12] Recommendations for further research in this area [18:21] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Follow the journals of APA Publishing on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Collin Reiff, M.D., and William McDonald, M.D., about their evidence-based summary of the literature on the clinical application of psychedelic drugs in psychiatric disorders. How hallucinogens were first used, and some of the key individuals involved in the development of these drugs for medical use [2:23] What led to the worry about use of these compounds in the 1960s, and what actions did U.S. policymakers take at the time? [5:35] How have opinions changed from the 1960s to the present? [7:01] How the authors conducted their research [8:23] How the authors determined which drugs to examine [9:38] What findings stood out to the authors? [10:28] Relationships between the psychological effects and the neurobiology of psychedelic compounds [12:59] How ketamine came to be used in clinical care, and what studies have shown about its safety and effectiveness [14:18] An outline of psycholytic therapy and psychedelic therapy [17:16] What is the potential for these kinds of drugs to be misused? [19:24] Conclusions that researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals should take away [21:15] Recommendations for further research in this area [22:20] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Follow the journals of APA Publishing on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org Image: detail from a 1978 painting by Flournoy Holmes, "Fire Being" (acrylic, 36 in x 42 in). Image provided courtesy of the artist. For this and other works, visit flournoyholmes.com.

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Sarah A. Sullivan, Ph.D., and Stanley Zammit, Ph.D., about their research on the incidence, course, and outcome of psychotic experiences from childhood through early adulthood in the general population, and the prediction of psychotic disorder. How common are psychotic experiences in the general population, and what burdens do they place on public health systems? [2:19] What kinds of services are available to identify and treat individuals who have psychotic experiences? [3:48] Study methods [5:33] What kind of psychotic experiences were reported? [7:41] Age as a significant factor [8:57] Prediction of psychotic disorder by age 24 [10:33] Implications for practicing clinicians and other mental health professionals [11:58] Limitations of the study [12:41] What other studies should explore regarding first-episode psychosis [13:52] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Damiaan Denys, M.D., Ph.D., and Ilse Graat, M.D., about their research on the tolerability and effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for patients with refractory obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). What characterizes OCD, and how widespread is it? [2:35] What treatment with DBS involves [4:07] Outline of study methods [6:25] Why the part of the brain studied is relevant for DBS, and description of the scales used to measure how well the treatment worked [7:54] Main findings with regard to response of OCD symptoms in patients who received DBS [10:51] Discussion of adverse events [12:40] Implications of the work for researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals [14:54] What further studies should explore with regard to treatment with DBS [15:43] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Arthur Robin Williams, M.D., M.B.E., and Mark Olfson, M.D., M.P.H., about their research on adverse health outcomes following discontinuation of buprenorphine among Medicaid beneficiaries who were retained for variable periods beyond 6 months. How buprenorphine helps patients, and factors affecting the use of this medication [2:50] Are there any quality measures for buprenorphine or for the treatment of opioid use disorder more generally? [7:48] What the authors aimed to achieve in the study [10:59] How the authors determined what methods to use in the study [13:51] Main findings with regard to adverse health outcomes after patients discontinued buprenorphine [16:22] Implications of the results [19:01] What further studies should explore with regard to treatment for opioid use disorder [21:50] Takeaways for researchers, clinicians, and other mental health professionals [23:06] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Younga H. Lee, Ph.D., and Stephen L. Buka, Sc.D., about their research on the association between maternal bacterial infection during pregnancy and risk for psychotic disorders in offspring. The New England Family Study [2:50] Study design [7:21] How information about exposure to bacterial infection was collected, and how offspring who developed mental health problems were evaluated [8:07] Main findings with regard to the connection between exposure to bacterial infection in utero and the development of illness among offspring [11:37] Whether the findings have any bearing on the use of medication to treat infections in pregnancy [12:27] Did any results surprise the researchers? [13:41] What further studies should explore [16:56] Implications of the work [18:12] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Subscribe to the podcast here. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Antonia Kaczkurkin, Ph.D., and Theodore Satterthwaite, M.D., about their research on how different measures of brain structure (cortical thickness and volume) in youths are associated with various dimensions of psychopathology. What this study aimed to achieve [3:19] Dimensions of psychopathology identified in the study [6:33] Description of a novel method to identify structural brain networks [8:17] Main findings of the research [9:53] Whether information about psychopathology can be gleaned from structural networks in the brain [11:09] What further studies should explore [12:20] Implications of the work [13:11] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org

Executive Editor Michael Roy speaks with Yasmin Hurd, Ph.D., about her research on the potential of cannabidiol (CBD) to reduce cue-induced craving and anxiety, two critical features of addiction that often contribute to relapse and continued drug use, in drug-abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder. What has past research with CBD shown in terms of its function as a treatment for mental illness? [2:29] Why the present study examined the potential of CBD to moderate craving and anxiety, and how these reactions were triggered among participants [4:14] How did the study team decide to evaluate CBD at two different doses? [5:54] Main findings of the study [7:42] Discussion of secondary outcomes and adverse events [9:02] Take-home messages for mental health professionals and the general public [11:37] Thoughts on how the medical use of CBD will fit in to the broader trend of the relaxation of marijuana laws throughout the United States [13:28] Be sure to let your colleagues know about the podcast, and please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you listen to it. Listen to other podcasts produced by the American Psychiatric Association. Browse articles online. Also visit the online edition of this month's Journal to watch a video of Deputy Editor Daniel S. Pine, M.D., present highlights from the issue. Follow the Journal on Twitter. E-mail us at ajp@psych.org