Overdose deaths have been rising during COVID, but simply stopping the drug causes problems of its own. In this episde, Ashwin Patkar and Richard Weisler discuss how to reduce the risk of opioid deaths in psychiatric patients. Their Current Psychiatry article on the subject is here.Published On: 3/28/21Duration: 26 minutes, 50...

Swapnil Gupta, author of Deprescribing in Psychiatry, shares tips on how to help patients taper off benzodiazepines and psychostimulants. She adds a special therapeutic ingredient, but it’s not a medication. Then we digress into one of the oldest medications known to humankind: Opium. Published On: 3/21/2021 Duration: 21 minutes, 34...

DSM-5 has adopted many of the concepts from Hagop Akiskal’s Bipolar Spectrum, but not in the way he had planned. Here we trace his thinking back to the early 1970’s, when Dr. Akiskal reshaped the way we think about depression by blurring the boundary between stress-induced and biological depression.Published On: 3/15/2021Duration: 26...

What works best when the first antidepressant fails? And the second? Today, we bring you part 1 in our special series on treatment resistant depression.Published On: 3/7/21Duration: 16 minutes, 1 secondPublished On: 3/7/21Duration: 16 minutes, 1 secondTranscript:Kellie Newsome: What works best when the first antidepressant fails? And the second? Today, we bring you...

For nearly 17 years, since the FDA black box warning about suicidality with antidepressants, our community has been quoting data that downplays this concern. We were wrong. We were deceived. Antidepressants can be lifesaving, but there really is a duty to warn. In this episode, Doctors Martha Ignaszewski and Glen Spielmans...

In 2012, psychiatrists at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital discovered a novel antidepressant. It seemed to improve depression and cognition without causing any significant side effects. There was only one problem. The ingredients were practically free, and there was no way that was going to sell.

Bupropion and restless legs syndrome: a randomized controlled trialWhen a patient complains that their mood got worse on an antidepressant, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are sensitive to medications. In this episode, we detail 6 other reasons why depression can get worse on an antidepressant.Published On: 2/15/21Duration: 22 minutes, 42 secondsArticle Referenced: "Are...

An interview with Swapnil Gupta on when and how to come off psychiatric medications. Plus, tips on cross-tapering antidepressants, and the word of the day: Ephedra.Published On: 2/8/2021Duration: 17 minutes, 1 secondTranscript:Today, an interview with Swapnil Gupta on when and how to come off psychiatric medications.Welcome to the Carlat Psychiatry Podcast, keeping...

Behavioral activation came about in the 1990’s as a challenge to the CBT model of depression. The basic strategy behind this therapy blends well with brief medication visits, and we explain how to use it in this professional guide. Check out the patient companion to this edition in the Pocket...

Richard Weisler tells the tale of science and serendipity that lead to his discovery of lamotrigine for bipolar depression 30 years ago. He shares a few dosing tips, and touches on how he works with patients and their families. Plus, the word of the day: Gramophone Syndrome.Published On: 1/25/21Duration: 23...