On this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, host Dr. Adrian Preda talks with psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Chloe Page about what modern brain science really tells us about major depressive disorder. Drawing on the December 2025 Special Report, they walk through the rise and limits of the "chemical imbalance" story, how media coverage of the Moncrieff serotonin review fueled public mistrust, and why a neuroplasticity framework offers a richer and more accurate way to understand depression. Along the way, they explore how stress, genetics, inflammation and brain circuits converge on reduced plasticity, why antidepressants can help even when serotonin is not the whole story, and how psychotherapy, exercise, neuromodulation and medication can work together to get a "stuck" brain moving again. The conversation highlights the power of metaphors, honest communication and shared decision making to rebuild trust and help patients make sense of both the science and their own experience of depression.

Read the full Special Report here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.12.12.2

PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn

En este episodio de Mente Sana, Gente Sana, el Dr. Héctor Colón-Rivera se sienta con el psiquiatra e investigador en salud mental global Dr. Víctor Pereira-Sánchez para explorar cómo la fe, la migración y la comunidad se entrecruzan en la salud mental de los latinos e hispanos. Basándose en su experiencia en Washington Heights y en su propia formación espiritual en España, el Dr. Pereira-Sánchez describe el papel central que desempeñan las iglesias en la vida de los inmigrantes, desde el apoyo social y el sentido de pertenencia hasta el arraigo espiritual en momentos de crisis.

Hablan de cómo los sacerdotes y los líderes religiosos suelen convertirse en el primer punto de contacto para las personas que sufren depresión, ansiedad o pensamientos suicidas, y de lo que puede suceder cuando el estigma, la culpa o la desinformación alejan a las personas de la atención sanitaria. La conversación destaca formas concretas en que las parroquias pueden convertirse en espacios más saludables desde el punto de vista mental, incluyendo la alfabetización en salud mental, los ministerios de presencia y la colaboración con los médicos. El episodio también analiza cómo la tecnología y los servicios transmitidos en vivo están remodelando la vida religiosa, las señales de alerta que las familias deben observar en los niños y adolescentes, y consejos prácticos para quienes buscan una nueva comunidad religiosa o desean ser voluntarios en una.

In this episode of Breaking the Silence from APA's More Equity in Mental Health series, Dr. Laika Rose Simeon-Thompson sits down with child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Anjali Gupta to explore how depression affects teen girls and young women. Dr. Gupta explains what is happening in the adolescent brain, how social media and generational trauma shape risk, and why supportive schools, families, and mentors can be lifesaving. They also discuss barriers to care, what emergency departments are seeing on the front lines, and practical messages for parents, educators, and communities that want to show up for girls in crisis. Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of both the vulnerabilities and the strengths of this generation of young women.

On this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, Editor in Chief Dr. Adrian Preda sits down with Dr. Joshua Brown, a leading expert in neuromodulation and Medical Director of the TMS Service at McLean Hospital, to explore how transcranial magnetic stimulation is reshaping the treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders. Dr. Brown shares the clinical stories that drew him to TMS, explains how this "electric brain" approach drives synaptic plasticity, and walks through what actually happens at the level of NMDA and AMPA receptors. The conversation covers how TMS compares with medications and ECT, why it should not be viewed as a last resort, and how emerging strategies like accelerated protocols and pharmacologic augmentation could boost response and remission. Looking ahead, they discuss new indications, evolving training pathways, and why TMS is moving from niche tool to foundational treatment option in modern psychiatry.

Read the full Special Report on TMS here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.11.11.4

PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn.

Psychiatrist and author Dr. Drew Ramsey joins host Erin Connors to explore practical ways to protect mental fitness during the holidays, from setting boundaries at the table to rethinking alcohol. They dig into nutrient-dense eating, hydration, and simple swaps that lift mood, plus why dark chocolate can fit a healthy plan. Dr. Ramsey shares strategies for easing loneliness, taking a digital detox, and prioritizing sleep, including a plain-English tour of the brain's glymphatic cleanup system. Listeners leave with doable steps to feel more present, connected, and resilient through the season.

This episode of PsychNews Special Report unpacks emerging evidence around AI-induced psychosis, drawing on the October issue's analysis by Dr. Adrian Preda. Guided by two virtual hosts, the episode explains how mirroring, flattery, and persistent memory in companion chatbots can reinforce fragile ideas into fixed beliefs, then maps the observable red flags across thought, mood, behavior, and sleep. Listeners get a concise first-response framework focused on safety, clinical assessment, and pausing harmful AI exposure, along with clear takeaways for developer safeguards and professional guidance.

Acknowledgement: Host Dr. Adrian Preda used Google NotebookLM to create the dialogue that makes up this episode of "PsychNews Special Report." The voices you hear do not come from a human voice box, and the words they speak did not originate in a human brain. Instead, to discuss his Special Report on conversational AI and mental health, Dr. Preda curated a conversation using AI.

PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn.

En este episodio de Breaking the Silence, la Dra. Ruby Castilla-Puentes y la Dra. Tatiana Falcone hablan sobre la prevención del suicidio entre los jóvenes hispanos. Basándose en investigaciones clínicas y en años de experiencia, la Dra. Falcone destaca las primeras señales de alerta, el estigma cultural, las barreras para recibir atención médica y los tratamientos emergentes, como la terapia CAMS y la terapia con ketamina. Juntas, enfatizan el poder de la educación familiar, la atención médica adaptada a la cultura y el diálogo abierto para reducir el riesgo y fomentar la esperanza dentro de las comunidades latinas.

In this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, host Dr. Adrian Preda speaks with Dr. Bryan Shapiro of UC Irvine about the often-overlooked issue of antidepressant withdrawal. They discuss the prevalence of withdrawal symptoms, why tapering is so challenging, risk factors that increase vulnerability, and the gaps in current clinical guidance. Drawing on research, patient experiences, and case studies, the conversation highlights the urgent need for clearer strategies and better resources to help patients safely discontinue antidepressants.

You can read the full special report on Psychiatric News here: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.09.9.1

PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn.