From Brexanolone to Psychedelics: The New Frontier in Pharmacologic Psychiatry
After decades of modest advances in psychopharmacology, psychiatry is finally entering a new era—one marked not by incremental adjustments to serotonin pathways, but by bold forays into previously uncharted neurobiological terrain. Novel agents like brexanolone, the first FDA-approved treatment specifically…
The Hidden Delay in ECT for Catatonia Patients
Catatonia is a severe neuropsychiatric syndrome that can leave patients trapped in states of profound motor immobility, mutism, or agitation. It’s a psychiatric emergency—yet far too often, patients with catatonia are caught in therapeutic limbo, receiving escalating doses of benzodiazepines…
The Assessment Framework Behind Treatment-Resistant Depression Specialized Consultation Clinics
In the second installment of their landmark series, the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) Task Group deepens the conversation on developing effective care for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) with Part II: Assessment, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry. Following…
Calming and Grounding Techniques
Written By: Amy K. Garcia, PhD, NCSP, LP and Daniela Sosa-Castillo, LMSW Stress According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stress is defined as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation” (WHO, 2023). Humans all…
A Roadmap for Treatment-Resistant Depression Programs
As rates of depression continue to climb worldwide, a new consensus paper offers much-needed guidance for health centers seeking to launch specialized consultation programs for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Published by a task group from the National Network of Depression Centers…
Accelerated vs. Standard rTMS for Depression
A new systematic review sheds light on how accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (aTMS) protocols compare to standard or sham rTMS in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Published in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2025) and led…
Vaporized DMT Shows Promise for Rapid and Sustained Relief in Treatment-Resistant Depression
A new phase 2a clinical trial brings hope to patients struggling with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) through an innovative approach: inhaled N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT). In a landmark study published in Neuropsychopharmacology (2025), researchers led by Marcelo Falchi-Carvalho, Fernanda Palhano-Fontes, and colleagues from…
Great Minds Don’t Think Alike: Great Minds Think Differently
This April, in honor of Autism Acceptance Month, we’re challenging the familiar saying, Great Minds Think Alike. Instead, we want to celebrate a more powerful truth: Great Minds Think Differently. Fifteen years ago, Temple Grandin, PhD, delivered a TED Talk…
Pharmacogenomic Testing Brings Real-World Benefits for Depression Treatment
Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects one in five Americans during their lifetime, and while medication is the most common treatment, only about 40% of patients find relief with the first antidepressant they try. The journey to recovery often involves a…
Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the UTHealth Houston Treatment-Resistant Depression Program
Written by Joao L. de Quevedo, MD, PhD On April 22, 2025, UTHealth Houston marks a significant milestone—the 10th anniversary of its pioneering Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) Program. Launched in 2015 within the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral…