Psych Congress Network Family & Friends

Public discussion often links psychiatric medications with violence, suicide, or even mass shootings—but what does the evidence actually say? In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke are joined by Dr. Ragy Gurgis of Columbia University to examine the data. They explore the small but important nuances around antidepressants, black box warnings, suicidality, and violence risk in untreated psychosis, while debunking common myths perpetuated in the media. This conversation equips clinicians with the knowledge and language they need to engage patients, families, and society with clarity and confidence.

Sleep–wake disorders are common, clinically significant, and too often overlooked in psychiatric practice. In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke share practical strategies for recognizing and treating conditions such as insomnia, hypersomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea. They review key screening tools, pharmacologic options, and emerging therapeutics like orexin agonists, while underscoring why psychiatrists must take an active role in managing sleep. This is a clinically rich discussion that connects evidence-based knowledge with day-to-day patient care.

Fibromyalgia is more than widespread pain—it’s a condition that blurs the lines between psychiatry, medicine, and the human experience. In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke discuss a newly approved treatment, explore why fibromyalgia belongs in psychiatry’s wheelhouse, and address the stigma patients face every day. They also share practical strategies for supporting patients through psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions, and exercise. This is a conversation about science, compassion, and redefining how we care for people living with fibromyalgia.

Drs Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke reflect on how the words we use—and the habits we form—shape the way we practice. The pair also take a fresh look at the serotonin story, talk through new ways of understanding depression, and share why long-acting treatments might be a better fit for bipolar care than we think.

In this episode, Drs Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke discuss what it means to bring humanity into clinical care—from treating complex mood disorders with mixed features to carefully deprescribing benzodiazepines. Through a positive psychiatry lens, they reflect on recent research, the challenges of psychiatric diagnosis, and why every treatment decision should begin with a deep understanding of the person in front of us. Throughout the conversation, they honor the lasting influence of their late friend and mentor, Dr Vlad Maletic—a reminder that while death may end a life, it doesn’t end a relationship. His spirit of curiosity and compassion continues to inspire how we practice, teach, and care.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

• Reflections on the legacy and influence of Dr. Vlad Maletic and the power of community in practice
• Clinical insights on diagnosing and treating mood disorders with mixed features
• Discussion of new data on lumateperone as monotherapy for bipolar and unipolar depression with mixed features
• Why kappa opioid receptor antagonists are facing setbacks in clinical trials
• A practical, human-centered approach to prescribing and deprescribing benzodiazepines
• The importance of psychoeducation, alliance-building, and individualizing taper plans
• A call to balance pharmacology with empathy, and precision with presence