E270 - (CME) Complex Depression: Treating Beyond the Standard Algorithm

In this CME episode, Dr. Andy Cutler talks with Drs. Stephen Stahl and Roger McIntyre about recognizing and managing complex depression, particularly major depressive episodes with mixed or anxious features. They discuss how these specifiers affect diagnosis, symptom severity, and treatment response, and explore evidence-based strategies for optimizing outcomes through individualized and adjunctive approaches. Create a free NEI guest account and obtain CME/CE by participating in this activity here: https://nei.global/e270-cme Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this CME episode, Dr. Andy Cutler and Dr. Christoph Correll discuss the complexities of managing bipolar disorder, with a focus on recognizing and treating mixed states. They address overlapping manic and depressive symptoms, comorbidities, and the importance of shared decision-making, family involvement, and patient education. The conversation also explores strategies to improve adherence, the impact of substance use, and the value of a collaborative, individualized approach to long-term stability and recovery. Create a free NEI guest account and obtain CME/CE by participating in this activity here: https://nei.global/e269-cme Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

This episode includes extended Q&A sessions that address your unanswered questions from the following presentations delivered at the 2025 Fall Congress in Colorado Springs, Colorado:  (00:22) A Discussion of Substance: Supporting Meaningful Improvements in the Lives of Patients Struggling With Substance Use Disorders by Brittany Albright, MD, MPH and Hara Oyedeji, DNP, PMHNP-BC (Q&A with Dr. Albright)  (34:08) Nightmares and Brainscapes: Emerging Therapeutic Avenues in the Treatment of PTSD by Lori Davis, MD and Andrew Cutler, MD (Q&A with Dr. Davis)  (47:43) Sex, Pudge, and Eyes That Close: Strategies to Address Common Psychotropic–Induced Tolerability Issues by Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH and Andrew Cutler, MD (Q&A with Dr. Citrome)   (55:00) When Less Is More: Strategies for Deprescribing Psychotropic Medications by Jeffrey Strawn, MD and Kari Franson, PharmD, PhD, BCPP (Q&A with Dr. Strawn)  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast – available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology? Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In recognition of Stress Awareness Week, the NEI Podcast revisits a vital conversation with Dr. Joan Striebel about the syndrome of catatonia—a condition that can emerge from profound psychological or physiological stress. Dr. Andy Cutler and Dr. Striebel discuss its dynamic presentation, the importance of treating underlying causes, and why clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when evaluating complex or unexplained psychiatric symptoms. This re-release highlights key insights to help clinicians recognize and manage catatonia more effectively in practice.  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler talks with Dr. Ryan Sultán about the evolving landscape of ADHD—why diagnoses and prescriptions have risen across age groups, what recent prescribing data reveal, and how these trends align with real-world clinical experience. They explore how ADHD medications affect not just symptoms but broader outcomes like school, work, and safety, while also addressing concerns about overdiagnosis, misuse, and disparities in access to care.   Dr. Ryan Sultan is a board-certified adult and child psychiatrist specializing in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and assistant professor at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is the Medical Director of NYC-based Integrative Psychiatry, where he assesses and treats patients using a combination of psychological, social, environmental, and pharmacological modalities. Integrative Psychiatry also provides ADHD treatment in Miami. As an ADHD psychiatrist, he conducts extensive ADHD research with a focus on using big data to improve ADHD treatment in real world settings, advocating for non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for ADHD, coaching, and digital tools as a foundational treatment that precedes or supplements medication. He approaches ADHD treatment with a nuanced understanding of the current misuse and overdiagnosis crisis, and addresses this issue through careful assessment and monitoring.   Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler interviews Dr. Peter Weiden about when and how to switch antipsychotics in schizophrenia, tackling both the pitfalls and opportunities clinicians face in practice. They also explore how xanomeline–trospium has opened the door to treatments beyond dopamine and what this shift means for the future of care.  Peter J. Weiden, MD, is a psychiatrist and internationally recognized expert in the pharmacologic treatment of schizophrenia. His research and clinical work have focused on antipsychotic effectiveness, switching strategies, and medication adherence, with a particular emphasis on optimizing long-term outcomes for patients.   Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this CME episode, Dr. Andy Cutler speaks with Dr. Manpreet Singh, the Robert H. Putnam Endowed Chair in Bipolar Research and Treatment at UC Davis, about the challenges of diagnosing and treating pediatric bipolar disorder. Dr. Singh shares evidence-based strategies for treatment, management of bipolar depression and medication side effects, and best practices for long-term care and transitioning youth into adult services.  NEI Members can earn CME/CE by participating in this activity here: https://nei.global/e264-cme Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter       

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler interviews Dr. Dan Singley about the unique challenges men face in recognizing, expressing, and seeking care for their mental health. They explore how norms around masculinity influence help-seeking behavior and contribute to men's heightened risk of suicide. The conversation also highlights the underrecognized issue of paternal perinatal depression, its impact on family dynamics, and strategies clinicians can use to better screen, engage, and support new fathers.  Dr. Daniel Singley, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and expert in men's mental health, with a particular focus on the transition to fatherhood and perinatal mental health for men. He is the founder and director of the Center for Men's Excellence in San Diego, where he provides therapy, consultation, and training centered on men's psychological development and gender-sensitive care.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Resources  The Center for Men's Excellence – menexcel.com  Society for the Psychology of Men and Masculinities – division51.net  Postpartum Support International – postpartum.net  Man Therapy – mantherapy.org  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler interviews Dr. Roger McIntyre about the growing recognition of Long COVID and its wide-ranging neuropsychiatric manifestations. They discuss the role of neuroinflammation in its pathophysiology, the impact of these symptoms on patients' daily functioning, and both current and emerging treatment approaches.  Dr. Roger McIntyre is a globally recognized psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist who holds pivotal roles in academia, research, and leadership. His research primarily focuses on the phenomenology, neurobiology, and development of novel therapeutics for mood disorders. Dr. McIntyre is currently a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on:  YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter 

In this episode, Dr. Andy Cutler interviews Dr. Pamela Wall about the complex intersection of PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in veterans. They explore how military culture influences the experience and treatment of trauma, the challenges of distinguishing overlapping symptoms, and evidence-based strategies for assessment and intervention. Tune in for practical insights, clinical pearls, and resource recommendations for improving care in this uniquely vulnerable population.  Pamela Wall, PhD, PMHNP-BC is an associate professor in the College of Nursing at Rosalind Franklin University and maintains a clinical practice at a neuropsychiatric clinic in Fairfax, VA. She has extensive experience working with adult psychiatric mental health populations, and her research has focused on PTSD, mTBI, and sleep disorders in deployed military service members. Dr. Wall served 20 years on active duty as a Nurse Corps Officer in the United States Navy.  Andrew J. Cutler, MD, is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in clinical trials and psychopharmacology. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of Neuroscience Education Institute and holds the position of Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York.  Resources  Center for Deployment Psychology   National Center for PTSD  Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence    Never miss an episode!🎙SUBSCRIBE to the NEI Podcast– available on all your favorite platforms: https://nei.global/podcast  Interested in Psychopharmacology?  Learn about the NEI Master Psychopharmacology Program: https://nei.global/mpp   Stay updated with email alerts and join our conversations on social. Follow us on: YouTube: https://nei.global/youtube  Instagram: https://nei.global/instagram  LinkedIn: https://nei.global/linkedin  Facebook: https://nei.global/facebook  X: https://nei.global/twitter