Mental Health Pathfinders: APA's Year in Review with CEO & Medical Director Dr. Marketa Wills

In this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, host Erin Connors speaks with Nina Kraguljac, M.D., about what resilience really means through a mental health lens. Dr. Kraguljac discusses why resilience is not a fixed character trait, how it can be strengthened over time, and why meaning, hope, agency, and social connection play such an important role in helping people navigate adversity. She also shares insights from the State of Ohio Adversity and Resilience Study, a first-in-the-nation effort to better understand the psychological, social, environmental, and biological factors that shape resilience and mental health.  

This month on Psychiatric News Special Report, Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza is joined by clinical psychologists Dr. Erin Cassidy-Eagle and Dr. Janie Hong to discuss the "lifelong psychotherapy patient," a group that is common in practice but rarely examined directly. Drawing on their work at Stanford and their recent article in Psychiatric News, they explore why some patients need ongoing psychotherapy support, how short-term care models can fall short, and what it means to meet patients where they are rather than forcing treatment into rigid timelines. The conversation also looks at the pressure clinicians face inside modern health care systems, from insurance limits and measurement-based care to access bottlenecks and burnout. Along the way, the episode considers what meaningful progress can look like when symptom reduction is not the whole story, why long-term therapeutic relationships can be both demanding and deeply valuable, and how clinicians and systems can think more creatively about continuity of care. 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  

In this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, host Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza speaks with Dr. Alexander Niculescu about pain as more than a physical symptom alone. Their conversation explores the overlap between chronic pain and psychiatric conditions, the promise of precision psychiatry, and how biomarkers may help clinicians better assess risk, guide treatment, and rethink refractory pain. They also discuss the limitations of current approaches, the role of non-opioid interventions, and why psychiatrists are uniquely positioned to treat the whole person. Read this special report here: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.03.3.28 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

In this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, host Erin Connors speaks with Dr. Nancy Byatt about women's mental health and the growing importance of reproductive psychiatry. Their conversation explores how mental health needs can arise across the lifespan, from menstruation and pregnancy to postpartum and menopause, and why prioritizing emotional well-being is essential for both women and their families. Dr. Byatt also addresses common concerns about antidepressant use and pain treatment during pregnancy, while highlighting the importance of trusted medical guidance, early support, and greater awareness of maternal mental health.

On this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, host Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza is joined by Dr. James Bourgeois, Vice Chair of Hospital Psychiatry Services at UC Davis and Psychiatric News' consultation liaison section editor, for a practical conversation on what happens after medical discharge for patients living with serious mental illness. Using the February Special Report on post discharge rehabilitation barriers as a springboard, they break down why "medically ready" can still mean "psychiatrically at risk," and how mobility limits, nursing capacity, and safety rules can block transfers to inpatient psychiatry. The discussion highlights proactive consultation models, stronger handoffs to outpatient care, and how primary care based psychiatric support can reduce repeat hospital use while keeping patients safer in the community. Read this special report here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.02.2.4 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

On this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, host Erin Connors speaks with Dr. Maria Oquendo, Dr. Jonathan Alpert, and Dr. Nitin Gogtay about how a roadmap is taking shape for the future of the DSM. They break down how the work builds on DSM-5 and DSM-5-TR, and what it could look like to broaden diagnosis beyond symptom checklists to include functioning, quality of life, and social and cultural context. The conversation explores where biomarkers may eventually fit, why the DSM may evolve into a more frequently updated digital-first "living" manual, and how feedback from clinicians, people with lived experience, and caregivers is being built into the process.

On this episode of Mental Health Innovation Zone, Dr. Stephen Chan sits down with child psychiatrist and entrepreneur Dr. Monika Roots to unpack her path from clinical practice to building and scaling mental health tech companies. Dr. Roots shares the origin story behind early innovations like CogCubed, lessons learned about designing for real end users, and how measurement became a key lever as telehealth expanded. The conversation also explores leadership frameworks that embrace learning through mistakes, the value of mentorship, and why understanding the business of medicine matters for every clinician.

On this episode of PsychNews Special Report, host Dr. Sulman Aziz Mirza sits down with psychiatrist and author Dr. Paul Putman to explore how cognitive errors show up in everyday clinical work. They talk through fast versus slow thinking, why our brains default to shortcuts, and how time pressure, isolation, and copy forward documentation can quietly amplify mistakes. Dr. Putman makes the case for practical guardrails like semi structured interview templates, deliberate differential diagnoses, and a habit of revising your model when treatments stall. The conversation also challenges the label of treatment resistance, highlights the value of second opinions and true peer consultation, and closes with strategies for protecting clinician wellbeing. Read this special report here: https://www.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2026.01.1.7 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 

On this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, host Erin Connors sits down with Dr. Petros Levounis to unpack the appeal of Dry January and what people can realistically gain from a month off alcohol. They talk through why a time-limited goal can be easier to stick with, how to handle social situations without making it a public announcement, and what benefits people often notice physically and psychologically when they take a break. The conversation also covers practical strategies for anxiety in the moment (including hydration, cutting back on caffeine, and finding a supportive ally), the rise of mocktails, what to know about medications that can help reduce cravings, and how to reintroduce alcohol more safely if you choose to drink again after a month off.  

In this holiday-season conversation, host Erin Connors sits down with APA CEO and Medical Director Dr. Marketa Wills to reflect on the year and look ahead to what is next for psychiatry and the Association. Dr. Wills shares why APA's new strategic plan is the right roadmap for a fast-changing landscape, with a sharper focus on measurable progress for members and patients. They discuss what she heard from psychiatrists across the U.S. and globally, the strongest advocacy priorities from parity to reimbursement, and how APA is strengthening partnerships and infrastructure to support the field. Dr. Wills also talks candidly about mental fitness and self-care during a demanding season.