Catching up With Dr. Henry A. Nasrallah, Psych Update Spring 2023 Co-Chair
August Issue Psychiatry
Introduction
We’re back this month with Dr. Henry A. Nasrallah, Chair of the upcoming 22nd Annual Psychopharmacology Update. Dr. Nasrallah is the Editor-in-Chief of Current Psychiatry; and Vice-Chair for Faculty Development and Mentorship and Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, & Neuroscience; Director, Neuropsychiatry and Schizophrenia Programs at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Nasrallah is a well-respected researcher and has published in multiple therapeutic areas. As Editor of Current Psychiatry, he also brings an informed perspective to where we are in research and treatment options for psychiatric conditions.
Don’t miss!— Psychopharmacology Update (22nd Annual)
Friday/Saturday October 27-28, 2023; Hyatt Regency, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Full-day, 3-part Masterclass focusing on Psychopharmacology. I: Brave New Psychopharmacology; II: Judicious Psychopharmacology; III: Creative Psychopharmacology; IV: Strategic Psychopharmacology; V: Harm-Avoidance Psychopharmacology.
- Workshops on Psychedelics, Addiction and Cannabis on Friday, October 27, 2023
This month’s Psych Resource section will keep you updated with articles from Clinical Psychiatry News, Current Psychiatry, MDedge Psychiatry, New England Journal of Medicine, and JAMA Psychiatry—check them out below.
A huge thank you to Dr. Nasrallah for the interview this month. Please contact me at colleen@cmhadvisors.com with any comments and/or suggestions, and thanks for reading! —Colleen Hutchinson
Talking with Dr. Henry Nasrallah, the Chair of Psych Update Spring 2023
Dr. Nasrallah is Editor-in-Chief of Current Psychiatry; Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Mentorship
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, & Neuroscience; Director, Neuropsychiatry and Schizophrenia Programs; Director, Psychiatry CME Programs; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
What are some of the latest breakthroughs in psychopharmacology attendees can look forward to learning more about at the 22nd Annual Psychopharmacology Update?
Dr. Nasrallah: There is a surge of new innovative medications based on novel mechanisms of action to be discussed. These include the following:
- two antipsychotics that do not block dopamine receptors (KAR-XT and emraclidine)
- glutamatergic rapid-acting antidepressants (dextromethorphan)
- an oral medication for post-partum depression zuranolone (via GABAa receptors)
- a sublingual alpha 2 adrenergic agonist medication for agitation (Dexmedetomidine)
- psilocybin for treatment resistant depression, anxiety and PTSD (trials in progress)
- esmethadone for major depression
- asenapine transdermal antipsychotic
- serotonin 5HT2-A for negative symptoms of schizophrenia (studies in progress with pimavanserin and roluperidone)
- and a glycine transport inhibitor for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
It’s 2023 and we’ve got cannabis as a treatment option for psychiatric patients, and now we also have psychedelics. And we’ve got recent studies in various highly respected medical journals on the efficacy and medical benefits of each. Has the pendulum swung far enough that these drugs, which have long been associated with the 1960s counterculture (and of course adverse responses in the form of bad trips and even psychotic breaks), should be viewed as tools in our armamentarium, especially for difficult to treat conditions?
Dr. Nasrallah: Yes, hallucinogens have been resurrected as useful therapeutic agents for various psychiatric disorders, especially when supervised by a therapist. Numerous clinical trials are currently underway.
Masterclass IV of the Psych Pharm Update is “Strategic Psychopharmacology.” What is this about?
Dr. Nasrallah: I will be presenting this Masterclass and it includes various strategic psychopharmacology “pearls” to increase efficacy and reduce adverse effects in various psychiatric populations.
Psychiatry Resource Section
New England Journal of Medicine Perspective: Intention To Treat: Prospects for Pain
JAMA Psychiatry Viewpoint: Extrapharmacological Safety Topics in Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy
Medscape Medical News Article: Caregiver Depression Linked to Worse Parkinson's Outcomes
WebMD Health News Article: Gene Therapy Offers New Way to Fight Alcohol Use Disorder