Reflections on Psychiatry & Psychology

Brain zaps during SSRI/SNRI withdrawal remain poorly studied and often overlooked by psychiatry. Patients frequently learn about them online rather than from physicians. Researchers and clinicians call for better awareness, informed consent, and more research on antidepressant discontinuation effects.

Introduction Ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, has shown promise in the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, including depression and PTSD. Its rapid-acting therapeutic effects have made it an appealing option in clinical settings under strict supervision. However, the trend towards take-home ketamine, facilitated through prescriptions for nasal sprays and oral lozenges, raises significant safety and efficacy concerns. This blog entry explores some of the reasons

Matthew Perry, celebrated for his iconic role on "Friends," tragically passed away on October 28, 2023, after being found unresponsive at the heated end of his swimming pool. His live-in personal assistant discovered him upon returning from errands. Despite immediate efforts to revive him, Perry was pronounced dead by emergency personnel at 4:17 p.m. Mr. Perry battled several health issues including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and had a history of

A 2022 study confirmed brain zaps as real antidepressant-withdrawal symptoms. Restarting or slowly tapering meds may help. Most improve over time, but some suffer for years. Despite this, psychiatry has shown little response.

Cocaine blocks dopamine reuptake in the brain’s reward pathway, causing short-lived euphoria and repeated dosing. It raises heart rate and blood pressure and can cause paranoia, psychosis, heart attack, stroke, and overdose. Mixing with alcohol forms toxic cocaethylene.

Biofeedback uses tech to monitor body signals like heart rate and muscle tension, helping you gain awareness and control, reducing stress, pain, anxiety, and other conditions.

Years of trial-and-error approach can be averted by this relatively new tool in mental health assessment. The psychiatrist will be able to devise an effective treatment, without side effects.

After 20 years of depression, Jack improved in 2 weeks on Paxil. But feeling better upended his “depressed” life—job, friends, marriage—causing crisis. Lesson: patients with chronic illness must prepare for change and continue therapy when they improve.

“Brain zaps” are shock-like sensations during antidepressant withdrawal, especially with short–half-life SSRIs like Effexor or Paxil. Poorly studied, often abrupt-stop related; tapering helps only somewhat.