Meet Dr. Alexander Papp

Alexander Papp, MD, ABPN

Board-Certified Psychiatrist

Dr. Papp is a board-certified psychiatrist specializing in adult psychopharmacology and interventional treatments like ketamine, with a focus on treatment-resistant mood disorders.

Contact Dr. Papp, directly & confidentially

Text or phone: 619-377-1237

E-mail: AP@PointLomaClinic.com

About Me

I work with my patients in a spirit of curiosity, respect, and thoughtful attention. The structure of this practice gives us the time to understand you as a whole person, rather than narrowing our focus to symptoms and diagnoses alone.

As a physician, I ground my recommendations in the most current scientific evidence, while adapting them to your individual needs and preferences. My approach to psychiatric care draws on broad-based training and decades of clinical experience, along with a willingness to think outside the box when the situation calls for it.

Our ketamine room in Point Loma

Our ketamine room in Del Mar

Medical and Psychiatric Training

Before completing my psychiatric residency, I spent several years in a surgical training program. That experience made me particularly attentive to the medical dimensions of psychiatric illness. I am comfortable identifying—and, when appropriate, addressing—medical contributors to emotional and cognitive symptoms. I later completed a fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry, deepening my work at the intersection of medicine and psychiatry

I also completed four years in a PhD program in cognitive neuroscience at the City University of New York and participated in a fellowship in Advanced Training in the Integration of Psychotherapy and Psychopharmacology. This background reflects my longstanding interest in integrating biological and psychological approaches to treatment.

Research and Academic Background

As I observed the difficulties some patients experienced when attempting to stop medications, I developed a particular interest in antidepressant discontinuation and published the first two peer-reviewed articles on the phenomenon of “brain zaps.”

Teaching and supervision have been an important part of my professional life. I have worked with psychiatric residents and medical students throughout my career, most recently as Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic Project. I also worked for several years in the PACE program at UCSD and teach psychopharmacology to psychologists as Adjunct Professor at Alliant University in their Master’s Program in Clinical Psychopharmacology.

Clinical Focus

Clinical Specialities

I specialize in treating complex cases of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, and PTSD, including situations in which symptoms are compounded by known or yet undiscovered medical conditions. I also have considerable experience treating psychotic disorders.

Ketamine

I have been involved in ketamine treatment since 2017. I initially directed the ketamine program in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD and later continued this work in my private practice at the Point Loma Clinic.

I regularly attend the Oxford International Ketamine Conferences to remain current with developments in the field and related areas, including psychedelics, and presented a short video in the poster section at the most recent meeting.

Initial Evaluation

Your initial 90-minute psychiatric evaluation by Dr. Papp will encompass a thorough review of current complaints, the history of those complaints, relevant medical and life history, and the ordering of laboratory tests if necessary.

At the conclusion of the visit, diagnostic impressions will be discussed, and therapeutic goals will be set.

Referrals to other specialists will be made if clinically indicated.

Questions about the process?
Contact us to discuss what's right for you.

What to Expect from Psychiatric Treatment

Follow-up Sessions

On-going appointments of 25 or 50 minutes will be scheduled with the frequency that your progress in treatment requires.

All of these aspects can be easily integrated easily as a collaborative approach if you consult with both Dr. Papp and Dr. Myers.

Psychogenetic Testing

Psychogenetic testing may be part of the on-going evaluation. This provides an important layer of personalization in mental health care. By identifying genetic markers that influence medication metabolism, or potential deficiencies in how the brain creates serotonin, we can predict individual responses to antidepressants, optimizing both the selection and dosing of medications.

This “precision medicine” approach can minimize adverse effects and enhance the effectiveness of treatment, ensuring that you receive the best care available

On-going Evaluations

Periodic evaluations are scheduled to review clinical progress, assess therapeutic outcomes, and refine treatment strategies to ensure your care remains responsive to your evolving health needs.