Psych Congress Network Family & Friends

Public discussion often links psychiatric medications with violence, suicide, or even mass shootings—but what does the evidence actually say? In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke are joined by Dr. Ragy Gurgis of Columbia University to examine the data. They explore the small but important nuances around antidepressants, black box warnings, suicidality, and violence risk in untreated...

Sleep–wake disorders are common, clinically significant, and too often overlooked in psychiatric practice. In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke share practical strategies for recognizing and treating conditions such as insomnia, hypersomnia, and obstructive sleep apnea. They review key screening tools, pharmacologic options, and emerging therapeutics like orexin agonists, while under...

Fibromyalgia is more than widespread pain—it’s a condition that blurs the lines between psychiatry, medicine, and the human experience. In this episode, Drs. Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke discuss a newly approved treatment, explore why fibromyalgia belongs in psychiatry’s wheelhouse, and address the stigma patients face every day. They also share practical strategies for supporting patients through...

Drs Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke reflect on how the words we use—and the habits we form—shape the way we practice. The pair also take a fresh look at the serotonin story, talk through new ways of understanding depression, and share why long-acting treatments might be a better fit for bipolar care than we think.

In this episode, Drs Rakesh Jain and Craig Chepke discuss what it means to bring humanity into clinical care—from treating complex mood disorders with mixed features to carefully deprescribing benzodiazepines. Through a positive psychiatry lens, they reflect on recent research, the challenges of psychiatric diagnosis, and why every treatment decision should begin with a deep understanding of the p...

In this episode, Dr Rakesh Jain and Dr Craig Chepke start off with breaking news, both the "good and the challenging," in schizophrenia treatment before diving into the real-world difficulties of weight management for their patients. They explore antipsychotic-induced weight gain, offering empowering, evidence-based insights on tools like metformin and GLP-1 receptor agonists. The two also reflect...

Nausea—it's more than just a frustrating side effect; it’s a top reason patients abandon psychiatric treatment. But what if we told you that with the right strategies, you could dramatically reduce medication dropouts? In this episode, Dr Craig Chepke and Dr Rakesh Jain break down the science of nausea, share real-world clinical insights, and offer actionable solutions to keep your patients feelin...

Join Dr Rakesh Jain and Dr Craig Chepke for an insightful and heartfelt conversation in the inaugural Psych Congress Family & Friends Podcast. A discussion of feelings surrounding the recent passing of Dr Vladimir Maletic leads to an exploration of a topic near and dear to Dr. Maletic's heart—the role of norepinephrine in clinical practice. From its impact on mood and cognition to its underappreci...

Introducing our new psychiatry and psychopharmacology podcast aimed at enhancing your clinical practice in an approachable and heartfelt way, hosted by Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, and Craig Chepke, MD, DFAPA. Subscribe now!