NYU Langone Insights on Psychiatry – Details, episodes & analysis

To kick off Season 4, Charles Marmar, MD, explains how precision psychiatry is reshaping the way clinicians and researchers think about diagnosis, treatment selection, and the underlying biology of psychiatric disorders. This conversation is a overview of where the field stands today—including emerging molecular markers, biologically informed subtypes, and new translational approaches inspired by oncology and other precision-based specialties.

Dr. Marmar is Chair of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Director of the Center for the Study of Alcohol Use Disorder and Traumatic Stress.

▶️ Watch Insights on Psychiatry on YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Marmar outlines current work on:

• Molecular and genomic signatures that may distinguish patient subtypes
• Clinical trials examining targeted treatments for alcohol use disorder
• The development of proxy “brain biopsy” methods such as exosomal analyses and iPSC-derived organoids
• How converging biological data could eventually support more individualized treatment planning

This discussion reflects ongoing efforts at NYU Langone Health to move psychiatry toward a more mechanism-based, biologically grounded model of care, while acknowledging the complexity and early stage of the work.

This episode is intended for psychiatrists, mental health clinicians, and others interested in the treatment of complex psychiatric disorders.

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

What if mental health care worked more like cancer treatment—tailored to the individual, informed by biology, and driven by data? Charles Marmar, MD, Chair of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, takes us through the latest advances in precision psychiatry. From brain imaging to digital phenotyping, Dr. Marmar outlines the tools shaping a future where treatment is fully customized. He also shares stories from the front lines: a patient whose depression was treated with the help of a brain biopsy, why PTSD and depression aren’t one-size-fits-all, and how quantum computing could radically accelerate psychiatric research.

🔍 Topics Covered

00:00 Introduction
02:24 Personalized Treatment Approaches
05:13 Challenges in Precision Psychiatry
11:12 The Role of Genomics and Brain Imaging
23:35 Digital Psychiatry and AI
25:57 Quantum Computing in Psychiatry
33:04 Future of Precision Psychiatry
37:22 Conclusion

📚 Related Resources

Charles Marmar, MD – NYU Faculty Profile
NYU Langone Psychiatry
Adriana Heguy, PhD – NYU Faculty Profile
Javad Shabani, PhD – NYU Faculty Profile

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This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Timothy Wilens is a Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital. His research interest include the relationship between ADHD, bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders; ADHD pharmacotherapy; and stimulant medication misuse.

On this episode, Dr. Wilens discusses the importance of early diagnosis and intervention in ADHD, as well as its lifelong implications. He takes us through the evolution of ADHD treatment, from behavioral therapies to modern pharmacological interventions, including stimulant and non-stimulant medications, and the application of digital therapeutics. The conversation also touches on the stigma surrounding ADHD, the role of precision medicine, and the future of ADHD research.

00:00 Introduction
02:50 Evolution of ADHD Treatment
04:43 Stigma and Misconceptions
12:18 Importance of Early Intervention
15:02 ADHD Symptoms and Treatment Approaches
30:02 Addressing Concerns About Stimulant Medications
35:50 Navigating the Complexities of ADHD Medication
41:22 Future of ADHD Research and Treatment
43:20 Conclusion

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Ira Glick is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University Medical Center, where he has served as director of the Schizophrenia Research Clinic. On this episode, he discusses his research journey, which began in the 1960s and followed a shift from psychoanalysis to biological psychiatry. He addresses the broken social safety net for schizophrenia patients, including the controversial topic of treating some patients against their will, as well as the challenges of medication adherence, and the stigma surrounding severe mental illness.

00:00 Introduction
00:49 Evolution of Schizophrenia Treatment
04:34 Science Behind Schizophrenia Medications
07:39 Addressing the Public Health Challenges of Schizophrenia
11:15 Stigma and Misunderstanding of Severe Mental Illness
21:44 Innovative Treatment Approaches and the Future of Schizophrenia Care
31:36 Importance of Public Health Interventions and Political Will
35:45 Closing Remarks and Future Directions

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Christin Drake is Clinical Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Diversity and Equity in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. On this episode, Dr. Drake discusses ongoing efforts to improve mental health equity, including by improving psychiatric services for underserved groups, gathering better data, and boosting diversity among health care providers. She also discusses the importance of integrating mental health care into perinatal services and challenges the conventional wisdom about stigma toward mental health care in the Black community.

00:00 Introduction
00:55 Dr. Drake's Vision for Equity in Mental Health Care
03:46 Addressing Racial Inequities in Psychiatry: A Critical Conversation
04:45 The Importance of Representation and Mentorship in Psychiatry
10:32 Building Foundations for Health Equity: Data and Systemic Change
22:16 Integrating Psychiatric Care into Perinatal Health
33:31 Rethinking Mental Health Stigma in the Black Community
38:08 Future Projects and Closing Thoughts

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. John Krystal is Chair of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine. He is best known for leading the discovery of the rapid antidepressant effects of ketamine, which paved the way for the first major new antidepressant drug in decades. Here, Dr. Krystal talks about what we’ve learned in the five years since esketamine nasal spray was approved by the FDA, including efforts to predict treatment response, dosage and frequency, safety, and long-term impact. He also discusses advances in our understanding of alcohol use disorder and weighs in on the search for psychiatric biomarkers.

00:00 Introduction
01:01 Dr. Krystal's Research Journey
03:32 What We’ve Learned Since Esketamine’s FDA Approval
05:59 Avoiding Misuse
08:11 Optimizing Dosage
16:25 Predicting Treatment Outcomes
24:17 Ketamine vs. Psychedelics
25:48 Advances in the Treatment of Alcohol Use Disorder
32:33 Precision Psychiatry and Personalized Treatment Approaches
39:49 Psychiatric Biomarkers
41:03 The Future of Psychiatric Research and Treatment

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Robert Findling is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Here he discusses recent advances in pediatric mental health, including his own research on aggression and schizophrenia in young people. Dr. Findling also shares his thoughts on the crisis of teen suicide, the lingering impact of COVID-19 on children’s mental health, and the need for early and collaborative interventions.

00:00 Introduction
00:46 Clinical and Research Journey
02:56 Aggression with impulsivity and reactivity (AIR)
06:48 Precision Pediatric Psychiatry
15:34 Schizophrenia
20:31 What Kids Need to Thrive
23:10 Teen Suicide
25:09 Role of Schools and Primary Care
30:58 Loneliness Epidemic Among Children
32:32 Improving Access to Pediatric Mental Health Care
40:00 Bipolar Disorder
43:24 Future Research and Hope for Young Patients
45:11 Conclusion: Importance of Early Intervention

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Charles Nemeroff is Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas-Austin's Dell Medical School. He is also co-director of the Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, and director of the Institute for Early Life Adversity Research. His research is focused on the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders with a focus on the role of child abuse and neglect as a major risk factor.

00:00 Introduction
00:52 Dr. Nemeroff's Research Journey
01:55 Childhood Maltreatment as Risk Factor
04:53 Advances and Challenges in Precision Psychiatry
07:33 Psychedelic Medicine (incl. blinding issues and potential adverse events)
20:50 How Psychedelics Disrupt the "Circle of Hell"
30:00 Psilocybin as Potential Treatment for Anorexia Nervosa
38:32 Screening for Childhood Maltreatment
41:30 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
44:14 Focused Ultrasound
46:32 Prescribing MAOIs
49:34 Conclusion

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Helen Riess is Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of Empathy Research and Training in the Psychotherapy Research Group at Massachusetts General Hospital. She is also Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Empathetics, a company that provides science-based empathy and interpersonal skills training for healthcare professionals. Her research focuses on improving empathy and relational skills in physicians.

00:00 Introduction
01:14 Defining Empathy
03:38 Empathy and Burnout
05:00 Care for the Caregiver
07:52 Exquisite Empathy and Burnout
09:18 Building Empathy and Avoiding Overburden
10:45 Developing Boundaries in Clinical Practice
11:45 Training and Teaching Empathy
13:42 Model for Recognizing Emotion in Others
15:11 Becoming Emotion Detectives
19:31 Leadership's Role in Creating Supportive Workplaces
23:22 Benefits of Empathy Training
29:07 Technology and Empathy Training
34:18 Research on MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy
37:43 Building Empathy and Compassion
40:07 Taking Small Steps Towards Empathy
42:32 Resources for Building Empathy
43:28 Future of Empathy Training

The Empathy Effect (Dr. Riess's book)
The Power of Empathy (TEDx Talk)

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle

Dr. Christopher Pittenger is a Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and Director of the Yale OCD Research Clinic. In this episode, he discusses the neurobiology, symptomology, and treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), including potential new treatments such as psychedelics, neurofeedback, glutamate modulators, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). 

00:00 Introduction
00:41 Why is OCD Underdiagnosed?
02:19 Impact of OCD on Individuals
03:40 Taboo Nature of OCD Thoughts
06:10 Biomarkers
08:06 Neurobiology
14:20 Serotonin
16:48 Heterogeneity of OCD
24:00 Glutamate Modulators
29:33 Ketamine
33:13 Psilocybin
38:23 Neurofeedback
44:01 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
47:22 Relationship Between Depression and OCD
50:24 Future of OCD Treatment

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle