Ever wondered why the biochemical story behind psychiatric meds often misleads more than it helps?

In this livestream Dr. Nassir Ghaemi is joined by resident Daniel Heringer to argue that drug mechanisms are rarely the primary reason a medication works. From the 1950s antipsychotics and antidepressants to modern agents, efficacy was proven in trials before anyone knew how the drugs acted. The discussion highlights that most psychotropics have dozens of effects, that the classic serotonin, dopamine, or norepinephrine hypotheses have not stood up to rigorous testing, and that mechanisms are more useful for predicting side‑effects than for choosing the most effective treatment.

The takeaway: prioritize solid clinical trial data over mechanistic speculation. Mechanistic insight can guide dosing nuances or safety considerations, but it should not drive the core decision‑making process. Dr. Ghaemi also previews the first chapters of his revised psychopharmacology textbook and points listeners to free webinars, Substack archives, and paid courses for deeper learning.

Subscribe to stay updated and follow the link for the upcoming live series: https://psychiatryletter.com/3-live-class-enroll-2nd-edition/