Our Blog:  Reflections on Psychiatry & Psychology

The glymphatic system is a brain-wide waste-clearance pathway where CSF flows along vessels, exchanges with interstitial fluid via astrocytes, and drains metabolites. It is driven by vascular pulsation and enhanced during sleep. Dysfunction—linked to poor sleep or vascular issues—may promote buildup of proteins like amyloid-β and contribute to neurologic disease.

Drugs disrupt brain homeostasis by hijacking the dopamine reward system, producing intense pleasure that outweighs natural rewards. Repeated use rewires brain circuits, weakens self-control, and creates cravings, withdrawal, and relapse. Though genetics and environment influence risk, top-down control allows change and recovery.

AI is reshaping mental health care by expanding access, improving diagnosis, and enabling personalized treatment. While early results are promising, concerns remain about safety, bias, privacy, and loss of human connection. Experts emphasize AI should augment—not replace—clinicians.

A large Cochrane review of 67 randomized trials (>2,300 patients) found no clear evidence that ketamine or other NMDA-receptor antagonists reduce chronic non-cancer pain. Evidence quality was rated low to very low, so current data do not reliably support ketamine as an effective pain treatment.

tDCS is a noninvasive brain stimulation that modulates cortical activity via weak currents, promoting plasticity. Evidence is strongest for depression (~33% response vs 17% sham), especially as adjunct therapy. It’s well tolerated but investigational; effects in other disorders are uncertain.

A clinical case study on how integrated ketamine therapy and psychiatric care at Point Loma Clinic enabled early detection of a shift from depression to bipolar disorder. Patient Background: Treatment-Resistant Depression and a History of Mood Instability Joe is in his mid-fifties, an accomplished attorney who has been suffering from recurrent depression since his early adulthood. The depression was difficult to treat; many different medications have been tried, including mo

Geroscience studies aging itself as a root cause of disease. It distinguishes life span (years lived) from health span (years lived in good health). Research explores lifestyle changes, drugs like metformin, and senolytics to slow biological aging and extend healthy, active years.

Debate over benzodiazepines persists because better treatments for severe anxiety are lacking. Recent media portrayals highlight both benefit and risk. Used carefully, they remain essential for some patients—illustrating medicine’s constant balance between helping and harming.

Prescription nutraceuticals sometimes used in psychiatry include Deplin and EnLyte (L-methylfolate formulations that support neurotransmitter production) and Vascepa and Lovaza (omega-3 fatty acids). They are not antidepressants but may be added to treatment to support mood and overall brain health.

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.

Researchers found that amyloid plaques in Alzheimer’s brains trap lithium, creating early lithium deficiency that may contribute to disease onset. In mice, low lithium worsened plaques and memory loss, while low-dose lithium orotate improved them. Human studies are still needed.

A psychiatrist posed as a troubled teen to test AI therapy chatbots — and the results were alarming. Point Loma Clinic in San Diego explains why AI cannot safely replace licensed therapists, especially for vulnerable teens.

Ketamine and postpartum depression: A landmark BMJ study found that a single dose of esketamine after childbirth reduced postpartum depression by 75% in at-risk mothers. Learn what this means for prenatal depression treatment and maternal mental health.

Does naltrexone block ketamine’s antidepressant effects? Stanford research shows opioid receptor blockade dampens ketamine’s mood and antisuicidal benefits. Point Loma Clinic in San Diego explains what this means for your treatment plan.

New research shows the aging brain remodels — not just declines. Discover how the somatosensory cortex changes with age, why some layers thicken while others shrink, and what parvalbumin neurons and myelin reveal about brain aging and touch processing.

Can clinicians predict who will respond to ketamine for depression? A UCSD Veterans Affairs study identifies key baseline symptoms that predict ketamine non-response, informing better treatment planning. Learn more from Point Loma Clinic in San Diego.

"Taking traditional medication was like wading through mud—constantly struggling to stay clean. Ketamine, however, felt like walking in gentle rain; any mud simply washes away."

Psychedelic psychiatry is moving from fringe research to mainstream clinical practice. An overview of psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine — including benefits, risks, and what the evidence supports.

If multiple antidepressants haven't worked for you, you're not alone and you're not out of options. Why Antidepressants Fail: Lessons from the STAR*D Study Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a complex challenge in mental health, characterized by patients' inadequate response to standard antidepressant therapies. The landmark STAR*D study, which extensively evaluated treatment strategies for depression, revealed that a significant percentage of individuals do not respond

OCD is often diagnosed late (6–10 years) due to varied symptoms and stigma. Depression frequently co-occurs and may obscure OCD. Standard treatment is ERP plus SSRIs; other medications may be added. Emerging evidence suggests ketamine may help treatment-resistant OCD.