Chris Aiken, MD

The average patient with bipolar disorder struggles with sleep disorders. Here's how you can help.

Don't fall into the trap of these 3 myths about mania in bipolar disorder...

How to regulate circadian rhythms and regulate mood using dark therapy.

A study compared matcha, a highly caffeinated green tea, to other sources of caffeine. Which had the greatest cognitive benefits?

A hypnotic might be a good option for augmenting depression treatment, but which hypnotic has the best evidence for efficacy?

After a string of disappointing results, mirtazapine gets another look in a recent study.

Blue light is associated with a host of physical health maladies, including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. But what does it do to patients with depression or bipolar disorder?

A deep dive into the history, side effects, and efficacy of a controversial drug.

A daily serving of almonds improved depressive symptoms in diabetes, but will it work in non-diabetic depression?

Although lithium is a first-line treatment that ranks high on the list of patient’s favorites, it has fallen out of general use, particularly in the United States. When lithium works well, its benefits tend to last. It is among the top medications that prevent hospitalization. More in this podcast.

A preview of 3 pivotal trials suggests promising results, but there are reasons to wait before jumping in with this antipsychotic.

Sedation may not always be desirable, but it is difficult to avoid in psychiatry. Some of the most sedating medications are discussed.

Studies suggest blueberries may have the power to treat depression...

Some mood episodes are more anxiety-provoking than others, and at the top of the list are mixed states.

Before starting to prescribe stimulants to every adult who cannot concentrate, it is important to take a closer look at the research.

Getting the dose just right can be tough...

In what 5 ways can anxiety present in bipolar disorder?

Although supported by basic science, it’s still a sea change to think that diet can treat depression. Some research puts that idea to the test.

Despite alcohol-related fatalities soaring to the No. 1 cause of death in middle-aged adults, this medication is often overlooked.

Three new trials suggest a novel antidepressant hides inside the blue-skinned fruit.

A new test screens for bipolar disorder with respectable accuracy

A recent finding that ADHD can begin in adulthood has surprised researchers. Here are reasons why it may be wrong.

What are they key differences between ADHD and bipolar disorder? How can they be identified?

For many patients, the most painful part of bipolar disorder is the loss of control over their own mind.

One medication stood out as the most effective in a meta-analysis of alcohol use disorders with depression, but few patients are taking it.

Raise the dose, augment, or switch? A new study suggests we may need to give antidepressants more time to be effective.

Dr Aiken gives tips to feel more connected to your patient and become more aware of their lives.

Drug interactions, discontinuation issues, adverse effects, and more. These are the problems that are often overlooked.

There are many reasons symptoms worsen in younger patients who are prescribed antidepressants. Five possible scenarios are discussed in this podcast.