2007 Lecture Archive 

Ask the Facilitators - Roundtable Discussion

Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Panel of MDSG Group Facilitators

Good doctors and therapists are invaluable in managing mood disorders, but sometimes you also need advice on practical issues. Should you ever let your boss know about your illness? Does everyone have this much trouble with insurance? When should you mention your depression to potential romantic partners? Are there any tricks for fighting insomnia and other side effects?

The trained facilitators who lead our weekly support groups are just the people to answer these sorts of questions. Come with questions of your own or just listen in.

Exciting New Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression

Tuesday  November 6, 2007
Sanjay Mathew, M.D.

Dealing with depression is never easy, but when multiple medication regimens fail to do the job, or side effects are so debilitating that certain treatments are not options, it’s easy to lose hope. Don’t. Researchers have been making exciting breakthroughs for treating these tough cases - what's known as treatment-resistant depression.

"We actually prefer the term ‘difficult to treat’ instead of treatment resistant. We’re finding novel ways to successfully treat this type of depression all the time," says Sanjay Mathew, MD, assistant professor at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. New drugs, new combinations, alternative treatments, and new approaches involving electroconvulsive therapy and other brain stimulation techniques are all making it possible for more people to find relief, says Dr. Mathew. "Making yourself aware of all the latest advances is a good way to work toward a better outcome."

Dr. Mathew is an award-winning researcher and expert on "difficult-to-treat" depression at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Come hear him speak about how the latest advances are poised to help some of the toughest cases.

In Search of Memory: Psychiatry, Psychoanalysis and the New Biology of Mind

Monday  October 1, 2007
Eric Kandel, M.D.

Ask any doctor if mental illnesses like depression have biological roots and the answer will invariably be yes. But fifty years ago, so little was known about the workings of the brain that few realized that our thoughts, mental processes and moods had real physical components. Eric Kandel’s work in locating the specific area in the brain responsible for memory changed the way that scientists think about the human mind, and his years of neuroscience research have shed even more light onto the way our brains work.

Now, Dr. Kandel turns his attention to the biological components of depression and psychotherapy, arguing that therapy, particularly psychoanalysis, has suffered from a lack of scientific rigor. "To what degree can psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and biology come together? That should be the new focus in the discussion of depression," says Dr. Kandel, who posits that advances in brain imaging technology will help enable a long-needed objective look at therapy.

Dr. Kandel is a Nobel Prize-winner and Luminary in the Field of Neuroscience. Not only a brilliant scientist, he is also an eloquent writer and speaker on the interplay between biology, thought, and mood. His recent book, In Search of Memory, has earned rave reviews of both its scientific and literary brilliance. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to hear a luminary in the field of neuroscience speak about mood disorders.

NOTE: Admission for this Fundraiser Lecture is $10 for nonmembers and $6 for members.
NOTE: This will be our first lecture the new Podell Auditorium in the Bernstein Pavilion.

There’s More to You Than Your Mood Disorder: 
Confronting Your Other Demons

June 5, 2007  
Ira Moses, Ph.D

Where does your personality start and your diagnosis end? For anyone who suffers from depression or bipolar disorder this can be a tough question to answer. “Everyone has a personality within which a mood disorder exists,” says Ira Moses, Ph.D., clinical director of the William Alanson White Institute and our June lecturer. “After a while, though, the line can become blurred.” It doesn’t have to be this way. Therapy can bring insight into how long-standing personality and character issues can interact with symptoms.

Dr. Moses , who is also a practicing therapist, will talk about how to recognize the difference between between your symptoms and your self and discuss how psychotherapy can complement medical treatment to identify personal shortcomings—as well as strengths. “The key is not to hide behind your diagnosis,” he says.

Bipolar II: What I've Learned From Treating 800 Cases Over Many Decades

May 1, 2007  
Ronald Fieve, MD

When it comes to treating bipolar disorder, Ronald Fieve is one of the giants in the field. He was among the pioneers in using lithium as a mood stabilizer and his best-selling book Moodswing introduced the concept of bipolar disorder into the mainstream.

He was also instrumental in helping to establish this very organization, twenty-five years ago. Now he turns his attention to bipolar II, the frequently misunderstood subtype of the disease. His recent book explores the concept of “beneficial highs,” and raises the question, “Is it possible to take advantage of these highly productive, positive states and still adequately treat the devastating depressive ones?” Don’t miss this important lecture. 

Dr. Ronald R. Fieve, a psychopharmacologist, is a leading world expert in diagnostic evaluation and biological treatment of Bipolar I, Bipolar II, manic depression, depression, panic, anxiety disorders and ADHD. Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. Chief of Psychiatric Research, Lithium Studies and Manic Depression Research, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York City. 

A Consumer's Guide to Impasse and Failure in Psychotherapy

April 10, 2007  
J. Christopher Muran, Ph.D.

Some days it can seem like your relationship with your therapist could use some therapy of its own. Anything from communication breakdown to mutual anxiety can often cause what should be a free-flowing, well-functioning working relationship to encounter troublesome gridlock. J. Christopher Muran is an expert on the therapeutic relationship. He’ll explain how to spot red flags and give valuable, practical advice on the best ways to address them.

Dr. Muran is Chief Psychologist and Director of the Brief Psychotherapy Research Program at Beth Israel Medical Center, where he maintains a private practice and is active in teaching and training. He is also Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cognitive-behavioral therapy at the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, and psychoanalytic training in the New York University Postdoctoral Program. Dr. Muran is a fellow of Division 12, Clinical Psychology, in the American Psychological Association. He is also president for the North American Chapter of the Society for Psychotherapy Research and a past recipient of its Early Career Award. He has published and presented on the topic of psychotherapy process, with particular attention to the relationship between patient & therapist. He is co-editor with Jeremy Safran, Ph.D. of The Therapeutic Alliance in Brief Psychotherapy, co-author with Dr. Safran of Negotiating the Therapeutic Alliance: A Relational Treatment Guide, and editor of Self-Relations in the Psychotherapy Process and Dialogues on Difference: Studies of Diversity in the Therapeutic Relationship.

Out of the Pillbox: Brain Stimulation for Medication Resistant Disorders

March 13, 2007   
Sarah Lisanby, MD

Breakthrough treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation are all emerging from the research lab as powerful and effective tools for treating depression and bipolar disorder. This is especially true in cases where medications work poorly or not at all. Few people know much about these techniques though, and without a basic understanding, they can sound like nothing more than science fiction. 

Come hear the latest evidence from one of the top experts in this fascinating field. Sarah Lisanby has been at the forefront of researching these cutting edge methods. Be sure to attend her informative lecture.

Dr. Lisanby is the Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute's Division of Brain Stimulation and Therapeutic Modulation. See NOVEL TREATMENTS for DEPRESSION SERVICE at the Brain Behavior Clinic.

Antidepressants for Bipolar Disorder—Are They Helpful? Are They Safe?

February 6, 2007   
Maria Oquendo, MD

When it comes to treating bipolar disorder, antidepressants can be a double-edged sword. In many cases, they can trigger mood instability and more frequent episodes, although without them patients are often doomed to suffer through particularly acute depressive episodes. "Most bipolar patients do receive some kind of antidepressant, but there is much debate about whether they might actually make them worse," says Maria Oquendo, our February lecturer. Finding the exact medication balance is difficult, but the evidence now emerging can bring about better outcomes. Are antidepressants for bipolars making a comeback? Come hear the latest thinking on this controversial issue. Dr. Oquendo is a leading expert on this subject and she'll speak as both a researcher and a clinician.

Dr. Oquendo is a professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia University, a researcher and practicing psychiatrist.

Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression

January 9, 2007  
Dennis Charney, MD

It seems like every day that goes by, a new medication or new approach for treating mood disorders emerges. And that’s great news. The only problem is trying to keep up with it all. Our January lecture is the perfect way to get up to speed. Dennis Charney is one of the foremost authorities on psychopharmacology. He’ll present the latest information on new medications and the most effective combinations and answer questions from the audience. 

Dr. Charney is the Dean of Academic and Scientific Affairs at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and the author of The Peace of Mind Prescription.