Kelly B. Ahern, M.D.

@mayoclinicsom ‘25 | psych PGY-1 @ WashU | views expressed here are my own

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

Meet me in St. Louis 💚❤️

While it’s a little bittersweet to close this strange and wonderful chapter, I’m so excited and grateful to return to train at the place that taught me to love medicine in the first place!

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

Research day!

Full results loading…

And also check out my awesome group of mentors!

@HealthyMindLab

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

All these match posts 🥹

And for those who didn’t get the news they were hoping for this week- I’m still so proud of you. The match is a brutal process ❤️ You have a long track record of overcoming hurdles, and your story is far from over ❤️

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

@drrdemon Ahhh! Congratulations!

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

This paper's title says it all:

"Prescribing clozapine to 10% of patients with #schizophrenia may save 320,000 lives and cost 2400 deaths from agranulocytosis"
https://t.co/gRvQawUxfo

How? Mostly by suicide reduction. Also, the body lasts longer when the brain works better.

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

What's your go-to for acute agitation?

In a new small RCT, haloperidol-promethazine outperformed chlorpromazine-promethazine for efficacy and safety (PRN INJ):
https://t.co/IumJHf0hHF

Evidence Grade: 8/10. Not an easy study to do!

[Robert Y. Chen @therealRYC]

🚨 Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) - the most controversial treatment in Psychiatry

A study of >1 million patients with a depressive disorder re-examined the benefits of ECT.

Here's what you need to know about this landmark paper published this week in @BMJMentalHealth

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

Residency is tough, but how very lucky am I to get to do it with these super cool people ❤️

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

Antidepressants no longer recommended in bipolar:
▪ Small, brief benefit, outweighed by risks: Mania, mixity, rapid cycling
▪ Exception: Olanzapine-fluoxetine combo (2nd line due to metabolic risks)
▪ Never use without mood stabilizer in BP

From:
https://t.co/4rAZWDbXjn

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

Suicide risk is high 1st month after psych hospital, confirmed in new Swiss study of 72,275. Those at higher risk:
• Younger
• Male
• Single
• Personality or substance d/o
• Self-harm

1 in 30 died by suicide within 4 yr of hospital:
https://t.co/YS7K3LX81j

Help: Dial 988

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

Here's what to know about SNT TMS:
▪ Brought full recovery to 80% with refractory depression (avg 5 med failures)
▪ Works within a week
▪ Double blind was intact

More in podcast:
https://t.co/0XidZtcbyn

And new depression textbook (audio out soon)
https://t.co/5rlen4NTXp

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

@majdsleitii @MayoPsych Such cool projects! Congratulations!!!

[Kelly B. Ahern, M.D. @Kelly_Bee22]

“Just look at the degree on that chick”

Love this trend! ❤️

[Robert Y. Chen @therealRYC]

‼️MORE WILDNESS IN PSYCHIATRY

Ketamine has long been thought to impact depression through glutamate signaling.

But it doesn’t

A new paper in @Nature shows that ADENOSINE is the causal neurotransmitter

And adenosine also underlies the antidepressant effects of ECT

🤯

[Robert Y. Chen @therealRYC]

🚨 LANDMARK STUDY ALERT

The largest, multicenter, assessor-blinded, RCT of antipsychotic efficacy was just published this week.

7 arms.

7 antipsychotics.

3000 patients.

» All antipsychotics ↓ symptoms by 50% in 6 weeks
» Olanzapine, risperidone > the rest

[Samuel Hume @DrSamuelBHume]

About 10-15% of the adult population takes antidepressants

The Lancet just published the first meta-analysis that shows how each affects physical health: metabolism, heart rate, kidney and liver function

This should help tailor antidepressant choice for individual people

[Dr. Catharine Young @DrCatharineY]

This is why we fund science. And experimental gene therapy.

[Isaac Saul @Ike_Saul]

The Tylenol causing autism stuff is straight up nonsense. Actual bullshit.

1. When we study this in siblings, the correlation disappears. Meaning it's not the Tylenol.

2. Tylenol use during pregnancy has declined over time, so it definitely doesn't explain the increase.

[American Psychiatric Association @APApsychiatric]

APA Statement on White House Announcement on Autism https://t.co/S5bf8MycQu

[Chris Aiken, MD @chrisaikenmd]

FDA cleared accelerated of deep TMS for depression:

▪ 5 TMS/day over 6-days, then 8 TMS over 4 weeks
▪ Response rate (78%) similar to standard TMS, after 1-5 antidepressant fails
▪ Means faster recovery, easier accessibility, insurance coverage

https://t.co/C7tuzFpd1Q

[Psychiatrist.com @PsychiatristCNS]

New research following 387 people after their first suicide attempt found sobering outcomes:
🔹 37% tried again within 5 years.
🔹 Women were more likely to make multiple reattempts.
🔹 Alcohol use doubled the odds of a high-lethality attempt.
🔹 High-lethality attempts raised suicide death risk 5-fold.
https://t.co/1EXov6TDAX