by michaelhalassa | Mar 16, 2026 | ADHD medication and psychosis, Algorithmic psychiatry, Chronic stimulant use, Cobenfy, Computational psychiatry, Distributed neural systems, Dopamine and psychosis, Executive Control, Reward-seeking systems, Schizophrenia, Stimulant side effects, Stimulant-induced psychosis
When I wrote about Stephanie earlier this summer, the 58-year-old executive who kept photographing “dimensional breach points” in her neighbors’ basements, I discussed the potential relationship to her long-term use of prescription stimulant...
by michaelhalassa | Jul 10, 2025 | Computational psychiatry, Executive Control, Michael Halassa, Reinforcement learning, Schizophrenia
As a psychiatrist who treats patients with schizophrenia, I’ve long been struck by a fundamental puzzle: why do individuals with psychosis hold onto beliefs with such unwavering certainty, even when presented with compelling contradictory evidence? The answer,...
by | May 14, 2025 | Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia, Circuits, and the Case for Neuromodulation In schizophrenia, the gap between what we know and what we can treat is wide. While dopamine-blocking drugs help with positive symptoms like delusions and hallucinations, they often leave patients...
by | Feb 11, 2025 | Schizophrenia
Jill’s Case: A Lesson in GABA Modulation Jill was a middle-aged woman with a longstanding diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. She had been maintained on an antipsychotic, but her regimen also included clonazepam. When placement issues arose, I attempted to taper...
