Scott explores the theory that clozapine's unique effectiveness in treating schizophrenia may be due to its combined action on dopamine and glutamate systems, potentially opening avenues for safer treatments. Longer summary

This post explores why clozapine is considered uniquely effective among antipsychotic drugs for treating schizophrenia. Scott discusses recent research suggesting clozapine's superiority may be due to its action on the glutamate system, specifically as an NMDA receptor agonist, in addition to its dopamine-blocking effects. He explains that adding NMDA modulators to other antipsychotics improves their efficacy, but not when added to clozapine, possibly because clozapine already has this effect. The post speculates that if this theory is correct, it could lead to safer treatments combining standard antipsychotics with NMDA agonists, avoiding clozapine's serious side effects. However, Scott notes that more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis and overcome regulatory hurdles. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares insights and critiques from a psychiatry conference, covering topics from medication prescribing rights to new monitoring technologies and research methodologies. Longer summary

Scott Alexander humorously recounts his experience at a psychiatry conference, highlighting various issues in the field. He discusses the debate over psychologists prescribing medication, new technologies for monitoring schizophrenic patients, problems with certain study designs, the effectiveness of long-acting injectable antipsychotics, and the superiority of clozapine. He also touches on political lobbying in psychiatry and the influence of drug companies. The post is written with a mix of seriousness and sardonic humor, critiquing various aspects of psychiatric practice and research. Shorter summary