How does constant digital connection affect our mental health, and when does technology use become harmful? In this episode of Psychiatric News Special Report, psychiatrist Sulman Aziz Mirza, M.D., speaks with Nathan A. Carroll, D.O., M.B.A., M.P.H., national medical director for InSite Health, about digital hyperconnectivity, a proposed framework that examines technology as an environmental exposure rather than simply a matter of screen time.

They explore how algorithms, notifications, social media, gaming, and artificial intelligence shape attention, behavior, and human relationships. Their conversation also examines the difference between heavy technology use and problematic use, the potential consequences of cognitive offloading, and how clinicians can better assess digital habits. Dr. Carroll discusses the proposed DHC-8 screening tool and why harm reduction, rather than complete disconnection, may offer a more practical path toward healthier technology use.

PsychNews Special Report is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn

GLP-1 medications are reshaping obesity care, but their potential impact may extend well beyond weight loss. In this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, host Erin Connors speaks with Charles Nemeroff, M.D., about what psychiatrists should know about GLP-1 medications, from addressing weight gain and metabolic risks associated with psychiatric treatment to emerging research on cravings, alcohol use disorder, and other addictive behaviors. They also discuss potential psychiatric effects, safety considerations, and concerns about inappropriate use as these medications become increasingly common.

En este episodio especial por el Mes de la Herencia Hispana, la Dra. Karen Martínez González, psiquiatra de niños y adolescentes y directora del Departamento de Psiquiatría de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, conversa sobre por qué una atención de salud mental culturalmente receptiva requiere mucho más que hablar el mismo idioma. La Dra. Martínez González aborda la importancia de comprender el contexto cultural y familiar de cada paciente, reducir el estigma y otras barreras a la atención psiquiátrica, y ampliar el acceso a profesionales de salud mental que hablen español. También destaca el papel de la mentoría y la exposición temprana a la medicina para fortalecer la representación de hispanos y latinos en la psiquiatría, y comparte un mensaje de esperanza para quienes aún buscan atención que comprenda su idioma, su cultura y sus experiencias.

In this special Hispanic Heritage Month episode, Dr. Karen Martínez González, child and adolescent psychiatrist and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Puerto Rico, discusses why culturally responsive mental health care requires more than speaking the same language. She explores the importance of understanding patients' cultural and family contexts, reducing stigma and other barriers to psychiatric care, and expanding access to Spanish-speaking mental health professionals. Dr. Martínez González also shares why mentorship and early exposure to medicine are essential to building a stronger pipeline of Hispanic and Latino psychiatrists and offers a message of hope for people still searching for care that understands their language, culture, and experiences.