ADHD & Integrative Psychiatry 

TL;DR A major 2025 study published in Cell challenges one of the most familiar explanations for how stimulant medications help ADHD. Researchers found that stimulants such as methylphenidate were associated more strongly with brain networks involved in arousal, wakefulness, reward, and motivation than with the brain’s canonical attention networks. That does not mean stimulant medications do not work. They clearly help many people with ADHD. Instead, the study raises a more in

New research suggests circadian rhythm disruption may be common in adults with ADHD. Here is what the science says about sleep timing, morning light, melatonin, exercise, and why treating ADHD sometimes requires looking beyond medication.

A new analysis of more than 1.9 million people found significantly more gastrointestinal symptoms in people with ADHD. Here is what the research means and why nutrition, exercise, sleep, medication effects and gut health belong in a comprehensive ADHD treatment plan.

Mental Fatigue, Dopamine, Burnout and the ADHD Energy Crash TL;DR Adults with ADHD frequently describe mental fatigue, brain fog, afternoon crashes, and feeling completely depleted after work. ADHD can make everyday life cognitively expensive because regulating attention, motivation, emotions, and executive function may require substantial mental effort. But the answer is not always more stimulant medication. Good ADHD treatment should also consider sleep, exercise, nutrition

TL;DR: What You Should Know About SIMTRIYO SIMTRIYO (centanafadine) is a newly FDA-approved, once-daily medication for ADHD with a mechanism that is different from existing ADHD medications. SIMTRIYO was approved by the FDA in July 2026 for ADHD in adults and in children ages 6 and older who weigh at least 20 kg, or about 44 pounds. What makes SIMTRIYO particularly interesting is its pharmacology. Centanafadine inhibits the reuptake of three neurotransmitters: norepinephrine,

TL;DR L-Theanine for ADHD, Anxiety, Focus & Sleep That's L-THEE-UH-NEEN :) L-theanine is one of the most evidence-supported supplements I recommend for improving focus, reducing mental “noise,” managing stress, and supporting sleep as part of a comprehensive mental health treatment plan. A 2026 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Molecular Psychiatry analyzed 31 randomized controlled trials involving 1,168 participants and found that L-theanine consistently impro

TL;DR: A recent study from Keck Medicine of USC found that omega-3 fish oil supplements did not significantly slow Alzheimer’s-related cognitive decline. That finding isn’t particularly surprising—and it doesn’t mean fish oil is ineffective. Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly understood as a disorder of impaired brain energy metabolism, insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and vascular disease. Fish oil supports healthy brain cell membranes, neurotran

TL;DR Emerging research in metabolic psychiatry is challenging the traditional view that mental health conditions are solely disorders of neurotransmitters. New studies suggest that conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and potentially ADHD may also involve dysfunction in how the brain produces and uses energy. While ketogenic diets are not a cure-all, they have shown promising early results in several psychiatric conditions, highlighting the importa

TL;DR: ADHD May Be a Brain Energy Disorder A major 2026 review published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews proposes a new way of thinking about ADHD. Rather than viewing ADHD solely as a disorder of attention, the authors suggest ADHD may involve difficulties regulating and allocating the brain’s energy resources. While this model is still evolving, it helps explain why people with ADHD often experience inconsistent performance, fluctuating focus, executive dysfunction,

By Ryan Sheridan, DNP, PMHNP-BC | Proactive Psychiatry TL;DR A new 2026 systematic review suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 medications) may have significant neuroprotective effects that extend far beyond weight loss and diabetes treatment. In animal models, these medications consistently reduced two of Alzheimer’s disease’s hallmark pathologies: amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles. Human studies remain limited, but early evidence suggests GLP-1 medications may im

Most people have heard omega-3s are “good for your heart.” Fewer people understand why they matter for the brain. That is unfortunate, because the brain is not just a bag of neurotransmitters floating around waiting for a medication to fix everything. The brain is tissue. It is made of cells, membranes, fats, mitochondria, inflammatory signaling molecules, and electrical networks. When we talk about mental health from an integrative psychiatry perspective, we have to talk abo

Sleep isn’t just “something we do at night.” It’s a biologically essential process that repairs the brain, consolidates memory, balances mood, regulates appetite, and clears the brain’s metabolic waste. When sleep goes sideways, everything else goes sideways: mood, focus, resilience, and yes, health. It's fairly common to rely on substances to “hack” sleep, and while these may feel helpful in the short term, they throw your brain’s natural sleep architecture out of whack. L

A New Wave of Mental Health Research: Exercise as a First-Line Treatment For decades, mental health treatment has followed a predictable...

ADHD isn’t a disorder. Not really - so screw what the DSM says. It’s a mismatch between how your brain works and what society expects...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has become one of the most talked-about mental health conditions in the last few decades,...

TL;DR: Key Takeaways • My practice, Proactive Psychiatry, offers a personalized, holistic approach. • I spend more time with each...

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex condition often linked to dopamine dysregulation. (Yeah, for those who have...

High-quality sleep has the power to transform your life. I will try to keep this post brief. (Also, not exactly sure why I chose all cats...

ADHD in adulthood often feels like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Society expects us to stay still, focus, and follow...

As an integrative psychiatric nurse practitioner in Washington, DC , I often encounter folks diagnosed with ADHD who feel limited by the...