Hi, I'm doctor Tom Schwartz with my medical school minute about the most interesting thing I've learned over my many years as an adult psychiatrist in the upstate Norton College of Medicine.

I've spent decades honing m skills to make expert diagnoses and to provide cutting edg treatments for major depression.

I've investigated how to combine medications and even how to use pacemakers for the brain.

I've been called, among other things, a biological psychiatrist and a psycho pharmacologist, which is a long and complicated word for what I do day to day with my patients.

Now, we know that taking antidepressants alters brain chemicals, which changes brain electrical patterns, and this allows depression to improve.

Unfortunately, also, I've had patients who continue to be depressed despite trying these options.

And I'm amazed but no longer surprised in these cases where I suggest psychotherapy and patients get better.

When the antidepressants didn't help.

Talking to someone takes into account not only the heart, soul and psyche, but the research in my clinica experience shows changes brain, electrical activity and patterns.

Just like the antidepressant pills.

Talking to a skilled therapist can be transformative and life saving.

And it's wild that it can change how the brain biologically works, too.

I'm doctor Tom Schwartz, psychiatrist at Upstate Medical University, with my medical school minute.