Neuroscience & Mechanisms at Psych Congress 2026
10 sessions on neuroscience & mechanisms · September 15–19, 2026, New Orleans, LA. Compare neuroscience & mechanisms at other meetings →
Tuesday, September 15
Course
Advanced Psychopharmacology Intensive: Emerging Neurobiologic Targets and Metabolic Pathways Reshaping Psychiatric Treatment
Brittany Albright · Rakesh Jain · Gregory Mattingly · David Plante
Half-day ticketed intensive built around four expert-led modules on treatment mechanisms moving beyond monoamines: orexin-based agents, glutamate/dopamine circuit approaches, muscarinic receptor modulation, and GLP-1/bioenergetic pathways.
GLP-1 & Metabolic Psychiatry · Muscarinic & Novel Antipsychotics · Drug Pipeline & Clinical Trials
Symposium · MasterClass
MasterClass: Could Glutamatergic Modulation be the Keystone of Durable Change in Treatment-Resistant Depression?
Brittany Albright · Michael Asbach
Examines glutamatergic dysfunction in MDD and the evidence for current and emerging glutamate-targeting therapies in treatment-resistant depression.
Wednesday, September 16
Symposium · MasterClass
MasterClass: The Sleep-Psych Nexus: Understanding and Assessing Sleep Disturbances in Psychiatric Practice
Craig Chepke · Philip Gehrman · Logan Schneider
Explores the shared neurobiology of sleep and psychiatric illness with screening, diagnostic, and management strategies for complex sleep-wake disorders.
Thursday, September 17
Symposium · Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends
Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends in MDD
Year-in-review of depression research spanning neurobiology, trial results, and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic innovation, with selected poster presenters showcasing new data.
Symposium · MasterClass
MasterClass: Unlocking the Doors of Depression: Neuroplastic and Psychedelic Therapies in MDD
Examines glutamatergic and serotonergic neuroplasticity pathways and the evidence base for investigational psychedelic and psychedelic-assisted therapies in major depression.
Symposium · MasterClass
MasterClass: Translating Orexin Science Into Practice: Psychiatry's Role in Narcolepsy Care
Craig Chepke · Logan Schneider · Jessica Wright
Covers orexin-deficiency neurobiology, how to distinguish narcolepsy from psychiatric mimics, and the clinical implications of emerging orexin receptor agonists.
Symposium · MasterClass
MasterClass: Volition Reignition: Achieving Patient Goals by Detecting and Addressing Anhedonia in MDD
Brittany Albright · Veronica Ridpath
Focuses on reward-system dysfunction in depression, practical assessment of anhedonia, and emerging therapies aimed at restoring motivation and meaningful recovery.
Lecture · Integrative Psychiatry
Fat Matters: Understanding How Cholesterol and Fatty Acids Shape Psychiatric Illness
Connects cholesterol and omega-3 fatty acid biology to mood disorders, psychosis, and cognition, translating lipid research into assessment strategies and adjunctive interventions.
Dementia & Cognitive Disorders · Lifestyle & Integrative Psychiatry
Friday, September 18
Symposium · Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends
Latest Discoveries & Emerging Trends in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Gregory Mattingly · Kristin Sohl
Highlights the year's key research in ADHD and autism, from genetics and brain-network findings to behavioral interventions and digital therapeutics, with selected poster presenters.
ADHD · Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders · Digital Psychiatry & AI
Symposium · AFSP Partner Session
Suicide Risk Reconsidered: Brain, Biology, and Digital Influence Factors Every Psychiatrist Should Know
Steven Chan · Tory A. Eisenlohr-Moul · Matthew Hoptman
Rapid-fire session on three evolving suicide-risk contributors — neuroscience-identified brain functionality, hormonal influences across the lifespan, and AI chatbots in patients' mental health decisions. Developed with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Digital Psychiatry & AI · Perinatal & Women's Mental Health · Suicide & Self-Harm
Other topics at this meeting
Depression 10Schizophrenia & Psychosis 9Measurement-Based Care & Diagnosis 8Drug Pipeline & Clinical Trials 7Sleep & Insomnia 7ADHD 6Bipolar Disorder 6Drug Interactions & Safety 6Lifestyle & Integrative Psychiatry 6Psychotherapy 6Antipsychotic Prescribing 5Anxiety Disorders 5