Arwen Podesta, MD, DFAPA, DFASAM

Psych Congress 2026

September 15–19, 2026 · New Orleans, LA · Full program

• SymposiumNot All Delusions are Schizophrenia: Understanding Delusional Disorders and the Overlap with Substance Induced Psychosis

  September 16, 2026

  Uses a historic case to teach differential diagnosis of psychosis beyond schizophrenia — substance-induced, delusional, and medical causes — including temporal analysis, labs, and imaging.

  Measurement-Based Care & DiagnosisSchizophrenia & PsychosisSubstance Use Disorders

• DebateSolving Clinical Challenges: Curbside Solutions for Complex Substance Use Disorder Cases

  September 18, 2026

  Case-based panel dissecting complex opioid, stimulant, and withdrawal scenarios — including where system failures and clinical errors led to poor outcomes — with harm-reduction takeaways.

  Emergency & Acute PsychiatryOpioid Use DisorderSubstance Use Disorders

• SymposiumDifficult Medicines: Understanding the Opioid Treatment Landscape for Safe and Effective Outcomes

  September 18, 2026

  Compares methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone for opioid use disorder, covering patient selection, titration, cardiac and overdose considerations, sedative co-prescribing, and transitions between agents.

  Benzodiazepines & SedativesDrug Interactions & SafetyOpioid Use Disorder

• PlenaryCultivating Clinical Wisdom in Deprescribing - Practical Considerations for Psychiatry

  September 19, 2026

  Closing session on when and how to reduce psychotropic regimens: identifying candidates, shared decision-making, and safe tapering while weighing relapse and withdrawal risks.

  Deprescribing & Polypharmacy