Newsletter

Transforming Psychiatry2026-03-30

Psychiatry deals with the most fascinating and important of subject matters, the mind. How it works, how it malfunctions, how to correct and improve it. These are not rare disorders, 1 in 4 individuals will have a clinical episode in their lifetime. Over 1 million Americans attempt suicide every year. Over 50,000 die by suicide (and that is likely a big underestimate).

Yet, in most places, current diagnosis is subjective and imprecise, treatment is trial-and-error. Patients suffer, outcomes are poor, drug discovery is hit-or-(mostly) miss. We need to acknowledge, discuss these things, and find solutions. And there is a case to be made for optimism about the future.

There are three reasons why things will improve fast. Precision psychiatry, psychedelics, and dimensional models.

Precision psychiatry is a field that my teams pioneered over the last two decades, and is now operationalized for practical applications at MindX Sciences. Blood biomarkers can objectively assess state and future risk, and match people to the right treatments, including old gold standards like lithium and clozapine, that bear rediscovery at much lower doses. Quantitative digital tools can measure sociological and psychological factors, and pivot to personalized improvement suggestions.

Psychedelics are quasi-curative if used properly, in the right patients. Precision psychiatry can help with that, ensuring the “primum non nocere” (first do no harm) component. A limited number of treatments, and then patients move on with their lives.

Dimensional models of the mind are where DSM needs to move next. They are more descriptive of reality, account for, and resolve the apparent complexity, overlap and interdependence of psychiatric disorders. My teams are working on substantiating with data a “Mindscape” (mental landscape) model.

The future is bright.

Live. Happier. Longer.

Alexander B. Niculescu, MD, PhD

Founder +CEO| MindX Sciences