Our Faculty
Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
Tufts University School of Medicine; Assistant Professor
Biography
Dr. Derick E. Vergne is a board-certified psychiatrist with a strong background in clinical practice and research. He earned his MD from the University of Puerto Rico in 2002 and completed his psychiatric training at the University of Colorado and Emory University. He serves as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Vergne combines a psychodynamic and psychoanalytic approach to neuropsychopharmacology to enhance his understanding of patients. He has published work on mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, and alcoholism. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Dr. Vergne is a member of several professional societies and currently practices in Acton, MA.
Publications of Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
Quick Take Vol. 89
0.50 CMEs
Can antipsychotics help prevent catatonia relapse? Which adjunctive antipsychotic performs best for treating major depression? What do updated antipsychotic efficacy rankings mean for practice in schizophrenia? Are GLP-1 receptor agonists safe for patients with comorbid anxiety? Does varenicline help patients quit vaping?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., James Phelps, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Derick E. Vergne, M.D., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M.
35.33 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 88
0.75 CMEs
Must antipsychotics always be avoided in catatonia? Should you prescribe antidepressants in bipolar depression? Should clozapine start after just one failed antipsychotic trial? Is atypical depression a distinct subtype that resists standard antidepressants? Does soft drink intake worsen depression?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., James Phelps, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Derick E. Vergne, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D.
38.52 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 87
0.50 CMEs
Which antipsychotic should you choose for a woman with first-episode psychosis? When clozapine isn't an option for treatment-resistant schizophrenia, what actually works? Do real-world abuse data change how you select insomnia medications? Did serial ketamine outperform midazolam in a new inpatient trial? Can sustained anthocyanin intake improve cognition?
Faculty: Amanda Koire, M.D., Ph.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M., James Phelps, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
33.59 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 84
0.75 CMEs
When should you taper a benzodiazepine, and how slowly? Does semaglutide reverse metabolic risk in schizophrenia patients on clozapine or olanzapine? Is EPA effective for TRD? Can brief psychotherapy enable safe antidepressant discontinuation? Is a ketogenic diet effective for depression and other psychiatric conditions?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Derick E. Vergne, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., James Phelps, M.D.
47.02 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 83
0.75 CMEs
When should you consider high-dose olanzapine instead of clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia? How effective is aripiprazole augmentation versus switching strategies in older adults with depression? Can GLP-1 receptor agonists elevate lithium levels? Should inflammatory markers guide antidepressant selection? Is adjunctive propranolol effective for panic disorder?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., James Phelps, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
38.56 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 82
0.50 CMEs
What are the six key tips for switching oral antipsychotics? Does deprescribing antipsychotics after delirium improve outcomes in older adults? Why is xylazine overdose difficult to treat? What does the PAX-D study reveal about pramipexole for depression? Do bioequivalent medications always produce equivalent clinical results?
Faculty: Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Scott R. Beach, M.D., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
36.44 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 80
0.75 CMEs
How effective is the new antipsychotic KarXT using the number needed to treat metric? Can bright light therapy effectively treat bipolar depression without causing mania? Does IV haloperidol really increase cardiac risks as commonly believed? Can varenicline help reduce alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder? Does ashwagandha extract improve cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment?
Faculty: Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Kristin Raj, M.D., Scott R. Beach, M.D., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
39.35 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 79
0.75 CMEs
How should clozapine monitoring change after FDA's REMS removal? Does cariprazine work equally well in older adults with bipolar disorder? Can semaglutide help treat alcohol use disorder? Why do older adults receive subtherapeutic antidepressant doses? Is saffron as effective as SSRIs for depression?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M., Kristin Raj, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
44.22 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 78
0.50 CMEs
Can pramipexole help treatment-resistant bipolar depression? Does semaglutide work for clozapine-induced obesity? Which antipsychotics best prevent hospitalization after cannabis-induced psychosis? What treatments rank highest for treatment-resistant depression? How do gut microbiota differ in depression versus anxiety disorders?
Faculty: Kristin Raj, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D., David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M.
34.08 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 77
0.75 CMEs
What is the best antipsychotic for first-episode psychosis? Can lurasidone treat bipolar depression with severe anxiety? How much do SSRIs increase bleeding when combined with anticoagulants? Is adding salt to meals associated with depression and anxiety?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Kristin Raj, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
39.21 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 76
0.75 CMEs
Can lumateperone effectively treat depression with mixed features? Can GLP-1 agonists manage antipsychotic-induced weight gain? Is quetiapine superior to lithium for treatment-resistant depression? Do antidepressants accelerate cognitive decline in dementia patients? How do probiotics and prebiotics affect depression, anxiety, and cognition?
Faculty: Scott R. Beach, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Kristin Raj, M.D., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
44.56 minutes in 5 audio sections
Quick Take Vol. 75
0.75 CMEs
What are the main considerations when choosing an antipsychotic for first-episode psychosis? How do side effects of antidepressants change over time? Do combinations of psychiatric medications increase Torsades risk? Is there sufficient evidence for psychedelics in treating substance use disorders? Can tea compounds benefit mood and sleep disorders through neurotransmitter modulation?
Faculty: David A. Gorelick, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A., F.A.S.A.M., Scott R. Beach, M.D., Paul Zarkowski, M.D., Oliver Freudenreich, M.D., F.A.C.L.P., Derick E. Vergne, M.D.
40.11 minutes in 5 audio sections
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