Ryan S. Sultan, MD

Dr. Ryan Sultan has 40+ peer-reviewed publications with 411+ citations, including a landmark JAMA Network Open paper on ADHD and antipsychotic treatment patterns that has become foundational evidence in psychiatry.

🔬 Research Explained

→ ADHD & Antipsychotic Research
Detailed explanation of the 411-citation JAMA study, clinical implications, when antipsychotics are appropriate vs inappropriate for ADHD

→ Sultan Lab at Columbia
Current research areas: ADHD treatment outcomes, cannabis use disorders, PAWS digital therapeutics project, $670K+ NIH funding, team & publications

→ Evolutionary Basis of ADHD
Hunter-gatherer hypothesis research, DRD4-7R gene variant, mismatch theory, cross-cultural studies

→ Research in Media
Podcast appearances discussing ADHD research: Hacking Your ADHD, ADHD reWired, Your Anxiety Toolkit

→ Learn More About ADHD

This landmark study examines ADHD treatment in youth. For comprehensive information on ADHD across the lifespan, see my Complete Evidence-Based ADHD Guide (8,000 words covering symptoms, diagnosis, brain science, medications, strengths, and treatment approaches).

Topics covered: What is ADHD? | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Medications | Strengths | Adult ADHD

🤝 Key Co-Authors from My Research Network:

• Mark Olfson, MD, MPH - Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry. H-index 130+, 700+ publications. Leading psychiatric epidemiologist. Senior author on this landmark study.
• Shuang Wang, PhD - Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Expert in biostatistics and health informatics. Provided advanced statistical methods for large cohort analysis.
• Stephen Crystal, PhD - Rutgers University, Director of Center for Health Services Research. Leading health services researcher. Provided access to national Medicaid data infrastructure.

This collaboration brought together psychiatry (Columbia), biostatistics (Mailman), and health services research (Rutgers) to analyze a cohort of 188,089 youths - one of the largest studies of pediatric antipsychotic prescribing ever conducted.

🤝 Expert Collaboration Network - Youth Cannabis Research:

This publication builds on collaborative relationships with leading adolescent substance use experts including:

• Sharon Levy, MD, MPH - Director, Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program, Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Member, AAP Committee on Substance Use and Prevention. 100+ publications on adolescent cannabis, vaping, and substance use intervention.
• Kevin M. Gray, MD - Professor and Vice Chair for Research, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). NIH R01 investigator. Leading expert on cannabis use disorder treatment in adolescents and young adults.
• Timothy E. Wilens, MD - Chief, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School. 400+ publications. Expert on ADHD and comorbid substance use in youth.

These collaborations strengthen the clinical and research foundation of adolescent cannabis research, connecting epidemiological findings to treatment development.

→ Learn More About Cannabis & Mental Health

This research examines cannabis use patterns in adolescents. For comprehensive, evidence-based information on cannabis and mental health, see my Cannabis & Mental Health: Complete Guide (6,000 words covering psychosis risk, adolescent effects, treatment, and NIDA-funded research).

Topics covered: Psychosis Risk | Adolescent Effects | Cannabis Use Disorder | Treatment

🤝 Collaborator Insight:

This ADHD medication research connects to broader collaborative work with:

• Timothy E. Wilens, MD - Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard. 400+ publications on ADHD pharmacology, long-term outcomes, and substance use comorbidity.
• John T. Walkup, MD - Chair, Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Northwestern University. Former President, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP). 250+ publications, expert on pediatric psychopharmacology and treatment outcomes.

These expert perspectives inform understanding of ADHD medication's protective effects on academic, social, and mental health outcomes.

→ Viewpoint on Evidence-Based Prescribing

This viewpoint examines the complex landscape of off-label antipsychotic prescribing for children with severe behavioral disturbances. The article distinguishes between supported off-label prescribing (moderate to high certainty of benefit, evidence-based) and unsupported off-label prescribing (suppositional use with low certainty). Reviews RCT evidence for risperidone in disruptive behavior disorders, addresses metabolic safety concerns, and argues that child psychiatrists are best equipped to integrate risk-benefit analysis with complex clinical presentations.

Key Topics: Antipsychotics in ADHD | FDA Approval Process | Evidence-Based Medicine | Metabolic Safety

⚠ Critical Analysis of Digital Mental Health

This viewpoint examines the dangers of telepsych companies and the industrialization of mental health care through venture capital. Key concerns:

• Fiduciary Duty to Shareholders vs. Patients - Corporate obligation to profit conflicts with patient care
• Diagnostic Inaccuracy - Self-report surveys replace clinical assessment
• Stimulant Shortage Crisis - Mass prescribing without proper evaluation
• Regulatory Gray Area - No oversight compared to traditional healthcare
• Fragmented, Profit-Driven Care - Volume and efficiency over quality
• Access as Excuse - Using access crisis to justify commodification of mental health

Co-Authors: Alexander W. Zhang (Columbia), Manpreet K. Singh, MD, MS (Stanford)

Read the Complete Critical Analysis

→ Learn About Neuroscience-Based Nomenclature

This publication introduced a revolutionary approach to naming psychiatric medications based on neuroscience and pharmacology rather than outdated disease labels. Instead of confusing names like "stimulants" (for ADHD), "antidepressants" (for anxiety), or "antipsychotics" (for tics), medications are classified by their mechanism: dopamine reuptake inhibitors, serotonin receptor antagonists, etc.

Key Benefits: Less stigmatizing | More scientifically accurate | Better patient understanding | Clearer differentiation between medications

Read the Complete Guide to Neuroscience-Based Nomenclature | Why We Don't Call ADHD Medications "Stimulants" Anymore

🤝 Collaborator Highlight:

Christoph U. Correll, MD - Professor of Psychiatry & Molecular Medicine, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell | Director, Division of Psychiatry Research, Zucker Hillside Hospital
Research Profile: 1,000+ publications, h-index 180+, 100,000+ citations. World-leading expert in pediatric psychopharmacology, antipsychotic safety, and schizophrenia treatment. Co-Editor-in-Chief, Schizophrenia Bulletin. Has Wikipedia page and Google Scholar profile with massive international impact.
Our Collaboration: Co-authored multiple influential papers on psychotropic medication safety and nomenclature in youth. Dr. Correll's expertise in neuroscience-based nomenclature helped shape this commentary advocating for modern, mechanism-based drug naming systems.
View Full Collaborator Profile

🤝 Key Co-Authors - Policy-Changing Research Team:

• Mark Olfson, MD, MPH - Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor, Columbia University. Psychiatric epidemiology leader. Provided national-level policy expertise.
• Christoph U. Correll, MD - Professor, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. 100,000+ citations. Leading clozapine expert who provided clinical and research guidance on antipsychotic safety monitoring.
• Erica J. Duncan, MD - Professor and Associate Chair for Research, Emory University Department of Psychiatry. VA schizophrenia research expert. Led VA data analysis.

This collaboration's findings directly influenced FDA policy changes in 2015 that reduced clozapine monitoring burden, expanding access to the most effective medication for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Real-world policy impact.

🤝 Collaboration Highlight - Pioneering Ketamine Research:

Mentored by: John H. Krystal, MD - Robert L. McNeil, Jr. Professor and Chair of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine | Editor-in-Chief, Biological Psychiatry
Research Profile: 700+ publications, h-index 150+. Member, National Academy of Medicine. Pioneer in ketamine research for depression, PTSD neurobiological mechanisms, and novel rapid-acting antidepressants. World authority on glutamatergic treatments.
Mentorship: Dr. Krystal provided guidance during my Emory residency training on this first-in-literature case report combining ketamine pre-treatment with ECT for treatment-resistant depression. His mentorship shaped my understanding of novel therapeutics and glutamate neuroscience, influencing my subsequent NIMH T32 fellowship at Columbia.
View Full Collaborator Profile