217. The Harms of SSRI's During Pregnancy Debate w/ Dr. Adam Urato and Dr. Robert Chen

217. The Harms of SSRI's During Pregnancy Debate w/ Dr. Adam Urato and Dr. Robert Chen

Author: Roger K. McFillin, Psy.D., ABPP January 29, 2026 Duration: 1:45:14

Three facts are scientifically undisputed: Serotonin is essential for fetal brain development. SSRIs disrupt the serotonin system. SSRIs freely cross the placenta. So why are pregnant women being told these drugs carry "little or no risk"?

In this rare head-to-head debate, Dr. Adam Urato—maternal-fetal medicine specialist and FDA expert panelist—faces off against Dr. Robert Chen, a psychiatry resident willing to do what most of his colleagues won't: step into the arena and defend the establishment position.

What unfolds is a striking conversation where both physicians actually agree on more than you'd expect—including that informed consent is failing pregnant women, that the chemical imbalance theory is dead, and that "untreated depression" is a misleading frame designed to sell drugs. The uncomfortable question neither side can fully answer: If SSRIs are correcting depression, why does the research show worse outcomes for women who stay on them?

This isn't anti-medication propaganda. It's the conversation your doctor isn't trained to have with you.

Listen before you fill that prescription.


Hosted by board-certified psychologist Dr. Roger McFillin, the Radically Genuine Podcast is a direct challenge to the superficial and often ineffective narratives that dominate discussions about wellness. This isn't about quick fixes or polite self-help tropes. Instead, Dr. McFillin engages in substantive, sometimes uncomfortable dialogues that dissect how cultural trends, the fitness industry, and the mental health system itself can sometimes hinder genuine healing. You'll hear from a compelling range of voices-including survivors of adversity, clinical experts, and independent thinkers-all united by a commitment to raw truth over feel-good fiction. The conversations within this podcast deliberately avoid easy answers, focusing instead on the complex, gritty work of building authentic resilience and psychological strength. It’s for anyone who suspects that mainstream advice has failed to address the root causes of personal and societal struggle, offering a deeper, more nuanced examination of human behavior and recovery. By confronting controversial topics and institutional failings without flinching, each episode aims to provide listeners with a more honest framework for navigating life's inevitable challenges, making it a distinctly valuable voice in the health and society podcast landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Radically Genuine Podcast with Dr. Roger McFillin
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