Beyond Madness

Is depression caused by a 'chemical imbalance'? Is the serotonin theory of depression valid? How do antidepressant medications work? Does 'Big Pharma' influence narratives that serve their interests... and what about the patient? We speak to Prof. Michael Berk and Prof. Colleen Aldous to find out. Plus - we learn more about the Independent Community Pharmacy Association with their founding directo...

What motivates someone to seek out cosmetic procedures? Vanity? Perceived need? Or actual need? Is feeling uncomfortable with one’s appearance not legitimate reason enough? What are the benefits, and the risks? To explore these and other issues, on this week’s episode we welcome Dr Gereth Edwards and Dorianne Weil. Adcock Ingram

South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide in the world. We speak to the father of a victim about the tragic event, and the criminal justice system. We discuss the issue of parole for perpetrators, the 'victim offender dialogue' component of the rehabilitation process, and the impact on the victim or their family. Our guests are Rob Matthews and Dr Gerard Labuschagne. Adcock Ingram

The WHO reports that 121 million pregnancies annually are unintended, further noting that 6 out of 10 unintended pregnancies end in abortion. The WHO further notes that 45% of abortions are unsafe, with a maternal death rate of unsafe abortion being between 4.7% to 13.2%. Aside from physical consequences, there may be psychological ones too. For this discussion, we welcome Professors Ugash Subrama...

Traditional healers... who are they, what do they do, and how are they involved in the lives of many South Africans - as healers - outside of the formal medical setting? To dissect this, we are joined by Prof. Solly Rataemane and Dr Lerato Dikobe-Kalane. Adcock Ingram

Does women’s mental health differ from men’s mental health? Is gender a critical variable, and does it play a role in how mental illness expresses itself? These questions form part of our conversation for this episode, where we are joined by two psychiatrists - Prof. Soraya Seedat and Prof. Solly Rataemane. Adcock Ingram

Depression is a debilitating condition, and medication can take weeks to provide relief. Suicide is a risk, and potential consequence. Psychiatry, as a discipline, has long sought a drug that might provide rapid resolution of both depressive symptoms, as well as suicidal thoughts. Could an anaesthetic agent, ketamine, be that drug? This week, Prof. Bonga Chiliza, a psychiatrist, and Dr Alan Howard...

Keanu Reeves, Tom Cruise, Steven Spielberg, and Richard Branson – what do they have in common? Success, fame… and dyslexia – a specific learning disorder. Learning disorders affect many people, with the specific problem often undiagnosed, and the person misunderstood, potentially marginalised. Joining us for this episode are Dr Wendy Duncan, a sub-specialist child and adolescent psychiatrist, and...

Have you ever woken up, profoundly disturbed by a dream and wondered what it meant? Maybe nothing... but the images linger. Maybe dreams don’t mean anything, but if they occur as part of regular sleep, surely they serve a purpose as part of normal bodily functioning? To address these questions this week’s episode features Dr Alison Bentley and Prof Mark Solms. Adcock Ingram

Have you ever had a loved one or friend with a chronic condition, suffering, with no prospect of recovery – and they spoke of wanting to die... wishing for an end to their suffering? What if it were legally possible to assist them, to grant their wish? To discuss the controversial issue of 'assisted dying', we are joined by Prof. Willem Landman, Dr Chris Verster and Prof. Sean Davison. Adcock Ingr...

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a condition associated primarily with children, but is increasingly being diagnosed in adults too. The sufferer has their own challenges to face... but what about the parents, siblings, family, spouses, partners, colleagues, peers, and teachers? How do they live or cope with the sufferer? What role can parents play when a child has ADHD? Our guest...

The loss of a loved one, friend, or even a colleague is never easy. Whether the loss is directly personal or not, it generally gives pause to reflect... for thought about that person, their life, and of course our own mortality. What if the loss was a decision taken by the person in question - to end their own life, with their own hand? Every one of these deaths leaves an estimated six or more 'su...

What is the societal fascination for serial killers all about? Who are these people who live amongst us, undetected, going about their crimes? What does it take to track them down, identify and apprehend them? This week we speak to Dr Gérard Labuschagne - a Clinical Psychologist, Criminologist, and an Advocate of the High Court with an interest in forensic and investigative psychology. Adcock Ingr...

As a parent, do you worry that your child is spending too much time on their smartphone or other electronic devices? Are you concerned that they are more connected electronically, than to you? Is this simply how it is developmentally, and are any concerns about the potential - or actual - negative impact of too much screen time just mainstream media hype and fearmongering? Child and adolescent psy...

Why should a perfectly good parent inside a marriage be potentially less so, outside of the marriage? Custody seems to equate with ownership of the child or children… is this true? It often seems that the terms “child custody” and “dispute” go hand in hand. Forensic psychologists Anthony Townsend and Giada del Fabbro weigh in on how to navigate this challenging issue. Adcock Ingram

Pregnancy can and should be a special time - not without challenges and discomfort, but ultimately a life giving and life affirming experience where the birth of a child should add value and meaning. But what if it doesn’t? What if things go wrong for the mother emotionally? What if the pregnancy occurs in childhood or adolescence? This week our guests are Dr Carina Marsay and Dr Alexandra Maisto....

Do you ever forget where you’ve put things, or wonder what you’re doing in a certain room? And then you remember where you left what you couldn’t find, and why you went to the room you did – and smile at your own forgetfulness, and carry on. But what if you couldn’t remember? This week we speak to Specialist Psychiatrist, Dr Ryan Fuller, and Bev Cohen, who runs a support group for families of peop...

Have you ever wondered what it must be like to earn your living covering war as an embedded correspondent or photographer? What happens psychologically to journalists and photographers who experience combat, without being combatants? We speak to neuropsychiatrist, Professor Anthony Feinstein, and UK-based filmmaker and photojournalist, James Brabazon, to find out. WARNING: Sensitive listeners migh...

When one thinks of those who struggle with eating disorders, the sufferer comes to mind. But what about their family – parents, siblings, spouses... those closest to them? How are they affected, and what role is there for them in the recovery process? This week our guests are Dr Felicity Marcus and Dr D (Dorianne Weil). In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave. Adcock Ingram

Have you ever thought about the role your diet could play in promoting mental wellness? Is it possible to eat your way to better emotional health? On this episode, we delve into the emerging field of nutritional psychiatry with Professor Michael Berk and Tabitha Hume. In proud association with Adcock Ingram OTC Sponsors of Brave. Adcock Ingram

Psychiatry is moving towards the possibility of therapeutic usage of what would currently be deemed illicit substances. In this episode, we speak to Prof David Nutt and Prof Christer Allgulander, about the emerging research and evidence for the use of psilocybin in the treatment of depression. Adcock Ingram

How do we understand alcohol addiction and recovery? This week's guest, Dr David Webb, is a medical doctor who works as a rehabilitation counsellor - and he also shares his personal experience of alcohol abuse. Adcock Ingram

Our special guest, Dr Shaquir Salduker, joins us in conversation on the topic of the importance of substance misuse, and how it impacts on mental wellness. Adcock Ingram

Dr Allers and Dr Pillay join us to discuss the importance of understanding the significance of pain as an issue for your emotional well-being. Adcock Ingram

Dr Alan Howard and a patient join us to chat about Ketamine, and its emerging place as a treatment in psychiatry for depression. Adcock Ingram