Let's Get Psyched

As mass shootings continue to horrify our communities, we seek explanations. Politicians seem to believe that mental health experts have the solution. Do we? Gun violence is 20-25 times higher in the United States than in other higher income countries. What accounts for that difference? Spokesperson for Psychiatrists 4 Gun Violence Prevention and adult inpatient psychiatrist, Dr. Rebecca Capasso,...

Psychologist Dr. Judy Reaven returns to the show to share her evidence-based program to help teachers, school administrators, and parents provide an education constructed to help students with autism thrive in the classroom. Dr. Reaven developed the Facing Your Fears program for children with ASD and anxiety. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Judy Reaven, PhD

Adaptation to a neurotypical environment comes in many forms. But what is meant by "masking" or "camouflaging" within the autism community? We invite autism intervention expert, Dr. Judy Reaven, to provide some insight into these concepts and how one's identity is shaped by these experiences. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Al Guest: Judy Reaven, PhD

Join us as we discuss the reasons for grief and healthy ways to manage it with Dr. M. Katherine Shear, a leading expert on grief and therapeutic interventions for the bereaved. We also discuss important cultural differences in the expression of grief. Hosts: Eyrn, Al Guests: M. Katherine Shear, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4 References: Support the GRIEF Act: https://www.hospiceactionnetwork.org/take-ac...

Dr. Shear returns to the show for a deep dive into the evidenced-based therapy she and her colleagues developed. Given the enormous losses from the pandemic and the DSM 5-TR Committee's recent decision to add Prolonged Grief as an identifiable disorder, our interview of her is certainly timely. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guests: M. Katherine Shear, MD, Yasmine Dakhama, MS4

In our final episode with Dr. Roukaya Benjelloun, she highlights various psychiatric subspecialties and considers the future direction of psychiatry in the country. Dr. Benjelloun is Department Chair of Mental Health at Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Psychiatry Residency Program Director, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Casablanca, Morocco. Hosts: Toshia, Alan Guests: Roukaya...

In our second episode of this three-part series, Dr. Benjelloun joins us as we dive further into our discussion on culture and cultural sensitivity as it relates to psychiatric practice in Morocco. Dr. Roukaya Benjelloun is Department Chair of Mental Health at Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences, Psychiatry Residency Program Director, and Associate Professor of Psychiatry in Casablanca, Moro...

Culture’s impact on the practice of psychiatry can have many implications as it relates to stigma, access to treatment, diagnostic clarity, and treatment planning. In this episode, we invited Moroccan psychiatrist, Dr. Roukaya Benjelloun, and American-Moroccan medical student, Yasmine Dakhama, to guide our discussion on the interplay between culture and psychiatry in Morocco. Dr. Roukaya Benjellou...

As we see more patients who have had Covid-19, we ask psychiatrist, Dr. Imaan Alaidroos, to speak with us about the neuropsychiatric impact of the disease. In this episode, Dr. Alaidroos outlines the treatments that are currently being studied for the neuropsychiatric symptoms of Covid-19. We also chat about the implications of these symptoms for the field of mental health. Hosts: Alan, Toshia Gue...

As we see more patients who have had Covid-19, we ask psychiatrist, Dr. Imaan Alaidroos, to speak with us about the neuropsychiatric impact of the disease. In this episode, Dr. Alaidroos explains the mechanisms behind the neuropsychiatric symptoms and the specific neuropsychiatric symptoms that have been associated with Covid-19.  Hosts: Alan, Toshia Guest: Imaan Alaidroos, MD References: 1.M...

Prolonged Grief Disorder has recently been formally added to the DSM-5-TR. But are mental health professionals pathologizing a normal part of the human experience? We invited psychiatrist, researcher, and Director of the Center for Prolonged Grief at Columbia University School of Social Work, Dr. Katherine Shear, to discuss the differences between grief as a disorder and grief as a normal reaction...

How is human psychology an evolutionary adaptation? The field of evolutionary psychology attempts to answer this question and the result is frequently controversial. Dr. Phuong Vo joins the discussion to help us take a more critical approach to these theories. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Joshua Guest: Phuong Vo, MD, MS

Depression is an extremely common and debilitating condition. Are there situations where depression could have actually helped humans survive? Along with Dr. Phuong Vo, who completed her masters in Evolutionary Medicine, we work through a number of theories on how being depressed could sometimes be adaptive. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Joshua Guest: Phuong Vo, MD, MS

On April 21, 2021 the “21st Century Cures Act” mandated that all healthcare providers grant clients/patients access to their chart “without delay” and without charge. Make sure you listen to all 3 episodes as we have noted psychiatrist and trainer in medical record keeping, Dr. Tony Thrasher, to answer our questions. In this episode, Dr. Thrasher outlines exceptional situations when the provider c...

On April 21, 2021 the “21st Century Cures Act” mandated that all healthcare providers grant clients/patients access to their chart “without delay” and without charge. Make sure you listen to all 3 episodes as we have noted psychiatrist and trainer in medical record keeping, Dr. Tony Thrasher, to answer our questions. In this episode, we discuss our takes on using "woke language" in our documentati...

On April 21, 2021 the “21st Century Cures Act” mandated that all healthcare providers grant clients/patients access to their chart “without delay” and without charge. While providing access to one’s chart usually works very smoothly for medical treatment, it’s a different story for psychiatric and psychological treatment. For example, it’s common for a client to lack insight about themselves—that’...

Since the inception of Obama Care, services for people with autism have expanded considerably—but perhaps not equally—in the United States. We talk to experts in autism, Dr. Barry Prizant and Dr. Alice Kuo about what to look for in an effective treatment and a treatment provider. They also discuss the obstacles that come from differences in income and insurance. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia Guests: Alice K...

Diagnoses of autism are on the rise in the United States. Portrayals of autism are increasingly visible in the media and television. But what is most important to know in understanding people with autism? We invite autism expert and author of “Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism,” Dr. Barry Prizant, to share his perspective. We discuss using music and theater as a way for the autism c...

We asked child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Linda Schmidt to join us again, this time for a discussion on her experiences training mental health professionals in Ukraine before the war. She shares the challenges of practicing psychiatry in Ukraine and the treatment available to the population. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan Guest: Linda Schmidt, MD References: Circle of Family Foundation: https://k-...

The ongoing war in Ukraine has been devastating to every aspect of life there. Prompt and effective mental health care is desperately needed now and for the years ahead. In this episode we invited psychiatrist Dr. Linda Schmidt to join our discussion on psychiatric services before the war and to share some insights into current conditions. Since 2015, Dr. Schmidt has traveled several times to Ukra...

Founder of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International and former physican, Phillip Nitschke, has created the Sarco suicide pod. Dr. Nitschke (who also has a PhD in Physics) is planning to make the plans accessible for 3-D printing to "democratize" euthanasia technology. Is this a step towards making suicide a human rights issue or an international public health nightmare? Listen to our interview...

Dr. Philip Nitschke is an Australian physician who campaigned successfully for the world's first assisted suicide law. He went on to found the non-profit, pro-euthanasia organization, Exit International. How did a physician trained under the medical ethics of beneficence and non-maleficence decide to make euthanasia and assisted suicide his life's work? Listen to our interview with him and de...

In 1958 Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg proposed that every human being develops according to predictable stages of moral development. This proved controversial as his research was based only on boys and did not seem to fit certain cultures. We asked Dr. Bandy X. Lee, an expert in the psychological and social causes of violence, for a discussion of how one's moral stage influences one's propensity for viole...

On this episode we invite back Dr. Bandy X. Lee to discuss the problems with the New York incarceration facility Rikers Island and the difficulty in reforming it. Dr. Lee participated in an expert commission that produced a report that was eventually ignored, in favor of a report by a private consulting firm. The terrible results speak for themselves. Dr. Lee provides her insight into how things w...

We ask our guest, Dr. David Orentlicher, to explain how different work environments emphasize different ways of relating to others and thinking  about problems. He's a good person to ask given he is a medical doctor, lawyer, professor, and elected representative. Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan Guest: Nevada Assemblyman David Orentlicher, MD, JD