Metamorfosis

Episode CME activity objectives: In the context of a therapeutic alliance, apply the information given in this episode to help draw out meaning in others. Identify who Viktor Frankl was and how his work and legacy have shaped how we understand and utilize meaning in psychiatry. Define psychic determinism. Recognize that meaning is idiosyncratic and unique to each individual. Recognize the multitud...

Delirium is an acute change in a person’s sensorium (the perception of one’s environment or understanding of one’s situation). It can include confusion about their orientation, cognition or mental thinking. With hyperactive delirium, a patient can become aggressive, violent and agitated with those around them. A patient experiencing delirium can have hallucinations and hear things, they can become...

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I interview Dr. Cummings, a reputable psychopharmacologist, about ketamine. We talk about psychedelics, the research behind it, both the positives and the negatives. We will look at how it is or is not helpful in psychiatric treatments.   (Disclaimer: There are no conflicts of interest to report. Neither Dr. Puder or Cummings is affiliated with any companies...

On this week’s episode of the podcast, I interviewed Allison Maxwell, a social worker and PhD student of clinical social work. I refer patients to her regularly for psychoanalysis, and she has had a wonderful impact on their mental health journey. What is psychodynamic theory? Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy where the practitioner work focuses on the patient’s emotion, fantasies, d...

Timothy Lee has talked to thousands of medical students about how to applying for residency programs, and here, he gives us a few tips on how to make it through the gauntlet, and how to have your best chance at landing the program you want.   Here is what Timothy Lee says: Stay calm Many students have been fine tuning their personal statements, and trying to get their resume just right, or hurryin...

What is a therapeutic alliance? The therapeutic alliance is a collaborative relationship between the physician and the patient. Together, you jointly establish goals, desires, and expectations of your working partnership. Every interview with a patient, whether it’s for diagnostic, intake, evaluative, or psychopharmacology purposes, has therapeutic potential. The treatment starts from your first g...

What is trauma? Emotional trauma comes from stress that is overwhelms a person’s neurological system. Some stress can be good and formative, or it can be bad and get stuck in the brain, causing someone deep emotional pain. Think of climbing Mount Everest. Some people choose to do that, and it’s easily one of the most stressful situations you can put yourself in on purpose. That’s good stress if yo...

What are boundaries? When we refer to boundaries, we are talking about emotional walls that are healthy. Boundaries are meant to keep us in relationship with the people that we love. Think of them as your property lines around your house. You know where your lines are, where your property ends and your neighbors begins. Therefore you know what you are supposed to take care of and what your neighbo...

In this episode we discuss: The history of bipolar illness, mood stabilizers, common treatments, psychopharmacology, psychotherapy goals, and more. For paraphrased transcription and blog: go here For more detailed notes by Dr. Cummings, go to my resource page .   By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video. Join David on Instagram: dr...

In this week’s episode of the podcast, Dr. Michael Cummings and I talk about the history of antidepressants, and their use in overcoming depression and anxiety disorders. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video. Join David on Instagram: dr.davidpuder Twitter: @DavidPuder Facebook: DrDavidPuder

Polyvagal theory by Stephen Porges explains three different parts of our nervous system, and their responses to stressful situations. Once we understand those three parts, we can understand our emotional reactions to trauma or high amounts of stress. Why is polyvagal theory important? For therapists, and pop-psychology enthusiast alike, understanding polyvagal theory can help with: Understanding t...

What is procrastination? Procrastination is the act of avoiding something through delay or postponement. You might be procrastinating when: There is a gap between your intention and action You feel like avoiding something You find yourself easily distracted You feel overwhelmed by tasks at the last minute You always feel rushed to complete a project You’re hesitant to truthfully update someone on...

Do you ever feel out of touch with your emotions? Or have you ever felt like you had to hide your real emotions? When people do that—emotionally detach—they develop what therapists call “incongruence.” Most therapy is actually centered around getting patients back in touch with their emotions. On this week's podcast, Ginger Simonton and I talk about the different methods we use to help our patient...

In the latest podcast, Dr. Cummings and I talked about antipsychotics, the particular branch of psychopharmacology that deals with medicines that treat psychotic experiences and other mental disorders, such as: Schizophrenia Severe depression Severe anxiety Bipolar disorder Psychosis exhibiting hallucinations and delusions By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Lin...

In the latest episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, Dr. Puder interviews Dr. Cummings, a psychopharmacologist. They discuss the way medicine works in our bodies, and if medicine or therapy is more effective for treating different disorders. They also talk about the different factors that affect absorption rates, such as gastrointestinal surgeries, liver health and actual dosage. By...

Can strength training help alleviate depression? In this episode, Dr. David Puder is joined by Trent Jones, a Starting Strength athlete, to discuss how systematic strength training can significantly impact mental health. From boosting confidence and assertiveness to reducing symptoms of depression, we explore the science and personal stories behind this powerful intervention. Key topics include: T...

In the third and final installment on microexpressions, Ariana Cunningham and Dr. David Puder talk about how learning microexpressions can help you build empathy and connect with other people. As Paul Eckman demonstrated in his research, they can be potent glimpses into someone’s emotional experience. In this episode we talk about: How emotions come into play in our dreams and other unconscious wa...

Microexpressions are brief, involuntary facial expressions that are cues to the true emotions that someone is feeling. We see microexpressions in tiny twitches of the brows, the lips and nose. They can last for as little as 1/15th of a second on the face. In this episode, we describe the science of the microexpressions of fear, disgust, and surprise and how to use it to connect with others. By lis...

Microexpressions are brief, involuntary facial expressions that are cues to the true emotions that someone is feeling. We see microexpressions in tiny twitches of the brows, the lips and nose. They can last for as little as 1/15th of a second on the face. In this episode we describe the science of microexpressions, emotion and how to use it to connect with others. For full PDF of the episode with...

New research on hormonal contraceptives, “the pill”, and how it influences mental health. Dr. David Puder and Dr. Mona Mojtahedzadeh explore: Claims about the mental health consequences of hormonal contraception Unique Influences of progesterone and estrogen on the brain How ovulation changes attraction and desire Discuss the controversy around recent studies that show that hormonal contraception...

Overcoming Postpartum Depression   Link to show on: iTunes , Google Play , Stitcher , Overcast , PlayerFM , PodBean , TuneIn , Podtail , Blubrry , Podfanatic This week on the podcast, I joined with Dr. Pereau to talk about postpartum depression, both from a personal level and as those who treat it in our patients. Dr. Pereau is incredibly honest and vulnerable in this emotional episode as she shar...

Our bodies are “wired” to perform. Learning how to consciously modulate your internal sympathetic state is the key to unlocking optimal performance. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) facilitates survival by generating the fight-or-flight response and promotes recovery following activation (the ability to relax). The ANS achieves this by balancing two complementary systems: the sympathetic nervous...

Learn: Why to optimize medical issues like hypertension and diabetes Change psychiatric and non-psychiatric medications to optimize brain function Optimize sleep to obtain rest and increase brain function How drugs influence the brain short and long term to change sensorium How viewing yourself without "free will" influences brain function By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry...

Western society faces is the most unhealthy we’ve ever been. It’s reached epidemic proportions: depression, anxiety, poor focus and sensorium issues, chronic stress, and diseases of chronic stress (like diabetes). The solution is simple—exercise and healthy eating. In this episode, I will be going through 17 studies on how exercise influences and improves these factors. I will cover how it works,...

What are the best diets for the brain and cognitive function?   How much does diet influence our sensorium? What particular foods are important?   How do we change our genes to optimize our brain? By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video. For PDF with citations and detailed notes go to: My Resource Page Ask David questions on Instag...