Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

In this episode, we continue our Big Five Personality Traits series by doing a deep dive into Conscientiousness. We'll look into studies that show how low conscientiousness increases mortality rate as well as positive aspects of high conscientiousness. We also explore the 6 domains, genetic factors, and different life stages of conscientiousness.  By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Ps...

In this episode, we review studies on strength training, exercise, and depression from the last 2 years. It is well known that any form of exercise is beneficial for people with depressive symptoms, with strength training being most effective. Strength training can be both a treatment for patients with depression and a protective mechanism against the onset of depression. By listening to this epis...

In part 2 if the Big Five series we talk about how medications, such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), psychotherapy, and exercise can make an impact. Trial studies of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) have shown promise in the treatment of neuroticism. We also discuss the possible benefits of neuroticism. Studies have shown that neurotic...

Netflix has recently come under fire for its release of the French film "Cuties." While critics have praised the movie for exploring themes of the oversexualization of children, audience members are consistently appalled at the provocative situations that the 11-year-old characters are put through. In this episode, I discuss our culture's saturation with the oversexulization of children in media w...

In this episode, Dr. Cummings and I discuss forensic pedophilia and the sexualization of children in our society. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's podcast, we discuss the Big Five personality traits, focusing on neuroticism and how it fits into this set. We then explore each of the six domains of neuroticism and the research of how it manifests in other parts of one's life and affects relationships. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, we'll be doing a deep-dive into nortriptyline, a lesser-talked about medication in psychopharmacology. We'll cover a little about the history of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) as well as the characteristics, side-effects, and indications to consider when prescribing this class of medication. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits...

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have seemed to foster a "sub-epidemic" of suicidality and deteriorating mental health. Suicidal thoughts have spiked across every demographic due to the loss of connection to usual psychosocial supports, normal activities, and in a lot of cases, jobs, leading to significant financial stress. These stressors compound and massively impact the mental res...

If you are a medical student or someone studying for a big exam, this episode is for you. We will first discuss the mental roadblocks that prevent students from performing at their top potential for exams. We also break down and outline some effective study strategies, and provide a sample day-by-day study plan for any 2nd year medical student preparing for the USMLE Step 1 exam. Finally, we have...

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, we continue our conversation with geriatric psychiatrist, Dr. Osorio, to talk about retirement—specifically, how to retire well and happy.  She recently published a book for people in this transition: Stop Freaking Out About Retirement By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog.

Understanding disorganized attachment as medical professionals is important because some patients have experienced trauma, or 2nd generation influences of trauma, which leads to this issue. As we continue to explore disorganized attachment and how we can help patients with this attachment style, it's important to remember that this information provides the foundation for why empathy, connection, a...

When people dissociate, it means they feel disconnected from their body. They feel fear and dread, sometimes feeling completely frozen. As mental health professionals, understanding disorganized attachment gives us appreciation and understanding for the necessity of empathy, attunement and deeply understanding the experience of another. In this episode, Dr. Puder is joined by Dr. Annabel Kuhn to d...

In this final part of the free will series, we take a look at the relationship between the concept of free will and mental health. Is free will altered in those suffering from schizophrenia? How is well-being related to free will? Thinking about these questions and the rise of neuroessentialism within psychiatry allows us to recognize the influence of our environment on our decision-making. The de...

This is the second episode in our Free will series. In this episode, we will describe some definitions of free will, explore determinism (the opposite of free will), cover some quotes by famous authors on the topic, and break down some statistics, and studies about it.  By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast I have a conversation with Matthew Hagele, a soon to be 4th year medical student with a masters in bioethics.  We will talk about the history, the why, and the cultural importance of free will. We will examine the implications of free will on mental health.  This is the first of a three part series. We hope they provide interesting applic...

Join Dr. Danielle Hairston and Dr. Puder on a discussion of recent events. Dr. Hairston has served as the Black Psychiatrists of America Scientific Program Chair since 2016. She is also the American Psychiatric Association Black Caucus' Early Career Representative.  She is the residency director at Howard University.  She has a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Hairston has also had...

On this episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, we talk about meaning, and how it relates to suicide.  This is part 3 of a series of podcasts on suicide. If you haven't listened to the first two episodes, they are here:  Suicide Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Treatments Genetics and Environmental Factors in Suicide By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credit...

As the economy continues to shut down during COVID-19, people are growing more concerned about work and finances. Even if the virus is miraculously contained in the next few months, the economy will still be reeling from the damage of the lockdown.  As psychiatrists, we are concerned about the increases in mental illness from the lack of employment and a potential increase in suicides. In this epi...

On this week's episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast, I interview Dr. Daved Van-Stralen. During this season of COVID-19, Van-Stralen is focusing on the unique stresses on the healthcare system. How can the healthcare system improve the way that things are currently being done? How can people handle stress and the stress of seeing multiple deaths, exposure to the disease, and increase...

In the US, people do not talk about death often or even acknowledge their own mortality. Instead, we act as if we just work hard enough we can do anything, even refuse the grim reaper. In this episode, we wrestle with the current issues created by COVID-19. Join us as we think more about death and the necessity to have conversations around it.  By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiat...

In a previous episode, we covered COVID-19 and its effect on mental health. In today's episode of the podcast, we will be covering COVID-19 from the medical perspective with regards to its effect on the brain as well as treatment options, their side effects and special considerations. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this week's episode of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy podcast, I interview Scott D. Miller, Ph. D. and Daryl Chow, Ph. D., authors (along with Mark A. Hubble, Ph. D.) of Better Results . Better Results is a book that sums up thirty years of research to demonstrate what clinicians can reliably do to improve therapy results by personal and professional development.  Link to Blog.

Stress and anxiety are going to be very common during this time. In one study of Wang et al, 2020 they found that in China, 53.8% of the respondents to a survey rated their psychological impact as moderate-to-severe and 28.8% had moderate to severe anxiety, 16.5% had moderate to severe depressive symptoms, 8.1% had moderate to severe stress levels. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.5 Ps...

In this week's episode, we sat down with Shawna Chan, Mona Mojtahedzadeh, M.D., Salman Otoukesh, M.D., David Puder, M.D. and discussed different aspects of mental health in humans bravely facing cancer. Below is a link to the notes which go beyond the podcast episode in content and depth and hopefully equips you to have more empathy, compassion and knowledge. By listening to this episode, you can...

This week I interviewed Dr. Joel Weinberger and Dr. Valentina Stoycheva who recently published the book " The Unconscious: Theory, Research, and Clinical Implications ." We discussed their book and even their unconscious reasons for writing a thrilling, deep dive into the unconscious. This book was graduate level in detail, deep, thoughtful, articulate, sometimes very theoretical, and definitely w...