Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

In this week's episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Kirk Schneider, a psychologist, psychotherapist, and author of, Life-enhancing Anxiety: Key to a Sane World. Dr. Schneider is a practicing psychotherapist and director of the Existential-Humanistic Institute, a psychotherapy training institute. As a former mentee of the great existential psychologist Rollo May and a self-described existential-integrative psychotherapist, he has made significant contributions to the fields of humanistic psychology and existential psychology throughout his career. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

The idea of using psychedelics to treat psychiatric symptoms has been approaching mainstream popularity thanks to podcasters like Joe Rogan, Tim Ferris, and Sam Harris. As interest in these substances continues to grow, so does the size of the online communities centered around this topic. While there is undoubtedly value in recognizing some of the claims being made about microdosing, it's important to recognize where the literature currently stands and to identify where there are gaps in understanding. In this episode, Dr. David Puder and Liam Browning discuss the state of Microdosing in current research. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Over the last several years, Dr. Puder has worked as the medical director for Loma Linda University Health's MEND program, a hospital-based intensive outpatient program (IOP) and partial program that works with patients who have chronic illness and their families. Jesse has been a lead therapist instrumental to the program's success and Brian Distelberg oversees the MEND program and acts as the Director of Research for the program. During this episode, they come together to discuss the MEND program. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by psychiatrist and neuropharmacologist Dr. Ken Gillman who is the founder and convener of the International MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) Expert Group and widely recognized as a world expert in serotonin toxicity. Serotonin toxicity (syndrome) is a rare as well as potentially lethal form of toxicity that results from excess serotonin within neuronal synapses. There are numerous poorly written/controlled case reports that have perpetuated misinformation about drugs that can cause serotonin toxicity. While the word "syndrome" is often used, toxicity is a more accurate description given that toxicity represents a spectrum of severity rather than a defined set of symptoms. In today's podcast, we will discuss the pathophysiology, causes, clinical presentation, criteria, controversies, and medical management of serotonin toxicity. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this week's episode of the podcast, we interview psychiatrist, author, and founder of Gemma Women, Dr. Pooja Lakshmin. Dr. Lakshmin founded Gemma Women for the purpose of educating women on cultural and social structures that impact their mental health. Gemma also provides community groups, evidence-based conversations, and courses covering topics such as stress, inequity, and structural violence. In her new book, Real Self-Care, she discusses personal experiences that led her to create this transformative movement to redefine wellness. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, we speak with Professor Nicholas Reid, author of, Prisons in Ancient Mesopotamia. After introducing us to how Mesopotamians viewed and treated mental health, Reid talks to us about the earliest historical records on imprisonment in the history of the world. In his book, Reid discusses the evolution of the modern prison system as it relates to ancient Mesopotamia. Together we discuss the commonalities that can be seen between the ancient and modern systems and the benefits that come from learning about past cultures' successes and weaknesses. It may seem safely assumable to believe that because we are thousands of years removed from some ancient societies and their often barbaric methods of treating humanity, that we have automatically advanced into a superior, more humane society. But with our reliance on solitary confinement and a loss of meaning, our system is missing what could be a more healing and transformative journey. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, I speak with Nancy McWilliams, Ph.D, a renowned psychologist-psychoanalyst. She has authored several books, including, Psychoanalytic Diagnosis (1994; rev. ed. 2011), Psychoanalytic Case Formulation (1999), Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (2004), and Psychoanalytic Supervision (2021). She was also the Associate Editor of the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (2006; 2nd ed. 2017). We discuss different aspects of mental health and how it pertains to relationships. We also discuss qualities that make a strong therapist and the ideas of dissociation and transference in therapy. 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, I would like to give you my take on transference. I want to share with you what I actually believe. Often lectures focus on the history of transference or what certain papers say, but I'd like to share my accumulated, internalized experiences and understanding of transference. My hope is to make this easy to read and understand. I want to give a talk on this that can be understood both by experienced clinicians who are familiar with these concepts, who will imagine where I am pulling different pieces of wisdom and maybe where I am being creative and uniquely contributing to the field, but also by people who don't have much of a background on transference and want to further explore it. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, Dr. Cummings joins the podcast to discuss and give tips on overcoming social anxiety disorder. Individuals with social anxiety disorder tend to avoid important events and activities, such as classes, meetings, or public speaking. The disorder is essentially the fear of rejection by a group one would like to be part of. This is different from shyness because of the intensity and pervasiveness of the symptoms. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

For over a century, psychoanalytic psychology has recognized certain types of personality configurations that we see repeatedly. A clinician who understands these familiar patterns has a map of the patient's interior terrain to help navigate treatment. In today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Shedler to discuss obsessive-compulsive personality and the continuum on which personalities operate. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, Dr. Michael Cummings returns to discuss the use of long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics. LAIs are administered in intervals ranging from every 2 weeks to every 6 months, eliminating the need for daily oral antipsychotics and thereby improving adherence. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Malingering is the conscious misrepresentation of psychiatric symptoms for a secondary gain (such as hospitalization, obtaining disability benefits, avoiding criminal responsibility, proceedings or sentencing, or avoiding military service). In today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Phillip Resnick and Dr. Alex Scott as we discuss the topic of malingering. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Exercise is an integral contributor to brain health. Physical activity has been proven to slow the rate of cognitive decline. In this episode, Dr. Puder invites four guests to discuss the importance of incorporating exercise into mental health routines. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, Dr. Puder discusses the importance of dynamic listening with patients in order to alleviate guilt, shame, and self-disgust. Building connection with your patients is a crucial element for mental health professionals, and this episode dives into the best practices that build connection through dynamic listening for the benefit of the patient. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Chris Palmer, a psychiatrist, researcher, and expert in using the keto diet as a medical treatment for some treatment-resistant patients. Dr. Palmer is currently the director of the Department of Postgraduate and Continuing Education at McLean Hospital and is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He also runs his private practice specializing in treatment-resistant mental health patients. 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 are joined by Dr. Michael Cummings to discuss the most recent and popular diagnosis wave of individuals believing they may have autism, which has become a recent TikTok phenomenon. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, Dr. Corrin Pelini and Dr. Michael Cummings join the podcast to discuss the documentary involving the 2014 case involving Michelle Carter and Conrad Roy, both teenagers at the time in Massachusetts. The state of Massachusetts investigated the suicide of Conrad and filed a charge of involuntary manslaughter against Michelle. We discuss our views on the documentary as well as possible treatments that could have been used. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Amidst the rise of dating apps and websites lurks a new form of deviance: online romance scams. In this episode, we interview Dr. Annabel Kuhn on the subject of online catfishing relationship scams. We discuss with Dr. Kuhn how to identify an online scammer, the personality types of both the scammer and the scammed, and how providers can help patients who have fallen victim to such a scam. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Alyse Price-Tobler, who is a practicing clinical psychotherapist (MCAP) and also in her final year of her PhD., and Dr. Mandy Matthewson on the topic of parental alienation. Note: This will be discussed as a form of family violence and child abuse. As such, the content of this presentation will involve discussion of child abuse and its consequences. Please speak to someone if you become distressed during or after this presentation. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, I interview Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, owner of New York Endocrinology on Park Avenue. Dr. Salas-Whalen has deep expertise in diabetes, metabolism, obesity, thyroid abnormalities and other endocrine disorders. She completed her internal medicine residency at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and her endocrinology fellowship at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Additionally, she was a research fellow at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and is board certified in Obesity Medicine. We will be discussing obesity and weight loss. The definition of obesity has changed significantly in the last few years. In 1942, WHO classified obesity as a chronic disease. In 2013, the American Medical Association accepted it as a chronic metabolic and multifactorial disease. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Becoming an expert at reducing polypharmacy requires being an expert in not only psychopharmacology, but being a coach that directs a patient toward a holistic path. In this episode, I am joined by Jacob McBride, D.O., a psychiatrist in Pittsburgh, PA. We will be discussing some issues within polypharmacy and encouraging more holistic care for patients. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this week's episode of the podcast, I interview Dr. Ragy Girgis, a clinical researcher at Columbia University in New York where he also completed his residency in psychiatry in 2009. He received a T32 (training grant) during this time and now conducts clinical trials and high-risk psychosis research. He practiced privately for a time, but is now a full-time clinical researcher. Although primarily a schizophrenia researcher, his interest led him to research the relationship between schizophrenia and mass shootings, leading to the creation of what may be the largest database on mass murder and mass shootings, studying cases dating all the way back to 1900. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Michael Cummings to discuss a new study that explores the idea that depression may not be merely a chemical imbalance. This episode covers the origin of belief in the connection of depression with a chemical imbalance, the new study that has created questions surrounding the efficacy of antidepressants, and a holistic view on the treatment of depression. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In today's episode of the podcast, I speak with Dr. Mary Jo Peebles, a renowned psychoanalyst, speaker and author, about the significance of psychotherapy from her most recent book, When Psychotherapy Seems Stuck. Dr. Peebles received her Bachelors of Psychology from Wellesley College and her PhD in clinical psychology from Case Western Reserve University. She currently works at her private practice in Bethesda, Maryland. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Dr. Mark Solms, author of, The Hidden Spring, gives us a guided tour of a journey into different aspects of consciousness, how Freud can be updated with the work of Jaak Pankseep and affective neuroscience, as well as some of the more fundamental principles and groundbreaking work in which he comes to the conclusion that the why, how and where of consciousness centers on our "in the moment" experience of emotions and feelings. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Dr. Cummings to discuss the benefits, progress, and fears related to electroconvulsive therapy. For years the efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy has been debated, but we've learned that it still remains an essential part of psychiatric treatment in patients with severe mental health disorders. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this episode, Dr. David Puder and Dr. Robert Feinstein discuss the journey of becoming a good psychotherapist and how to increase one's skill in the realm of psychotherapy training through the cognitive apprenticeship model. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, I speak with Dorothy Kaufman, a marriage and family therapist who was married to the late Daniel Wile. We discuss the book that they both co-authored together called, Solving the Moment: A Collaborative Couple Therapy Manual. Dan is a well-known marriage and family therapist, the creator of Collaborative Couple Therapy, and spoken very highly of by Dr. Gottman. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, I will be discussing something near and dear to my heart—a tool I created to measure the connection between physician/student and teacher/medical learner in medical education. It is a tool called the Connection Index and its purpose is to improve the quality of the medical education experience. I wanted to answer the question of how we create better supervisors and mentors as students embark on their own "hero's journey" to becoming physicians. By listening to this episode, you can earn 0.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog.

In this episode of the podcast, we discuss the work of Karen Horney, M.D., titled, Neurosis and Human Growth: The Struggle Towards Self Realization. In the book, Horney discusses the concept of neurosis as it stands juxtaposed against what she deems healthy growth and human development. We will be discussing this concept and some of her prevalent theories introduced in the writing, such as the development of neurosis, the contrast to the healthy individual, the components of growth, the tyranny of the "should," the search for glory, and neurotic claims. We hope that you will be inspired to pick up this book by Karen Horney and join us in thinking about her important work. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

PANS/PANDAS is the hypothesis that there are certain types of obsessive compulsive symptoms, tic symptoms or restrictive eating symptoms that are caused by an infection and the immune response to an infection. Kyle Williams, MD, PHD and Sarah O'Dor, PhD join the podcast to discuss their research and diagnoses of PANS/PANDAS. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Herbert Harman, a psychiatrist who works as a practice line director for Vituity. We will be discussing "moral injury", an emerging term defined as "perpetuating, failing to prevent, bearing witness to, or learning about acts that transgress deeply held moral beliefs and expectations" (Griffin et al., 2019). Moral injury is similar to PTSD but has distinct differences. While it is often seen in military settings, various front-line careers also present opportunities for moral injury, including psychiatry. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Violence and aggression are often used interchangeably, with subtle distinctions differentiating the two. Aggression is an umbrella term that encompasses violence and is defined as actions that lead to harm towards self, others, or objects, while violence is defined as actions that lead to harm, specifically toward other individuals (Newman, 2012). Aggression, according to the 3-factor approach initially detailed by investigators from the New York State Hospital system, is categorized into three types of assault: impulsive, predatory/organized, and psychotic. Impulsive aggression was the most common type at 54%, with predatory/organized type (29%) and psychotic type (17%) trailing behind (Quanbeck CD, 2007; Meyer et al., 2016). This episode aims to explore the management of agitation, aggression, and violence in the inpatient setting. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, Dr. Puder interviews Jonathan Shedler, Ph.D. Their conversation covers the ideal length of therapy treatment, the efficacy of psychodynamic therapy, and the role of psychodynamic processes in multiple therapeutic modalities. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Inaccurate diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or missed diagnosis of affective disorders can lead to inappropriate and inadequate treatment; worsened outcomes can follow. Because schizophrenia is a complex condition with a broad range of signs and symptoms that also occur in other mental disorders, it can be difficult to differentiate it from other serious mental disorders, especially mood disorders. Notably, these other conditions should actually be ruled out before arriving at a diagnosis of schizophrenia. In this episode, Danielle Hairston, M.D. and Chantel Fletcher join the podcast to discuss the issue of overdiagnosis of schizophrenia in Black male patients, especially. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video. Link to The Next 72 Hours Podcast.

Physical activity has been shown to reduce stress reactivity and reduce all cause mortality. Physical activity also results in decreased psychosocial stress. In this episode, Dr. Puder speaks with Dr. Stephen Seiler about the connection between mental health and physical activity. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Dr. Joseph F. Goldberg is a psychiatrist and clinician researcher with over 180 publications and 3 books. This article focuses on his newest book, Practical Psychopharmacology: Translating Findings From Evidence-Based Trials into Real-World Clinical Practice. In this article, we discuss psychopharmacology and his approach to psychiatry. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, I interview Dr. Robert Feinstein, on his new book, Primer on Personality Disorders. In a chapter he authored in the book, he writes about the commonalities of effective treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder. Dr. Feinstein states that six major types of psychotherapy achieve around 70% effectiveness in the treatment of borderline personality disorders. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this week's episode, Dr. Puder interviews Francis Stevens, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of the new book, Affective Neuroscience in Psychotherapy: A Clinician's Guide for Working With Emotions. Dr. Stevens trained as a therapist under cognitive behavioral and psychodynamic theories, as well as completing a postdoctoral degree in neuroscience. The lack of emphasis on emotion in these two approaches led Dr. Stevens to begin research on the neurobiological basis of emotion and to ultimately compile this book. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this podcast episode, David Puder, M.D. and Kevin Ing, M.D., M.Div. interview Kenneth I. Pargament, PhD, and Julie J. Exline, PhD about their new book Working with Spiritual Struggles in Psychotherapy: From Research to Practice. Dr. Pargament is a pioneering expert on the role of religion and spirituality in coping with stress and trauma. Dr. Exline is a researcher in the area of spiritual struggles and supernatural attributions. Both clinical psychologists, they are nationally recognized experts in the integration of research on religion and spirituality into clinical practice. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Esketamine is the first non-monoaminergic based medication which is FDA approved and indicated for treatment refractory depression. A longer duration of undertreated depression is associated with poor longitudinal functional outcomes. Instead of cycling patients through monoaminergic antidepressant trials and cognitive behavioral therapy approaches, according to Dr. Kitay, providers should consider treatments like esketamine much sooner in the treatment course. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

On this week's episode, Dr. Puder interviews Mary Lynch Barbera, Ph.D., RN, BCBA-D, creator of the approach and book titled Turn Autism Around. Dr. Barbera began her journey in the autism world over 20 years ago, when her first son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism. Dr. Barbera made the incredible transformation from a confused parent to a doctoral-level behavioral analyst, best-selling author, and a tremendous resource for health professionals and parents of children with autism all over the world. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we will be discussing, From Survive to Thrive, a new book by John Hopkins' professor and author, Dr. Margaret Chisolm. In her book, she outlines the four perspectives of psychiatry that are the standard approach used at Johns Hopkins when assessing patients. Problems are considered from each of these perspectives. It is about discovering the origin of a patient's problems and using that as a guide for treatment. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

With dyslexia being present in 20% of the population, we have to ask ourselves what the upside is to dyslexia. What do these individuals bring to the table? With such a huge portion of the population having a particular cognitive makeup, it is highly unlikely that dyslexia is to be deemed a corruption of normal pattern—nature is favoring large groups of people to display these traits. This episode dives into the strengths of dyslexic thought processes to hopefully help decrease the negative views surrounding dyslexia. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In a podcast episode with award-winning author and screenwriter Norman Ohler, Dr. Puder and Dr. Borecky discussed Ohler's recent book, Blitzed, about how the Third Reich used drugs to optimize performance during World War II and how it may have changed the course of history. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Special guest Dr. Joseph F. Goldberg is a psychiatrist and clinician researcher with over 180 publications and 3 books. This episode focuses on his newest book, written with Dr. Stephen M. Stahl, Practical Psychopharmacology: Translating Findings From Evidence-Based Trials into Real-World Clinical Practice. In this episode, we discuss psychopharmacology and his approach to psychiatry. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.75 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we welcome back Dr. Drew Ramsey to discuss his new book, Eat to Beat Depression and Anxiety. Rather than writing a diet book, Dr. Ramsey has made healthy eating accessible for everyone by detailing the needed nutrients and the food items that can easily be added to our diet. We will discuss Dr. Ramsey's journey of finding ways to make healthy eating accessible and his insights into how the food we eat affects our mood and brain function. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Schema therapy is a model of psychotherapy that was originally designed for chronic mental health problems. It comes from the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tradition, but also integrates different arms of psychotherapy, such as elements from the Gestalt tradition, and also aspects of object relations theory. In this episode, we have an in-depth discussion about schema therapy, which has proven to be effective in treating borderline personality disorder (BPD), with Australian schema therapist, Andrew Phipps. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode we discuss, with Dr. Michael Cummings, a new book he co-authored with Steven M. Stahl on the management of treatment-resistant psychosis. An increasing number of individuals with psychotic illnesses deal with homelessness, repeated incarceration, and associated trauma. There is limited access to care for these individuals, leading to poor prognosis. This book provides prescribers with information regarding treatment of the most challenging, treatment-resistant, severely psychotic patients. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

In this episode, we will be discussing some of the themes within Fyodor Dostoevsky's legendary text, Crime and Punishment. It deals with the suffocating guilt and uneasy journey towards redemption of impoverished ex-student, Raskolnikov, who commits a horrific murder of a pawnbroker and tries to justify it, unsuccessfully, with noble purposes. Not only is the novel a stellar thriller, its themes deal with the eternal struggle between good and evil that encapsulates the human condition. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.25 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.