Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

We are joined again by Dr. Neal Christopher, who is currently the Vice Chair and Associate Medical Director of Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and the Psychiatry and Addiction Consultant for the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. Dr. Christopher has previously appeared on the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast in episode 063, “Interviewing Well For Psychiatry Residency & Beyond,” and episode 103, “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with Dr. Steven Hayes.” In this week’s episode, Dr. Puder and Dr. Christopher discuss the recent elimination of the X-Waiver and what it means for providers, the mechanism and efficacy of buprenorphine, and practical tips for prescribing buprenorphine and supporting patients on their road to recovery from opioid use disorder. This episode continues our podcast series on addiction, designed to meet the one-time, 8-hour training requirement introduced by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This mandate applies to all providers registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and our series primarily focuses on the treatment and management of patients with substance use disorders.

In the realm of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, especially within an inpatient psychiatric setting, a narrative-driven and curiosity-based approach has proven invaluable. Each child who is admitted is navigating a crisis, making it imperative to deeply understand their unique situation to chart an effective treatment plan. This goes beyond clinical observations; it's about immersive engagement with both the patient and their family, diving into their lived experiences to piece together a holistic patient narrative. Through collective efforts, the capacity to deeply connect with and understand every patient and their families is enhanced.

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) remains one of the most intriguing yet under-acknowledged psychiatric conditions of our time. Characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived physical flaws or defects, often invisible to others, this disorder manifests in ways that can profoundly affect an individual's daily life, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Through an exploration of its origins, symptoms, and prevalent treatments, this article aims to equip mental health professionals with a comprehensive understanding of BDD. We also shed light on the invaluable contributions of renowned experts in the field, most notably Dr. Katharine Phillips, whose pioneering research and clinical practices have transformed the way we approach, diagnose, and treat this complex condition. As the quest for insight and effective interventions continues, understanding BDD becomes pivotal for therapists and clinicians dedicated to holistic patient care. Financial Disclosure for Katharine A. Phillips, M.D. Fabday LLC (presentation for providers of aesthetic treatment, honorarium) CeraVe/Roxane S. Chabot DBA RBC Consultants (psychodermatology advisory board, honorarium)

John M. Kane, MD. is Professor of Psychiatry and Molecular Medicine at The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Dr. Kane earned his medical degree from New York University in New York, New York, and completed his internship and residency in Psychiatry at The Zucker Hillside Hospital. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Kane is the recipient of many awards, including the Lieber Prize, The APA’s Kempf Award and Foundations Prize, the New York State Office of Mental Health Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists. He has served as President of the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, the Psychiatry Research Society and the Schizophrenia International Research Society. Dr. Kane has been the principal investigator on 23 NIH grants focusing on schizophrenia, psychobiology and treatment, recovery, and improving the quality and cost of care. He is the author of over 900 peer-reviewed papers and serves on the editorial boards of numerous journals.

In this week’s episode, we have a conversation with Dr. Matthew Lederman, a board-certified internal medicine physician and CNVC Certified Trainer of Nonviolent Communication, as well as a prominent contributor behind the documentary Forks Over Knives. Dr. Lederman and his wife, Dr. Alona Pulde, recently published a book called, Wellness to Wonderful: 9 Pillars for Living Healthier, Longer, and with Greater Joy, and this conversation today revolves around the topic of nonviolent communication.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we are joined by registered mental health nurse, Paul Molyneux, to discuss depersonalization/derealization disorder and his personal experiences and recovery from the disorder.

In today's episode of the podcast, we will explore the significant connections between our dietary choices and our mental well-being. We will discuss practical steps to incorporate diet as part of mental health treatment and maintenance. This episode is the perfect starting point to discover how nutrition can play a role in supporting mental wellness, whether it is new information or an enhancement of current approaches. Link for blog: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/episode-187-best-diet-for-mood-update-2023

Dr. Miller’s first appearance on the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Podcast was in episode 077, “Getting Better Results from your Patients as a Psychotherapist,” during which we discussed his book, Better Results. We explored the methodology behind improving outcomes in therapy through targeted development of what Dr. Miller has dubbed the Common Factors, which include therapy structure, hope and expectancy, working alliance, client factors, and therapist factors. In this episode, Dr. Miller returns to expand upon our prior conversation with a focus on how therapists can use deliberate practice to improve their efficacy. We discuss Dr. Miller’s new book, The Field Guide to Better Results, a companion to Better Results, which was recently published in May, 2023. Link to blog: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/186-using-deliberate-practice-to-improve-psychotherapy-results-with-dr-scott-miller

In this episode of the podcast, we are joined by Dr. Jonathan Shedler to discuss narcissistic personality disorder. Dr. Shedler is a psychologist, consultant, clinical educator, researcher, and author with over 100 scholarly publications. His article, “The Efficacy of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy,” has garnered worldwide recognition for establishing evidence-based support of psychodynamic psychotherapy. Link to Blog: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/185-narcissism-with-jonathan-shedler

In this episode, Dr. David Puder, Dr. Kristin Lasseter, and medical student Cara Jacobson discuss treatment of psychiatric illness in the peripartum period. Dr. Kristin Yeung Lasseter is a renowned reproductive psychiatrist who has dedicated her career to the intersection of mental health and reproductive medicine. As the founder of Reproductive Psychiatry and Counseling, Dr. Lasseter has been instrumental in expanding access to reproductive psychiatry services in Texas but also worldwide through her teaching and online presence. Through her steadfast devotion to comprehending the singular hurdles faced by individuals as they navigate the reproductive journey, she has garnered immense respect within the field. Dr. Kristin Yeung Lasseter's profound contributions to advancing women's mental health in Central Texas have been recognized through the prestigious Association of Women Psychiatrists Symonds Fellowship in 2018. Through her expertise, compassion, and advocacy, she is transforming lives and dismantling the stigma associated with perinatal mental health. Of note, this episode, and the article below is for information purposes only and we recommend talking with a specialist doctor when considering what is the risk and benefits of particular medications in an individual's specific situation. Link to blog: https://www.psychiatrypodcast.com/psychiatry-psychotherapy-podcast/episode-184-pregnancy-planning-for-patients-taking-psychiatric-medications-or-with-a-mental-health-history

I am thrilled to continue our podcast series on addiction, designed to meet the one-time, 8-hour training requirement introduced by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023. This mandate applies to all practitioners registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and our series primarily focuses on the treatment and management of patients with substance use disorders. Link to blog here.

This week’s episode is on opioid use disorder and is the second in our series on addiction. We are once again joined by Dr. Michael Cummings. Dr. Puder and Dr. Cummings discuss the history of opioids, the neurobiology of addiction, risk factors for opioid use disorder, and treatment options. Link to blog here.

In this week’s episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Cummings, a psychiatrist, researcher, and associate professor at Loma Linda University. This podcast is the first of a series on addiction and the focus of this week’s episode is on alcohol use disorder. In this episode, Dr. Puder and Dr. Cummings dive into the history of alcohol use, vulnerabilities and mechanisms responsible for the development of alcohol use disorder and its related neurobiological circuits, and common pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and behavioral interventions and treatments for alcohol use disorder. Link to blog here.

In this week's episode of the podcast, we interview Dr. Michael Garrett, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychiatry and former Vice Chair and Director of Psychotherapy Education at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He also wrote a book called, Psychotherapy for Psychosis: Integrating Cognitive-Behavioral and Psychodynamic treatment. He is husband to the prior beloved presenter, Dr. Nancy McWilliams. In this episode, we will discuss how psychotherapy can be effective for patients experiencing psychosis. Full blog here.

In a previous episode of the podcast, we discussed exercise for the brain, reviewing the pathophysiology between exercise and dementia, the pathophysiological mechanisms associated between low skeletal muscle mass and cognitive function, exercise as a treatment, and cardiorespiratory fitness and its relationship to all-cause mortality. In today’s episode, we look at the extensive research available on these subjects. Link to blog here.

From childhood, Russell experienced intense social anxiety to the point that, on more than one occasion, he discontinued certain extracurricular activities and socially normal gatherings to avoid it. Red Face is a narrative of his struggles with this social anxiety, the accompanying idiopathic craniofacial erythema (uncontrollable blushing), and the many successful and unsuccessful coping mechanisms he has attempted over the years. In today's episode, Russell shares his experience with social anxiety, which started at a young age and continued into adulthood. He will share what he does to overcome the often debilitating fear. Link to blog here.

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. Link to blog here.

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. Link to blog here.

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. Link to blog here.

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. Full blog here.