The Neuropsychiatry of Complex Brain Injury Care

Lindsey Gurin, MD, discusses how clinicians can approach patients whose symptoms fall at the intersection of psychiatry and neurology. Drawing on her work with traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and persistent post-concussive symptoms, she explains why attempts to separate psychological trauma from neurological injury often obscure what patients actually need.

The conversation explores identity disruption after brain injury, the unintended effects of rigid recovery timelines, and the importance of continuity in understanding symptoms over time. Dr. Gurin also discusses how neurodevelopmental traits such as ADHD shape vulnerability and treatment response, when stimulant medications can be appropriate after concussion, and why breaking complex presentations into treatable components often matters more than assigning a single diagnosis.

Lindsey Gurin, MD, is Assistant Professor in the Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Rehabilitation Medicine at NYU Langone Health, and Director of the Neurology/Psychiatry Residency Program.

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00:00 Brain Injury and Identity
01:27 What Is the Psychiatry–Neurology Double Board?
02:41 Why PTSD and TBI Overlap
03:28 What “Shell Shock” Really Means
06:00 When Concussion Symptoms Don’t Go Away
07:25 Life Before vs After Brain Injury
08:46 ADHD as a Hidden Risk Factor
10:28 Using Stimulants After Brain Injury
12:40 Rethinking “Post-Concussion Syndrome”
13:27 The Future of Neuropsychiatric Care

This episode is intended for psychiatrists and other clinicians caring for patients with complex neuropsychiatric presentations at the intersection of psychiatry and neurology.

This discussion is for educational purposes and does not substitute for individual clinical judgment or patient care.

Senior Producer: Jon Earle