The Dr. Psych Mom Show
with clinical psychologist
Dr. Samantha Rodman Whiten Misdiagnosis, The Future Of Psychiatry, And What We Don't Know About Mental Health: With Dr. Marc Lener
Mar 11, 2026
Dr. Marc Lener, psychiatrist and brain-science researcher who founded Singula Institute and Singula Health, discusses misdiagnosis and diagnostic challenges in psychiatry. He explores how brain imaging and real-time measures could change care. He talks about AI's promise and pitfalls for diagnosis. Conversations cover marijuana risks, early signs of psychosis, and using wearables to track mood.
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Symptoms Are The Tips Of The Iceberg
- Depression and anxiety are "tips of the iceberg" showing outward symptoms while underlying causes vary from life stress to brain biology.
- Marc Lener contrasts psychological "software" (behavior) with biological "hardware" (brain mechanisms) to explain misdiagnosis.
Match Treatment To Biological And Psychological Causes
- Use both psychological history and biological knowledge when prescribing or recommending treatment.
- Marc Lener emphasizes psychiatrists' training in how medications interact with physiology before changing treatments.
Current Brain Imaging Is Group Level Only
- Brain imaging shows group-level differences but cannot yet diagnose individuals reliably.
- Lener notes fMRI measures blood oxygenation as a proxy and research compiles group images rather than giving clear single-patient answers.