Psychiatry & Psychotherapy Podcast

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. By listening to this episode, you can earn 1.5 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

Dr. Michael Cummings, a seasoned psychiatrist, dives deep into opioid use disorder and its staggering impact. He unpacks the historical journey of opioids and the current crisis characterized by alarming addiction rates. The discussion highlights neurobiological factors and innovative treatment options like buprenorphine implants. Cummings emphasizes the need for psychosocial support and critiques the role of pharmaceutical companies in the epidemic. A must-listen for anyone wanting to understand the complexities of addiction and recovery!

Dr. Michael Cummings, a respected psychiatrist and addiction expert from Loma Linda University, dives into the complexities of alcohol use disorder. He discusses the historical context and cultural significance of alcohol, along with genetic and psychological factors influencing addiction. Cummings highlights the intricate neurobiological circuits involved and the importance of pharmacological treatments like disulfiram and naltrexone. He emphasizes a comprehensive treatment approach that includes therapy and support, as well as the dangers of mixing illicit substances. It's a thought-provoking exploration of addiction.

Dr. Michael Garrett discusses combining CBT and psychoanalytic treatments for psychosis. They explore patient experiences and challenges in therapy, including altered states of consciousness and imaginative manifestations. The podcast also delves into medication skepticism, tapering antipsychotic medication, and the importance of individualized therapy for better patient care.

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. By listening to this episode, you can earn 2 Psychiatry CME Credits. Link to blog. Link to YouTube video.

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. 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, 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.