Welcome back! Today, we are hosting the highly accomplished Dr. Robert Sapolsky, PHD, a professor of professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. He has had extensive research particularly in the field of neuroendocrinology and chronic stress, which has acted as one of the foundations of modern psychoneuroendocrinology. He is also a research associate at the Institute of Primate Research in Kenya, with over 30 years of field research in Africa. He is also a renowned author, with major works including but not at all limited to Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, and most recently, Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will, which challenges us to reconsider free will, morality, and mental health itself through a scientific lens.
More about Dr. Sapolsky: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Sapolsky
Dr. Sapolsky's Open Stanford Course: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PpDq1WUtAw&list=PL848F2368C90DDC3D
Dr. Sapolsky's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B000APOCFE
Dr. Sapolsky's Own Podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wDrkkznSB8S84kKuK9HCo
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/robert-sapolsky-father-offspring-interviews/id1782280922
One hundred episodes later, let’s take it back to one of our very first, the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors - with a much-needed update. Thank you to our guests, fans, and listeners.
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Welcome back! Today we have a very special episode on Alprazolam, brand-name Xanax. This benzodiazepine is one of the most commonly-prescribed and sought out psychotropic medications.
Join us today for an episode on the impact of climate change on mental health. We'll be exploring concepts like eco-anxiety, advocacy, the impact of nuclear war and practical tips.
We're joined by guest Dr. Ferdnand Osuagwu, who was the former Chair of the Caucus on Climate Change and Mental Health of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and founder of the Ferdnand Foundation International, an organization dedicated to underserved and marginalized populations and with a particular emphasis on addressing their needs in the areas of health, education, climate change, social justice and resource mobilization.
Ferdnand Foundation Website: https://ferdnandfoundation.org/
Ferdnand Foundation Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FerdnandFoundation/featured
Today, we are talking about a very popular, yet controversial class of medications - the Benzodiazepines . Let's look at their mechanism of action, clinical indications, pharmacology, risks, withdrawal syndromes, and prescribing guidance. And of course, we'll be tackling the question: what are the risks and benefits of long-term use?
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Welcome to an introductory episode on anxiety disorders as requested by a long-time listener.
References:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5832062/
Join us as we talk about Loxapine, an older medication that’s stood the test of time and found a niche in psychiatric practice. This is a revision of an earlier episode, after Dr. Bradley Miller chatted with Dr. Jonathan Meyer at the 2025 APA Conference. Dr. Meyer joins us at the beginning to provide an addendum to the original episode.
Welcome back! Today, we will be talking about Pregabalin, brand-name Lyrica, a similar medication to Gabapentin, and we will specifically be focusing on its use in psychiatry. What are its benefits and drawbacks compared to Gabapentin?
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33563173/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39989902/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3699256/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33563173/
Welcome back! Today, we will be talking about Gabapentin, brand-name Neurontin, one of the most commonly-prescribed medications in the United States, and we will specifically be focusing on its use in psychiatry. It is commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders, alcohol use disorder, and sometimes even bipolar disorder! But what does the evidence say?
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Welcome back! Today, we have renowned guest Dr. Bruce Perry, one of the world's most influential child psychiatrists, to talk to us about his approach to trauma. We will go over Dr. Perry's Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, which integrates neuroscience with child development. Dr. Perry is also a respected author, co-writing books like The Boy Who Was Raised As a Dog, Born for Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered, as well as What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience and Healing.
Dr. Perry's Website: https://www.bdperry.com/
Dr. Perry's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Bruce-Perry/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ABruce%2BPerry
Dr. Perry's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@infonmn326
Welcome Back! Today we are interviewing Dr. Chris Aiken, Editor-in-Chief of the Carlat Psychiatry Report. We will be speaking about the broad spectrum of mood disorders, how Bipolar Disorder is different from Manic-Depressive Illness, affective temperaments, non-pharmacological treatments, and more! Dr. Aiken's new book, Difficult to Treat Depression, will be released later this year (2025).
Sources:
Akiskal Article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10550853/
Dr. Aiken's Website: https://chrisaikenmd.com/
Dr. Aiken's Twitter: https://x.com/chrisaikenmd
TEMPS-A Scale: https://chrisaikenmd.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/tempsa.pdf
Welcome back! Today, we will review Pramipexole (Mirapex) and take a look at a recent study published in The Lancet Psychiatry regarding its use in treatment-resistant depression.
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Welcome Back! We have recently partnered with Psych Congress to bring our audience access to some of their leading speakers and educators, and today's episode is with Dr. Charles Raison, a psychiatrist. This is the second part of our discussion, and we’re going to be looking at novel treatments like psychedelics and their impact on consciousness as well as whole-body hyperthermia and practices from Tibetan Buddhism.
Dr. Raison co-authored the 2017 book The New Mind-Body Science of Depression with the late Dr. Vladimir Maletic, who sadly passed away in December 2024.
Find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/New-Mind-Body-Science-Depression/dp/0393706664
Psych Congress Discount Code: PSYCHROUNDS
Conference Website: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/psych-congress
In Memoriam of Dr. Maletic: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/faculty/Psych-Congress/620
Raison Lab: https://raisonresearch.psychiatry.wisc.edu/
Sources:
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35370864/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27172277/
Welcome Back! We have recently partnered with Psych Congress to bring our audience access to some of their leading speakers and educators, and today's episode is with Dr. Charles Raison, a psychiatrist who has done extensive research on the biological and evolutionary underpinnings of depression, which includes inflammation and the neuroendocrine system.
Dr. Raison co-authored the 2017 book The New Mind-Body Science of Depression with the late Dr. Vladimir Maletic, who sadly passed away in December 2024.
Find the book here: https://www.amazon.com/New-Mind-Body-Science-Depression/dp/0393706664
Psych Congress Discount Code: PSYCHROUNDS
Conference Website: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/psych-congress
In Memoriam of Dr. Maletic: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/faculty/Psych-Congress/620
Raison Lab: https://raisonresearch.psychiatry.wisc.edu/
Sources:
Welcome Back! We have recently partnered with Psych Congress to bring our audience access to some of their leading speakers and educators, and today will is the second installment of this endeavor, featuring Dr. Jonathan Meyer on the topic of Antipsychotic plasma level monitoring.
Dr. Meyer has authored the handbook on this topic, along with the Lithium and Clozapine handbooks as well. You can find them here: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=jonathan+meyer&crid=3IARW0R4T9RGD&sprefix=jona%2Caps%2C369
Psych Congress Discount Code: PSYCHROUNDS
Conference Website: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/psych-congress
Sources:
- https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/clinical-use-of-antipsychotic-plasma-levels/E7C0B6DBB4F6031F4D47935154CBEC8D
Welcome Back! We have recently partnered with Psych Congress to bring our audience access to some of their leading speakers and educators, and today we will be speaking to the distinguished Dr. Rakesh Jain on the topic of Positive Psychiatry.
Psych Congress Discount Code: PSYCHROUNDS
Conference Website: https://www.hmpglobalevents.com/psych-congress
Check out Dr. Jain’s podcast “Positive Psychiatry - with Rakesh Jain, MD”:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0Yk8QVD1wnLxMBM4zJDuJ5?si=wpUCJnAqR7qk9CW8gN90sQ
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/positive-psychiatry-with-rakesh-jain-md/id1822146163
Sources:
- WHO-5: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-UCN-MSD-MHE-2024.01
- Demyttenaere et. al (2015): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25545606
- Dr. Jain's website: http://www.rakeshjainmd.com/
Welcome back! Today we are looking at the beta-blocker Propranolol, also known by its brand name, Inderal. Although this medication is sometimes used as an anti-hypertensive, we are going to look at its use in psychiatry and anxiety disorders.
Sources
On today's episode, we will be discussing Buspirone (Buspar), a commonly used medication for anxiety.
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Today, we have one of the giants and pioneers of Asian-American Psychiatry joining us to discuss Cultural Psychiatry, Dr. Francis Lu!
Dr. Lu's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B003HFAX8E?ccs_id=d6d03eae-2c95-481f-8f7a-f844580eb108
References:
https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.focus.18103
https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-37696-000
Welcome back! On todays episode, we will discuss hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril), a frequently used medication for anxiety.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9616188/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27998379/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154375/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1345410/