Psychiatry
Reconnecting with nature and spirituality in psychiatry [PODCAST]
Psychodermatology: A skin-brain axis exists, so what are you doing about it?
Skin and mental health are intertwined. This is evident embryologically, as we know that the skin and brain are derived from ectoderm, forming a skin-brain axis. Furthermore, scientific pathophysiology has shown that conditions such as acne, psoriasis, and atopic dermatitis are directly influenced by mood.
Whether you are a patient, a provider, or an aesthetics professional, be aware that treating skin should also include treating mental health when needed. Ignoring that …
Exploring neurodivergence: a specialist psychiatrist’s journey
I read about a psychiatrist whose interests are in medical ethics and the improvement of medical care for youth coping with the complexities related to neurodivergence and significant mental health conditions. Additionally, she specializes in work with twice-exceptional (2e) individuals – those with exceptional talents and abilities who also navigate challenges related to disabilities or psychiatric illness.
Neurodivergence and 2e individuals are fairly new concepts for me. Back in the day, …
Korean Americans and mental health [PODCAST]
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Join Dae Sun Hwang, a first-generation Korean American, and Joo-Young Lee, a child and adolescent psychiatrist. We’ll explore the multifaceted intersection of Korean culture and mental health within the Korean American community. From cultural nuances to familial …
How doctors can have successful crucial conversations
One thing that all those years of education, medical training, and textbook studying can never quite fully prepare us for as physicians is crucial conversations with our patients. There’s an element to mastering these conversations that comes with being an attending physician, bearing sole provider responsibility, and having them ourselves. They may start off clunky at first in early practice, but we hope to continually improve with time.
In my practice …
Prioritizing mental health for doctors and families
In 2022, the World Health Organization released the World Mental Health Report: Transforming Mental Health for All, which recognizes the critical importance of mental health to everyone, everywhere – including doctors and their families.
The consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other major issues such as climate change, global conflict, and economic downturns are continuing to have a big impact on the mental well-being of many parents …
Haunted by sleep: the chilling reality of hypnagogic hallucinations
“What did you see?” I asked her, as she sat across from me, wide-eyed and obviously unnerved even thinking back about the episode.
“It was horrible,” she said, “just horrible. I was lying on my back, and I saw it in the doorway, a big, dark, shadowy figure, blocking the door to my bedroom. I tried to scream, and nothing came out. I tried to raise my hands, to shield my …
Benzodiazepine discontinuation and patient outcomes [PODCAST]
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Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we explore a recent comparative effectiveness study that investigates the impact of discontinuing long-term benzodiazepine therapy on patients’ mortality and adverse events, especially when considering their baseline opioid exposure. …
A physician’s path to mental wellness [PODCAST]
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Join guests Kim Downey, a physical therapist, and Bryce Bowers, a family physician, as they discuss the challenges and triumphs of the medical profession. Delve into the world of health care, burnout, mental health, and creative outlets …
A patient reached out to a doctor, and they helped each other heal
Kim Downey:
“Each year, almost 400 physicians die by suicide.” That sentence stopped me in my tracks.
I’d been reading all the articles here on KevinMD for almost a year when I came across one written by Dr. Avellino, with the opening line above.
One of my amazing doctors had died several months prior. I was, and in some ways still am, struggling with his death from over a year ago.
I clicked on …
Unlocking emotional healing: the power of EMDR therapy
The therapeutic modality developed by Francine Shapiro and referred to as eye movement desensitization reprocessing or EMDR, when embedded in the context of a wider lens, focuses on specific events and feelings with a view to overarching goals. We become who we are in a relationship, and specifically in our earliest relationship with a primary caregiver who shapes our worldview before we can give this active consideration. Subsequently, we develop …
EMDR therapy: From walk to wonder, unmasking trauma’s secrets
In 1987, Francine Shapiro went for a walk and discovered eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR) as a therapeutic technique for traumatic experiences with lasting impact. Some thirty years later, with a substantial body of research confirming its efficacy, the mechanism of action remains a mystery. However, the treatment has expanded to focus on chronic pain, addictions, attachment trauma, among other areas. So, what is EMDR exactly? First and foremost, like …
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Maximizing health care efficiency: Harnessing the power of personality diversity
The impact of personality in health care
The health care sector’s success hinges on the diverse personalities within its workforce. Embracing this diversity, particularly the dynamics of introversion and extroversion, is not just beneficial for patient care but crucial for the well-being and job satisfaction of health care providers. Studies have shown that a diverse personality mix in health care settings can …
Holistic success and happiness in medicine [PODCAST]
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Join Ketan Kulkarni, a physician entrepreneur. We’ll delve into the pressing issues of burnout and discontent among health care professionals, particularly physicians, and explore strategies for achieving holistic success and happiness in both personal and professional life.
Beyond the myths: ADHD explained in powerful comics
An illustrated overview of ADHD, addressing common misconceptions and illustrating the real challenges faced by those with the condition. Through comic strips, the narrative explains the impact of ADHD on executive function and daily life, debunking the myth that symptoms are a choice or the result of not trying hard enough. It also touches on the less visible inattentive symptoms, aiming to …
Empathy: the unexpected gift from abuse
Months after I left him, I could still feel the pain he inflicted. He not only weaponized my insecurities but also demeaned the things about myself that I loved, insidiously dismantling my sense of self until nothing remained.
I even doubted my ability as a psychiatrist, and I hated him for that.
“Talking to you is like trying to read a Step 2 question!” he had sneered. “I don’t know anyone who …
A physician’s journey in Cuba reveals surprising faith and resilience [PODCAST]
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Join William Lynes, a urologist, as he shares his remarkable journey of a recent missionary trip to Cuba. Discover the challenges and triumphs faced by both the Cuban people and the mission team. Explore the profound faith and resilience …
How to lose your compassion: the brutal reality of medical internship
Not all at once, just slowly enough that you don’t notice.
“I’m having a rough go at it,” Mr. Robinson confesses. He was listening to me use choppy, challenging vocabulary to piece together what’s landed him in the hospital.
But I know what he’s talking about. The mass in his chest that’s been compressing on his airway, making him so sick, so quickly. He is talking about his pneumonia: the fevers, chills, …
The top regret of the dying: Are you living your true life?
During her time working with people who were dying, nurse Bronnie Ware found that one of the top 5 regrets is, “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” (Source: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware)
How do you know if you are living a life true to you? What steps may you take …
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