Psychiatry

Revolutionizing depression treatment: Breaking free from ineffective medications for rapid relief

Conditions
May 15, 2023

If you want to know whether a standard-of-care medication will work to treat your depression, flip a coin.

More than half of all patients treated for major depressive disorder (MDD), the clinical name for what is typically thought of as depression, don’t respond to the first treatment option prescribed to them. Even those who do respond often won’t see the full clinical benefit for up to 12 weeks. And yet, prescribing …

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Remembering Heather Armstrong: the tragic loss of the “Queen of Mommy Bloggers” sparks a global conversation on mental health

KevinMD
May 11, 2023

The blogging universe mourns the loss of a remarkable figure, Heather Armstrong, fondly known as the “Queen of the Mommy Bloggers.” Armstrong’s blog, Dooce, was a sanctuary for mothers and individuals wrestling with mental health issues and addiction. Tragically, Armstrong ended her life prematurely in an apparent suicide following a sobriety relapse. The legacy she leaves behind extends far beyond her two children, etching her name as one …

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Awaken your brain for a happier, more connected life: the key to combating depression and isolation

Conditions
May 10, 2023

With the coming end of the public health emergency, our three-year pandemic will be officially (if not completely) over, and we will be left to contemplate what’s next. As much as we’d all appreciate a return to normal, we may be better off considering a new normal, a better one, in which we focus on “waking up” our brains. An awakened brain just may be the key to shaking off …

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Finding hope and purpose amidst profound loss [PODCAST]

Podcast
May 9, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we speak with Colin Campbell, author of Finding the Words: Working Through Profound Loss with Hope and Purpose. Colin shares his personal experience of losing his children in a car accident and the importance …

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The Kentucky Derby: factors that contribute to winning the most prestigious horse race in the world, and what medical training can learn from them

Physician
May 9, 2023

The Kentucky Derby is an annual horse race held in Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May. It is considered one of the most prestigious horse races in the world and is the first leg of the Triple Crown of thoroughbred racing, followed by Preakness Stakes and the Belmont stakes. At the time of this writing, Mage won the famous race in the 149th Kentucky Derby.

The  Kentucky Derby has …

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Breaking the stigma: Encouraging mental health help-seeking in medical trainees

Education
May 8, 2023

I won’t judge you for asking for help because that is how I hope you treat me.

It took me five years to accept the fact that I needed help. As I pursued athletic endeavors at the highest level in high school and college, my mind developed a twisted, compulsive mindset towards eating to control my life, navigate my cultural heritage, and succeed in my sport. For those five years, I …

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Physician burnout: the impact of social media on mental health and the urgent need for change

Social media
May 6, 2023

Burnout is an increasingly common phenomenon affecting approximately 63 percent of physicians. The etiology is multifactorial, with excessive workloads leading to sleep deprivation and curtailed self-care. Social media is a significant contributor to burnout that we easily overlook.

Perhaps we’re looking for an escape on social media, but is more screen time what we really need?

How does social media use contribute to burnout?

Let’s face it; social media is a time vacuum. …

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Medicine is a joke, except no one is laughing

Physician
May 4, 2023

My brother and I like to swap stories about our medical encounters. I suppose our ages – 69 for me and 74 for him – lead to varied encounters and tales.

“It’s a sh*t-show,” he tells me from his home on Martha’s Vineyard. “No one’s left here on the island. The doctors who remain have stopped seeing new patients or have incredibly long waiting lists.” My brother is forced to go …

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Not treating addiction in criminal justice settings violates the 4 ethical principles in medicine

Physician
May 4, 2023

As physicians, we are bound by four ethical principles. Beneficence (acting for the benefit of the patient), nonmaleficence (avoiding the harm of the patient), autonomy (respecting patients’ right to make their own decisions), and justice (fair and equitable treatment of patients). When people think of the ethical principles that guide physicians, “First, do no harm” comes to mind.

Unfortunately, our medical system in the United States is violating all four …

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The cannabis education gap: Why patients are left in the dark

Meds
May 1, 2023

Imagine that you are suffering from chronic pain.

The pain keeps you awake at night so you don’t get much sleep. Lack of sleep most nights and the ensuing chronic fatigue causes you some anxiety during the day. Your primary care physician suggests that she is concerned with the increasing amount of aspirin and ibuprofen you are consuming to manage the pain. She can prescribe opioids to help with the pain, …

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A glimmer of hope for a child with suicidal ideations

Conditions
April 30, 2023

Eleven-year-old Abby sat nervously in the emergency department, her eyes darting around the room as she clutched Patches, her beloved stuffed sheep. Her guardian sat beside her, anxiety etched on her face as she explained the situation to me. Abby had been diagnosed with depression at the tender age of nine after suffering years of abuse and neglect at the hands of her biological parents.

A few months ago, a loving …

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Are doctors ready to discuss psychedelic therapies with patients?

Meds
April 28, 2023

As I’m pre-charting for my primary care clinic, I see Ms. C on the schedule, whom I know well through our nearly monthly follow-up visits over the past two and a half years of residency. We talk in Spanish as it’s her preferred language. She shares her escalating distress over being an immigrant, a full-time caregiver for her dad with advancing dementia and three kids, and current marital issues while …

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Doctors and nurses are dying by suicide, as America’s health care workers call for change

Physician
April 28, 2023

In the spring of 2020, as COVID-19 swept through hospitals in the tri-state area, Dr. Lorna Breen, a physician who served as the medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital, contracted COVID while caring for patients. Shortly after returning to work under relentlessly overwhelming circumstances, she died by suicide.

Dr. Breen had no prior mental health conditions.

As her story made national headlines, Dr. Breen’s death became …

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From helplessness to hope: a psychiatrist’s story of working with suicidal teens [PODCAST]

Podcast
April 27, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we are joined by Shivana Naidoo, a child psychiatrist, who shares a poignant reflection on her experiences with some of her most worrisome teenage patients. As she prepares to leave her job, she finds …

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Processing grief: a vital step for health care workers during COVID-19 [PODCAST]

Podcast
April 24, 2023
YouTube video



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In this episode, our guest Susan MacLellan-Tobert, a pediatric cardiologist and physician coach, delves into the challenges faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being …

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Why work shouldn’t define your self-worth [PODCAST]

Podcast
April 20, 2023
YouTube video

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this episode, we are joined by Tracey O’Connell, a radiologist and physician coach, to discuss the pitfalls of “do what you love” as career advice, particularly for college graduates. We explore the role of love in …

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Breaking the silence on mental health: Why understanding past traumas is key

Conditions
April 20, 2023

Depression is a complex and multifaceted illness that affects millions of people worldwide. For a long time, the prevailing explanation for depression has been that a chemical imbalance in the brain causes it, and I, like many other clinicians, accepted this definition. However, looking back at my early years in clinical practice and comparing it to what I have witnessed and studied, the past diagnosis didn’t fully appreciate the uniqueness …

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The secret to staying alert during night shifts: coffee naps and more

Conditions
April 17, 2023

Working night shifts in health care, particularly emergency medicine, requires maintaining alertness and focus during extended hours. I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges and risks associated with sleep deprivation, including a frightening incident when I fell asleep while driving after a long stretch of night shifts. Fortunately, nothing serious occurred, but it highlighted the importance of staying alert. One potential solution gaining popularity …

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The invisible epidemic: How physician burnout is affecting the medical community

Physician
April 14, 2023

Physicians dedicate their lives to the well-being of their patients, often neglecting their mental health in the process. The demanding nature of their profession, coupled with long hours, emotional exhaustion, and immense responsibility, can result in physician burnout, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. In this article, we will discuss the importance of mental health and self-care for physicians and provide some actionable …

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Why doctors are experts at dissociating

Physician
April 13, 2023

When you think of the word dissociate, it likely conjures up images of someone stumbling up a beach with no recollection of their life before being washed up on shore. Sure, dissociative amnesia is a (rare) phenomenon. But dissociating is not.

In fact, doctors are trained to do it.

When I was in clerkship in Toronto, Canada – I started working night shifts. Learning to ignore my body’s signals that it was …

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