Psychiatry

Medical professional gaslighting: the lack of psychological safety in medicine

Physician

December 29, 2023

Toward the end of my third year of medical school, I was 25, newly married, and overwhelmed by responsibility. I hadn’t enjoyed the clinical rotations. The hours and the degree of human suffering were just too much. My husband and I fought about how unavailable I was. I had to complete my 6-week psychiatry rotation 3 hours away from home. I wasn’t sleeping well, so I went to student health …

An approach to conflict resolution: More than one thing can be true

Jill Wener, MD

Physician

December 27, 2023

The past months have unearthed and amplified passionately opposing opinions about international events, in particular regarding Palestine and Israel. In addition to attending protests, calling my representatives, and having conversations with people I know, I’ve been publicly sharing my feelings about Palestine and Israel. While I stand firm in what I believe, my feelings around it are complex: I’m Jewish, and I’m anti-Zionist.

We encounter complex beliefs and feelings, many of …

The surprising science of gratitude: How it boosts your well-being

Greg Smith, MD

Physician

December 25, 2023

I have never been a very touchy-feely person. I was trained as a biologist and chemist, then went to medical school where more science on top of science was aimed at me like a gushing firehose. I learned to put science and evidence first and to try in my practice of medicine to use only the therapeutic techniques that had some evidence base. That assured me that my patients would …

Why patients ghost their therapists [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 24, 2023

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Join Holly MacKenna, an integrative psychiatrist, as we explore the challenges and nuances of acknowledging goodbyes in the world of mental health treatment and professional relationships. Discover why patients often “ghost” their providers, the impact of business …

Thriving under pressure: How medical residents can excel with distress tolerance [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 23, 2023

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Join Frances Mei Hardin, an otolaryngologist, as we delve into the world of distress tolerance in medical residency training. Discover practical techniques, real-life anecdotes, and evidence-based practices to help residents navigate the intense and challenging environment of …

Words of caution when considering the use of “terminal anorexia”: perspective from lived experience

Jillian Rigert, MD, DMD

Conditions

December 23, 2023

After reading the article “Terminal anorexia nervosa: three cases and proposed clinical characteristics,” I was grateful to have not had access to the article a year earlier – when I would have personally met criteria. I was holding on to a sliver of hope at the time that I could enter back into a quality of life worth living, though my exhausted mind wanted to allow anorexia nervosa to …

Addressing the enormous scale of work-related burnout and mental injury in doctors

Leanne Rowe, MD

Conditions

December 23, 2023

When a 24-year-old laborer’s apprentice used a chainsaw without training, they sustained a jagged laceration through their left quadriceps. When I saw them 12 months later in my general practice, their laceration was well healed. However, they remained unemployed because their untreated post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was aggravated on their return to work when their boss put a chainsaw in their hands to help …

The DEA’s war on addiction doctors

A.J. Reid Finlayson, MD, Jeffrey A. Singer, MD, and Peter R. Martin, MD

Meds

December 19, 2023

Tennessee Dr. Ralph Thomas Reach is a vastly experienced addiction medicine physician. Continued application of his knowledge and pioneering experience could improve the opioid drug overdose death rate in his state. Unfortunately, the state government revoked his medical license, and Dr. Reach will soon begin serving six months in federal prison, followed by 18 months under house arrest.

After obtaining approval from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Dr. Reach had been treating …

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The DEA’s war on addiction doctors

How to thrive in medicine during festive seasons

Stephanie Wellington, MD

Physician

December 18, 2023

We all do it at one time or another.

Maybe the office or clinic is closed, but you’re on call, waiting for the phone to ring and take your attention away from family, friends, and festivities.

Is it a source of stress, or have you learned to go with the flow?

There are many things that trigger us in medicine and in life.

In the first few years as an attending physician, holidays were …

Physician burnout’s little voice [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 15, 2023

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Join Dike Drummond, a family practice physician, as he brings his rich experience and deep understanding of the medical profession to discuss a critical issue that touches many in the health care field: physician burnout. Through our …

Unlocking the healing power: Bridging medicine and psychotherapy

Maire Daugharty, MD

Conditions

December 15, 2023

I’ve been conceptualizing this for several years now – ideas about what I would like to do with perspectives from my long-time practice as a physician and those always developing as a psychotherapist. I love both; each brings a unique skill set and way of being in the world, and I am well-immersed in the confusions one has for the other. I am an adult therapist with a deep love …

Safety on campus, except for Jews: a parent and psychiatrist’s perspective

Torie S. Sepah, MD

Physician

December 13, 2023

After watching most of the five-plus hours of the December 5th congressional hearing on the state of antisemitism at three of the U.S.’ top universities – Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and MIT – I’ve concluded that unfortunately, the sound bites replayed in the media are not one-liners taken out of context, but spot-on summations.

As my husband and I prepare for our oldest son to reach a tremendous milestone in less …

Why write? Physicians share their stories of healing through writing.

Kim Downey, PT

Physician

December 9, 2023

I’ve read countless articles, posts, blogs, and books over the past year and a half, written by physicians, and I’ve learned an incredible amount!

Every physician’s voice is special, distinct, and remarkable.

Why write? Write for yourself. Many articles, including at least one study by the American Psychological Association, speak to writing as being a powerful tool for stress relief and healing.

Some physicians write as part of a gratitude practice, some write …

Navigating life’s crossroads: Change, accept, or leave [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 8, 2023

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Join Deepti Gandhi, a family physician. We delve into the powerful mantra of “change, accept, or leave” and explore real-life scenarios where individuals are faced with this choice. Discover practical strategies, personal stories, and expert insights to …

Burnout on the U.S.S. Enterprise

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Conditions

December 8, 2023

The original Star Trek television series, in my opinion, stands out as the best of the bunch. It lasted only three years (1966-1969), but it has retained a cult following. Among its many television “firsts” were the initial inter-racial kiss (between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura) and perhaps the first depiction of burnout, as seen in the two-part episode “The Menagerie.”

Originally intended as the pilot, “The Menagerie” was postponed to …

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Burnout on the U.S.S. Enterprise

The toll of health care: suicide risk among professionals

Michele Luckenbaugh

Conditions

December 8, 2023

Our health care workers—nurses, physicians, and support staff—are at a heightened risk of committing suicide. Plain and simple. The emotional and physical toll on our health care professionals has been ever-increasing, exacerbated by the COVID pandemic but still remains long after the official title “pandemic” has faded into the background.

Over 20 percent of the physicians in the United States are experiencing symptoms of depression, but fear professional repercussions if they …

Beyond K-pop and kimchi: Unraveling the mental health tapestry of Korean Americans

Dae Sun Hwang, Thomas Pak, MD, and Joo-Young Lee, MD

Physician

December 7, 2023

Korean culture has been capturing the attention of a worldwide audience in large part thanks to success on multiple platforms, whether it be a binge-worthy TV show such as Squid Game, award-winning films like Parasite, or even world-class goals from the beloved Hotspurs team captain, Son Heung Min. Celebrating Korean culture jumps beyond the screen and into a pair of headphones thanks to the global fandom of K-pop or even …

Depression treatment with ketamine and SSRIs [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 5, 2023

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Join L. Joseph Parker, a research physician, as we explore the intricacies of depression treatment. We’ll delve into the prevailing theories about serotonin, the delayed effects of SSRIs and SNRIs, and the emerging neuroplastic theory of depression. …

Physicians turn feelings of frustration and powerlessness into purpose and hope

Kim Downey, PT

Physician

December 4, 2023

Every physician has a story to tell, about their medical training, about their clinical work. Every story is unique. Simultaneously, there are common shared themes about the joys and the difficulties. These experiences are universal, regardless of gender, specialty, or geographic location.

I asked two physicians, a female ER doctor on the East Coast in the U.S., and a male trauma-informed physician-coach in the U.K., to tell us how their experiences …

Navigating challenges in modern medicine through storytelling [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

December 1, 2023

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Join Arthur Lazarus, an adjunct professor of psychiatry and the author of Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine. In this episode, we delve into the profound significance of storytelling and narrative in the medical …

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