Category: Psychiatry

The doctor’s struggle: How prescription opioids can lead to addiction

In the heart of America, the opioid epidemic continues to surge, claiming lives and livelihoods with an unrelenting grip. While many believe that addiction stems from illicit drug use, a significant portion of opioid addictions actually begin with a pr…

A physician’s reflection: Is it time to pass the torch?

I was at a meeting discussing issues concerning upcoming audits by various regulatory agencies and noticed a change that made me aware of the fact that many years have come and gone since I started this journey in administrative and public psychiatry. …

Naloxone: a life-saving tool that needs an upgrade [PODCAST]

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us on this episode as we delve into the complexities of the opioid crisis with David I. Deyhimy, an addiction medicine specialist and founder of MYMATCLINIC. Together…

Appreciate the people in your life: How simple words can make a big difference

One of my all-time favorite quotes from the original Star Trek episodes (“Balance of Terror”) is spoken by Dr. McCoy to Captain Kirk: “In this galaxy, there’s a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And i…

The troubling trend of violating resident physician rights

Resident physicians are vital to the health care system, delivering essential medical services while training to become fully licensed doctors. However, a troubling trend has emerged nationwide, with residency programs and hospitals frequently violatin…

Ensure your physicians always have crisis support: 5-step awareness program

Physician leaders: Are you committed to doing everything you possibly can to prevent physician suicide? This CHAP is how you answer that question. This document contains two steps that will ensure you do everything possible to be there for your people …

How one patient’s death transformed my approach to mental health care

Prior to working as a nurse practitioner, I worked as a psychiatric registered nurse in an inpatient behavioral health setting, caring for individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Individuals with SMI die ten to twenty years earlier than the gener…

Debunking the top myths about schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that is commonly misunderstood. A lack of understanding about the disease can cause people to draw inaccurate conclusions based on stereotypical portrayals in movies or television. Unfortunately, movie characte…

Why do physicians – and psychiatrists in particular – write?

All writers want recognition of some sort. No? Recognition can take many forms, such as positive feedback, awards, or simply the knowledge that their work is being read and appreciated. However, it is important to note that motivation can vary among wr…

Physician burnout: We’re partly to blame, here’s how to fix it

From the heart of one doctor to another, let’s address the evil spirit haunting our halls: burnout. It has become the unwelcome companion of many physicians, including myself, who frequently lament our moral injuries and the mistreatment that see…