When it comes to addiction treatment, doctors have a superpower. Even if you’re not board certified in addiction (most of us are not), you possess knowledge and skills uniquely suited to caring for patients with addiction. Many professions purpor…
Category: Psychiatry
Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change
I am rattled as I read the headlines. Another bright, incredible physician has ended her life. I feel numb with horror as I read the details. I want to scream, cry, and punch the wall. Wiping my tears away, I try to focus on the needs of my whining tod…
A new approach shifts thought patterns to improve mood
Imagine this … You’re shown a number of words one after another: “lettuce, tomato, green, head, vegetable, cabbage, carrot, food, leaf, salad, hamburger.” Then, you’re shown a different set of words: “thread, needle, shot,…
A season of emotions: spring, trauma, and healing
Spring is an interesting time of the year for me. April 15 may actually be my favorite day, but certainly not because income taxes are due. My dad was born on April 15, but that’s not the reason either. Let me set the scene. I lived in a beautifu…
Unveiling the inner dynamics behind high achievers’ success
In the realm of leadership development, an array of groundbreaking initiatives is surfacing, igniting profound transformations on multiple fronts. Resilience programs, in particular, are equipping leaders with the agility to navigate our fast-paced wor…
Artificial intelligence in mental health care shows how lonely we really are
Like many psychiatrists, I have scoffed every time I’ve heard about artificial intelligence providing psychotherapy or other mental health care. How could patients not notice the difference between me and a bot, or how could they not care? Yet th…
The Kumbh Mela festival in India and the social psychological implications of crowds
An excerpt from The Bonds We Share: Images of Humanity, 40 Years Around the Globe. Once every 12 years, an amazing event occurs at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in northern India. In four specific holy cities, during the lunar month of…
A doctor’s genuine approach to medication-assisted therapy patients
This past week, I was speaking with a patient; let’s call her Marcy, during her regular appointment. “You’re just not like other doctors,” she said. “How is that?” I asked. This seems like a good place to discuss the…
Regulating social media’s effects on mental health
There can be no denying that, since its mass-scale introduction, social media has encompassed more and more of our lives, particularly in the lives of young people. As of 2022, among teens ages 13 to 17 years old, 95 percent report using social media, …
Medical traumatic stress in caregivers [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! Join Kody Sexton, a graduate student, as he sheds light on the often overlooked challenges these caregivers face. Discover how trauma-informed care, systemic changes, and social justice ini…
