As psychiatrists, we’re aware that patients face problems with their health. Hence, we need clear management strategies to prevent physical health challenges.

In this podcast, we will review the current research and policy surrounding prevention and management of cardiometabolic health conditions, and what we can do as psychiatrists to improve the physical health of patients.

We will also discuss the new Lancet Psychiatry physical health commission on physical health side-effects of psychotropics.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists’ coat of arms – featuring the serpent-entwined Staff of Asclepius, the Greek God of medicine and healing – also bears the College motto, ‘Let Wisdom Guide’.

Wisdom is often personified as a female figure – Sophia (Greek) or Hokmah (Hebrew) – a figure that is the source of practical knowledge and a moral compass, emphasising ethical conduct and thoughtful living.

And indeed it is wisdom we need to understand the complexities of life – particularly when it intersects with mental illness, as it often does in psychiatry.

Our new series of podcasts, Big Questions in Psychiatry, explores the complex and sometimes messy issues shaping psychiatry. With the help of world experts in the field and utilising a grounding panel of patients, carers, clinicians, learners and service managers, we ask about:

- the philosophical notion of responsibility and its relation to blame in mental illness

phenomenology in psychiatry

– how do we, either as patients or as clinicians, know what is real and what is not, for example when dealing with hallucinations

- the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in psychiatry – is AI friend or foe?

Disclaimer: Thank you for listening to this Royal College of Psychiatrists’ CPD eLearning podcast. This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice.

Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date.

If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider.

Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

This podcast covers common mental health issues that may arise when service personnel leave the military and become veterans.

We examine the transition period, looking at the risk factors associated with this and the support systems available. Mental health provisions for veterans can seem like a confusing topic to NHS psychiatrists. However, it is likely that, in clinical practice, all psychiatrists will come into contact with this cohort of patients and it is important for psychiatrists to have a sense of understanding.

This podcast will aim to review some commonly held misconceptions about veterans’ mental health and discuss further the support available when service personnel leave the military.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Mental health in the military may seem like a confusing topic for NHS psychiatrists. However, there may be interfaces between the military and NHS at key points in a service person's journey, which is why it is important for NHS psychiatrists to have a sense of understanding of this topic.

This podcast will aim to review some commonly held misconceptions about mental health within the military and introduce the support available when service personnel leave the military.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

In this podcast, Dr Kamran Ahmed talks to Professor Klaus Lieb about the Cochrane review conducted by his team on trials of pharmacological treatments for borderline personality disorder. The findings of the review and their implications are discussed.

Published: March 2010

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Here, Dr Peter Mason discusses a number of case reports of adults with ADHD and comorbid psychosis, outlining the symptoms that commonly present. He also reviews the current evidence base for the treatment of the disorders, including the risks and benefits of prescribing stimulants to adults with psychosis.

Published: August 2012

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Psychiatrists infrequently encounter catatonic presentations in clinical practice. In this podcast, CPD eLearning Deputy Editor, Dr Bruce Tamilson, speaks to Dr Jonathan Rogers about significant developments that have been made in diagnosing catatonia. This includes identifying catatonia, differentiating from similar presentations, and discussing the various approaches to assessment and investigations.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Following their presentation at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress, Dr Nikki Nabavi, Dr Rosemary Gordon and Dr Suhana Ahmed spoke with CPD eLearning Podcast Editor, Dr Nadia Imran.

In this podcast they discuss different leadership styles, allyship and its importance within the workplace, and share their experiences of navigating the challenges that women often face in psychiatry and healthcare, particularly within leadership roles.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

This podcast is a discussion between CPD eLearning’s Podcast Editor, Dr Nadia Imran, and RCPsych’s Planetary Health and Sustainability Committee member, Dr Daniel Harwood.

In this podcast, Dr Harwood highlights the benefits of nature-based interventions in psychiatry for both patients and wildlife, such as nature walks, wildlife gardening and habitat management. Dr Harwood provides examples of simple yet effective nature-based interventions.

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Following their presentation at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress 2024, Dr Mark Horowitz and Prof David Taylor sat down with CPD eLearning Editor Dr Howard Ryland.

In this podcast, they discuss deprescribing psychotropic medications and the findings in their book, The Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines (Horowitz and Taylor, 2024).

Disclaimer: This podcast provides information, not advice. The content in this podcast is provided for general information only and is not intended to, and does not, mount to advice which you should rely on. This is not an alternative to specific advice. Although we make reasonable efforts to present accurate information in our podcasts, we make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in this podcast is accurate, complete or up to date. If you have any questions about any medical matter, you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider without delay. If you think you are experiencing any medical condition, you should seek immediate attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.