Is There a Med For That?

Today the doc answers questions from real-live teenagers in the program as delivered by our very own fact-checker and group counselor, Angela.  Who knows what they'll ask next -- the suspense is real.  

We are pleased to introduce Valerie Boles to the show.  Val is an occupational therapist dynamo who will bring a whole new perspective to the podcast.  In this episode Duncan asks Valerie to explain exactly what occupational therapists are, where they come from, and how they work to help kids with all kinds of neuropsychiatric difficulties.  

Dunc and Vicki talk about antidepressants, kids, and the "black box warning" on many psychiatric medications now warning about increased risk of suicide for kids and young adults taking them.  They talk pros and cons of the warning and how these meds can still benefits lots of kids.  

The highly-anticipated sequel to our last podcast.  

Victoria introduces the concept of the "Intentional Family".  She talks with Duncan about proactively seeking to make spending time together a family habit, and ways to go about doing so that don't have to feel like forced marches.  The two talk about the returns on this "investment" and why they might be higher than you'd expect. Part 1 of a 2-part series.  

Telehealth was probably already coming, but the pandemic sure moved it along.  More and more therapists and docs are doing treatment from the comfort of their own homes, as are their patients.  Dunc and Victoria talk pros and cons of treatment and for whom it works.  

Dunc and Vicki reflect on year one of Is There a Med For That: what's worked well, what's worked not so well, and how a psychiatrist and therapist with little to no social media / podcast experience can forge on and make good things happen for the show in 2023.  

Vicki talks about one of her pet peeves, the old admonition that "parents and kids shouldn't be friends."  She explores with Duncan how the phrase, while containing an important element of truth, can easily become an excuse for parental misbehavior.

Why, oh why, aren't there clearer answers in psychiatry?  Which medications work?  Which diagnosis is right?  What's the right treatment for my kid?  A huge reason for the lack of clarity is in the limitations of trying to conduct and interpret psychiatric research.  And there's a bigger problem: Dunc and Vicki talk about why it's so dangerous for doctors and therapists to pretend those limitations aren't there.  

In the words of a famous boxer: "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth."  Acting reasonably during times of calm is easy, but it's a whole other thing to be able to function under stress.  Dunc and Vic talk about why it's important to take the opportunity to learn during those times, when the bullets are actually whistling over your head.