Let's Get Psyched

On April 21, 2021 the “21st Century Cures Act” mandated that all healthcare providers grant clients/patients access to their chart “without delay” and without charge. Make sure you listen to all 3 episodes as we have noted psychiatrist and trainer in medical record keeping, Dr. Tony Thrasher, to answer our questions. In this episode, we discuss our takes on using "woke language" in our documentation.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Tony Thrasher, MD, DFAPA

On April 21, 2021 the “21st Century Cures Act” mandated that all healthcare providers grant clients/patients access to their chart “without delay” and without charge. While providing access to one’s chart usually works very smoothly for medical treatment, it’s a different story for psychiatric and psychological treatment. For example, it’s common for a client to lack insight about themselves—that’s a big reason for going to therapy. So how will the treatment be affected when the client reads about how their psychologist or psychiatrist thinks they don’t know what the problem actually is? Make sure you listen to all 3 episodes as we have noted psychiatrist and trainer in medical record keeping, Dr. Tony Thrasher, to help us answer these questions. In this episode, Dr. Thrasher suggests creative ways to use the open note as a clinical tool that promotes transparency and mutual understanding between doctor and patient.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Tony Thrasher, MD, DFAPA

Since the inception of Obama Care, services for people with autism have expanded considerably—but perhaps not equally—in the United States. We talk to experts in autism, Dr. Barry Prizant and Dr. Alice Kuo about what to look for in an effective treatment and a treatment provider. They also discuss the obstacles that come from differences in income and insurance.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia

Guests: Alice Kuo, MD, PhD, MBA, Barry Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP

References:

SCERTS model: https://scerts.com/

Diagnoses of autism are on the rise in the United States. Portrayals of autism are increasingly visible in the media and television. But what is most important to know in understanding people with autism? We invite autism expert and author of “Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism,” Dr. Barry Prizant, to share his perspective. We discuss using music and theater as a way for the autism community to connect with others, develop important skills, and actively engage.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia

Guest: Barry Prizant, PhD, CCC-SLP

References:

SCERTS model: https://scerts.com/

The Miracle Project: https://themiracleproject.org/

The Spectrum Theatre Ensemble: https://www.stensemble.org/

Uniquely Human the Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uniquely-human-the-podcast/id1532460901

We asked child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Linda Schmidt to join us again, this time for a discussion on her experiences training mental health professionals in Ukraine before the war. She shares the challenges of practicing psychiatry in Ukraine and the treatment available to the population.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Linda Schmidt, MD

References:

Circle of Family Foundation: https://k-s.org.ua/resilience_for_ukraine/

The ongoing war in Ukraine has been devastating to every aspect of life there. Prompt and effective mental health care is desperately needed now and for the years ahead. In this episode we invited psychiatrist Dr. Linda Schmidt to join our discussion on psychiatric services before the war and to share some insights into current conditions. Since 2015, Dr. Schmidt has traveled several times to Ukraine for the purpose of providing training for mental health professionals and has also worked to increase humanitarian aid to the region.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Linda Schmidt, MD

References:

Circle of Family Foundation: https://k-s.org.ua/resilience_for_ukraine/

Founder of the pro-euthanasia group Exit International and former physican, Phillip Nitschke, has created the Sarco suicide pod. Dr. Nitschke (who also has a PhD in Physics) is planning to make the plans accessible for 3-D printing to "democratize" euthanasia technology. Is this a step towards making suicide a human rights issue or an international public health nightmare? Listen to our interview with Dr. Nitschke and decide for yourself.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Philip Nitschke, PhD, MBBS

References:

Berman, Athey, A., & Nestadt, P. (2021). Effectiveness of  restricting access to a suicide jump site: a test of the method  substitution hypothesis. Injury Prevention, 28(1), 90–92. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044240.

Kposowa, Hamilton, D., & Wang, K. (2016). Impact of Firearm  Availability and Gun Regulation on State Suicide Rates. Suicide &  Life-Threatening Behavior, 46(6), 678–696. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12243.

Dr. Philip Nitschke is an Australian physician who campaigned successfully for the world's first assisted suicide law. He went on to found the non-profit, pro-euthanasia organization, Exit International. How did a physician trained under the medical ethics of beneficence and non-maleficence decide to make euthanasia and assisted suicide his life's work? Listen to our interview with him and decide where you stand.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Philip Nitschke, PhD, MBBS

References:

Owens D, Horrocks J, House A. Fatal and non-fatal repetition of  self-harm. Systematic review. Br J Psychiatry. 2002 Sep;181:193-9. doi:  10.1192/bjp.181.3.193. PMID: 12204922.

Seiden RH. Where are they now? A follow-up study of suicide attempters  from the Golden Gate Bridge. Suicide Life Threat Behav. 1978  Winter;8(4):203-16. PMID: 217131.

In 1958 Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg proposed that every human being develops according to predictable stages of moral development. This proved controversial as his research was based only on boys and did not seem to fit certain cultures. We asked Dr. Bandy X. Lee, an expert in the psychological and social causes of violence, for a discussion of how one's moral stage influences one's propensity for violence.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Bandy X. Lee, MD, MDiv

References:

worldmhc.org

On this episode we invite back Dr. Bandy X. Lee to discuss the problems with the New York incarceration facility Rikers Island and the difficulty in reforming it. Dr. Lee participated in an expert commission that produced a report that was eventually ignored, in favor of a report by a private consulting firm. The terrible results speak for themselves. Dr. Lee provides her insight into how things went wrong and the reforms that were ignored.

Hosts: Eyrn, Toshia, Alan

Guest: Bandy X. Lee, MD, MDiv

References:

Marques, Stuart. “The Birth, Life and–Maybe–Death of Rikers Island.” NYC Department of Records & Information Services, NYC Department of Records & Information Services, 22 Mar. 2019, https://www.archives.nyc/blog/2019/3/21/the-birth-life-and-maybe-death-of-rikers-island.