Sheri Johnson, Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley, explores neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and social triggers of mania, with a focus on the reward system. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23798]

Victoria Lemle Beckner, Assistant Clinical Professor in the UCSF Department of Psychiatry, discusses the different approaches to psychotherapy and how research informs clinical practice to help patients achieve lasting improvement. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23797]

The majority of people with depression and bipolar disorder can and do have fulfilling, meaningful lives. Dr. Descartes Li, Professor Psychiatry and Director of UCSF Bipolar Disorder Program, discusses alternative treatments for depression - what works and what doesn’t. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23795]

Wendy Berry Mendes, UCSF Department of Psychiatry, explores how emotions, thoughts, and intentions are experienced in the body and how bodily responses shape and influence thoughts, behavior and emotions. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23207]

Robert Levenson, UC Berkeley Department of Psychology, explores the changes in emotion that occur with age. Much of his research focuses on the nature of human emotion, in terms of its physiological manifestations, variations in emotion associated with age, gender, culture, and pathology, and the role emotion plays in interpersonal interactions. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23206]

Robert Levenson, UC Berkeley Department of Psychology, explores the changes in emotion that occur with age. Much of his research focuses on the nature of human emotion, in terms of its physiological manifestations, variations in emotion associated with age, gender, culture, and pathology, and the role emotion plays in interpersonal interactions. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23206]

MacArthur genius award recipient Elyn Saks has written extensively about the rights of the mentally ill. She has also written at length about her own bouts with serious mental illness. In this very candid interview Saks, who is a tenured law professor at the University of Southern California, speaks with California Lawyer editor Martin Lasden. Series: "Legally Speaking" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23630]

Joel Kramer, UCSF Professor of Neuropsychology and the Director of the Memory and Aging Center Neuropsychology program. He explores the underlying biological mechanisms of cognitive aging, and interventions that may optimize cognitive functioning as we age. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23205]

Joel Kramer, UCSF Professor of Neuropsychology and the Director of the Memory and Aging Center Neuropsychology program. He explores the underlying biological mechanisms of cognitive aging, and interventions that may optimize cognitive functioning as we age. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23205]

Does stress speed up the aging process at a genetic level? Our cells are constantly aging. When cell divide some telomere is lost but if it becomes too short, that cell can no longer replicate and eventual dies. Elissa Epel, UCSF department of psychiatry, explores the affects of stress and emotions on the process of telomere shortening. Series: "Mini Medical School for the Public" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 23204]