The Medical Mind

In this episode, Psychiatric News Editor-in-Chief Dr. Adrian Preda speaks with Dr. Anna Westermair, a psychiatrist and researcher whose work focuses on the emerging field of palliative psychiatry. Drawing on her recent Psychiatric News Special Report, Dr. Westermair offers a compelling case for considering quality of life—not just symptom remission—as a meaningful goal in treating individuals with severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI). Dr. Westermair emphasizes that palliative psychiatry is not about abandoning care—but about reframing goals to improve life meaningfully for patients often left behind by the traditional system.

Read the Full Report: 👉 Palliative Psychiatry: An Innovative Approach to Severe and Persistent Mental Illness

Listen and Subscribe: Find this episode and more on the APA Medical Mind Podcast Channel or wherever you get your podcasts.

PsychNews Special Report" is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn.

This episode of Psych News Special Report delves into the complexities of prescribing psychotropic medications for medically ill patients. Dr. Adrian Preda and Dr. Jim Levinson discuss the challenges faced by psychiatrists, including pharmacokinetics, drug interactions, and the importance of collaboration with other healthcare providers. They emphasize the need for careful medication management, especially in patients with complex medical histories, and highlight the risks of not addressing psychiatric symptoms in these individuals.

"PsychNews Special Report" is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn."

This limited podcast series is brought to you by APA's Women Psychiatrists Caucus and hosted by Anjali Gupta, MD, President of APA's Women Psychiatrists Caucus. Dr.Gupta is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. She has led a number of wellness and equity initiatives at Georgetown and was selected to be a Gender+Justice Initiative Faculty Fellow for her research on The Experiences of Women in Medicine. She is active with APA's Committee on Women's Mental Health and is Chair of the AMWA Literary Committee. In this series, Dr. Gupta will interview women psychiatrists across the country who lead in a variety of ways. These conversations will uncover insights from guests' journeys in psychiatry on a range of topics, including work-life integration, mentorship, gender equity, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Gupta is joined by Dr. Laura Roberts, who serves as Chairman and the Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine. She has written hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and has written or edited many books in the areas of professionalism and ethics in medicine, professional development for physicians, and major texts in clinical psychiatry. Dr. Roberts is the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Academic Medicine and has served as Editor-in-Chief of Books for the American Psychiatric Association since 2016.

Dr. James Sherer joins us to break down the sharp rise in gambling addiction fueled by online platforms and sports betting. From the mental health fallout to the addictive design of gambling apps, he unpacks what's driving this crisis—and what can be done to stop it. Hear about the brain science behind the behavior, its impact on relationships, and where people can turn for real help.

This episode of Psych News Special Report delves into the emerging field of psychodermatology, exploring the intricate relationship between skin conditions and mental health. Dr. Mohammad Jafferany, an expert in the field, discusses his journey into psychodermatology, the psychological impacts of various skin conditions, and the importance of understanding the NICE model. The conversation also covers the classification of psychodermatological disorders, specific conditions like alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis, and effective treatment approaches.

You can read this month's Special Report on Psychodermatology here: https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.pn.2025.03.3.2

"PsychNews Special Report" is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn."

In this episode, Dr. Manu Sharma speaks with Dr. Peter Yellowlees about the transformative potential of asynchronous telepsychiatry. They explore how technology, particularly AI, can enhance psychiatric practice by improving data collection, patient access, and overall care efficiency. Dr. Yellowlees shares insights from his extensive experience, discussing the benefits and challenges of integrating asynchronous methods into psychiatric care, the importance of maintaining the patient-doctor relationship, and the need for regulatory adaptations to support these innovations. The conversation emphasizes the future of psychiatry as a hybrid model that combines traditional and asynchronous approaches to meet the growing demand for mental health services.

In this episode of Mental Health Pathfinders, Erin Connors speaks with Dr. King Davis about the historical significance of Central State Hospital, the first institution in the U.S. dedicated to the care of black patients. Dr. Davis discusses the challenges faced in preserving the hospital's history, the impact of racial segregation on mental health care, and the evolving understanding of race and mental illness. He emphasizes the need for continued research and preservation efforts to better understand the intersection of race and mental health care in America.

In this episode of the Mental Health Pathfinders podcast, Host Erin Connors speaks with Dr. George Keepers about the recent updates to the practice guidelines for borderline personality disorder (BPD). The conversation covers the importance of regular updates to guidelines, the impact of telehealth and AI on psychiatric practice, and the future directions for practice guidelines, including a focus on treatment-resistant depression. Dr. Keepers emphasizes the need for a broader range of effective psychotherapeutic treatments for BPD and the limited role of medications in treating its core features.

In the inaugural episode of PsychNews Special Report, Dr. Adrian Preda interviews Dr. Marta Mudd, author of the Special Report featured in the January 2025 issue of Psychiatric News, discussing the intersection of nutrition and mental health. They explore Dr. Mudd's journey into psychiatry, the importance of nutrition in psychiatric care, and the gaps in education regarding nutritional interventions. The conversation highlights common nutritional deficiencies in psychiatric patients, the challenges of integrating nutrition into practice, and practical strategies for psychiatrists to engage patients in dietary changes. Dr. Mudd emphasizes the significance of overall diet quality and the potential benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration between psychiatrists and dietitians.

"PsychNews Special Report" is a production of Psychiatric News, a media platform dedicated to serving as the primary and most trusted source of information for APA members, other psychiatrists and physicians, health professionals, and the public about developments in the field of psychiatry and mental health that impact clinical care and professional practice. Learn more at psychiatryonline.org/journal/pn."

In this episode of the Mental Health Pathfinders podcast, Marketa M. Wills, M.D., M.P.A., FAPA discusses her transition from Johns Hopkins to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) as CEO and Medical Director. Dr. Wills shares her experiences connecting with members, establishing a culture of trust and transparency, and the importance of advocacy in mental health. Dr. Wills emphasizes the need for collaboration and strategic decision-making within the APA to better serve its members and patients.