In today’s episode we bring on Dr. Campbell Sullivan, PsyD to discuss the interesting field of neuropsychology, a complicated niche that focuses on eliciting deficits in cognition across patters of disease. We discuss the triumphs of her field as they collaborate with both psychiatry and neurology and then get into…
In this preston-led episode, we take a deep dive into the history of lithium and its use in psychiatry. But because Preston is very literal, we are starting at the very beginning, inside of stars where lithium was formed at the beginning of the universe. Then we will follow this…
In this episode of historical psychiatric diagnoses we continue the “arc” (get it) with the story of a young girl with vivid hallucinations who galvanized the French army and a wise king who lost his sanity late in life. The interesting thing about these cases, however, is that they may…
We're pulling a throwback from season two for this one, and it's the episode I will go to the mat for as one of the most clinically useful hours of psychiatry content we've ever put out. Margaret literally calculates QTc off this episode every time she's on call and her…
Today we'll talk through is one study from 2010 out of the Oxford Department of Experimental Psychology, "Task-related default mode network modulation and inhibitory control in ADHD: effects of motivation and methylphenidate", that I want to walk you through, because the way it reframed ADHD for me as a resident…
We're going back to one of our oldies but besties. This is our motivational interviewing episode from season one, which Margaret and I both agree is probably the best episode we made that whole first run. And it holds up, maybe even better now that we're further along in training…
I figured we'd do something I've been wanting to do for a while: story time. Specifically, the kind where I take some of history's most famous figures, walk you through what actually happened to them, and then put on my psychiatry resident hat and try to figure out what we'd…
We're doing a throwback! This was our second episode ever, way back when I was at the beginning of fourth year of med school and Margaret and I were still figuring out the rhythm of this whole podcast thing. I'm now at the end of my first year of child…
In this episode we are joined by my coresident, @undercoverdoc who has a special interested in fitness culture and bodybuilding. With the protein intake, food weighing and gym discipline also comes “extracurriculars,” or anabolic steroids. Rob describes his observationss being in the fitness space as both an athlete and a…
Code ORANGE. We had to break the between-seasons hiatus for this one. If you've been on healthcare TikTok in the last month and you haven't seen the burnt-out fruit basket emerging, you have some catching up to do. And it all started with Dr. Orange. Margaret and I sat down…
As we wrap up Season 3, Margaret and I are looking back at the long journey from our first late-night recording sessions in 2025 to where we are now: mid-fellowship for Margaret and fourth year for me. This season wasn't just about "yapping"; it was a masterclass in learning how…
In the final episode of a four part series on existential psychotherapy, Margaret and I take on the problem of meaning. This one is a little different that the other problems of man but they all intertwine like a single cable when it comes to living your life. Join us…
Margaret and I decided to tackle the questions that have been circling our DMs, including the controversial continuum of harm reduction, where does "good enough" care end and "enabling" begin? We also touch on the complexities of diagnosing autism across genders, the "stolen valor" of internet neuroscientists, and why I’m…
I’m flying solo for most of this one while Margaret is off saving dolphins (or just finishing a hospital admission ), but I’ve brought in a heavy hitter to help me tackle one of the most awkward parts of medical training: feedback. Paul Tran, the creative force behind Alimentary School,…
In this journal club episode, we break down the recent findings from a landmark (in my opinion) study on the associated risks between caffeine consumption and dementia risk. Spoiler alert! More coffee might actually be protective against dementia; however, we need to take these findings with a grain of salt…
A topic that we were silent on during our Aphasia episode was the importance of Speech-Language Pathologists in the care of patients with Aphasia and, more broadly, throughout different types of care for patients in the hospital, in rehab, and outpatient. Today, we are joined by SLPs and co-hosts of…
Spoiler Alert! The key to not feeling isolated is to (wait for it) be around other people! Humans are naturally driven social creatures, but the ways in which we attempt to run from isolation become the problem. In this episode, we discuss how isolation is an ever-present fear, how existential…
In the second part of our intro to DBT episodes, we welcome expert education and DBT clinician, Dr. Kiki Fehling. We talk about how Dr. Fehling found DBT, how her teaching made it to TikTok, and then get into cases about how to talk about DBT with patients and what…
In this episode, I sit down with Amine (whyamino) a med student and content creator who recently went viral for his skits about engaging with patients from different cultural backgrounds. Due to pressure and complaints of “promoting stereotypes,” the content was eventually taken down. The audience feels some ambivalence about…
Today Margaret and I take on our own freedom in today’s episode, which is part 2 of a 4-part series on Existential Psychotherapy. The existential postulate that we are all ultimately free to make our own decisions (and therefore must live with those decisions) can be a source of distress…
In preparation for a more thorough DBT episode with experts in the field, Margaret leads us through a “DBT 101” covering the essentially axioms of dialectical behavioral therapy along with the pillars of mindfulness, emotional regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify…
In this episode, we explore the current political climate and the possibility of the return of institutionalized mental health care. Though this is not a political podcast (I think Preston says that 5 times) , all of medicine is political,and it’s important to discuss the overlap. Tune in to the…
In this episode, Margaret and Preston cover one of their most-requested clinical topics: diagnosing and treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. Along the way, we review popular TikToks about OCD, including one Margaret made, and offer evidence-based approaches to treating OCD, along with a message of hope for anyone struggling…
Today, we try to tackle the easy and simple topic of death. Inspired by the writings of Irvin Yalom in Existential Psychotherapy, Preston attempts to describe the four maxims of existentialist theory in therapy and how they may apply to patients. Join Patreon Here: https://www.patreon.com/c/howtobepatientpod If you’re ready to simplify…