Focus on Neurology and Psychiatry

Latest Episodes:

SAD: Treating Winter's Doldrums Feb 09, 2009

Show notes

Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Guest: Norman Rosenthal, MD

The condition we now know as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) was first recognized in the early 1980s, when some patients were noted to have symptoms of depression only during the winter months. How does seasonal depression differ from other conditions such as major depression or bipolar disorder? Dr. Norman Rosenthal, a former senior researcher in psychiatry and psychobiology at the National Institute of Mental Health and one of the world's foremost experts on SAD, details the clinical profile of this disorder and describes light therapy and other potential treatments with host Dr. Jennifer Shu. Because there are some similarities between SAD and full depression, is it possible that light therapies or other SAD treatments would be effective for patients with year-round symptoms or bipolar disorder?

Treating Temporal Lobe Epilepsy With Surgery Feb 04, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Hyunmi Choi, MD
Host: Larry Kaskel, MD

Is brain surgery better than medicine for temporal lobe epilepsy? Host Dr. Larry Kaskel talks with Dr. Hyunmi Choi, assistant professor of clinical neurology at Columbia University Medical Center in the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, about her research into the benefits of brain surgery over continued medication management.

Comparing Treatments for Anxiety Disorders in Children Feb 04, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Anne Marie Albano, PhD, ABPP
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD

For the last several years, the mainstays of treatment for children with anxiety disorders have varied among practitioners, but few attempts have been made to evaluate their comparative or combinatorial effectiveness. Dr. Anne Marie Albano, associate professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry and director of the Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders in the division of child and adolescent psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center, shares the outcomes of her research comparing cognitive behavioral therapy with medication in treating anxiety disorders in children. Dr. Albano discusses these two forms of therapy, both in isolation and combined, to treat a variety of problems, such as generalized anxiety disorder and social phobias. Dr. Bill Rutenberg hosts.

Evaluating Exposure Therapy to Treat Anxiety Disorders in Childhood Feb 04, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Stephen Whiteside, PhD, LP
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD

Should exposure therapy be added to a mental health practitioner's arsenal of treatment techniques for anxiety disorders in children? Dr. Stephen Whiteside, assistant professor of psychology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, explores the merits and limitations of this therapeutic approach, with recommendations for selecting patients who stand to benefit most. Hosted by Dr. Bill Rutenberg.

Contemporary Neurosurgical Approaches in Psychiatry Feb 02, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Steven Dubovsky, MD
Host: Lee Freedman, MD

How have neurosurgical procedures for psychiatric conditions advanced since the development of the lobotomy? Which types of neurosurgical procedures are best for treating depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder? Dr. Steven Dubovsky, professor and chair of the department of psychiatry at the State University New York at Buffalo, explains lesioning surgeries, vegus nerve stimulation and deep brain stimulation for treating depression. Dr. Lee Freedman hosts. Can these procedures cure patients of their psychiatric conditions?

New Treatment Techniques for Paranoia Jan 27, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Daniel Freeman, PhD, DClinPsy
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

How prevalent is paranoia and what are the latest strategies clinicians can use to treat patients with paranoia? Dr. Daniel Freeman, a Wellcome Trust Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss this 21st century fear. New techniques are designed to reduce distress and encourage people to talk about their paranoia.

Smoking, Cessation, and the Dual Risks of Suicide Jan 27, 2009

Show notes

Guest: John Hughes, MD
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

Dr. Leslie Lundt's guest, Dr. John Hughes, professor of psychiatry, psychology and family practice at the University of Vermont, whose research is primarily focused on tobacco use, explains why suicide is linked to both smoking and stopping smoking. They discuss the variables that may explain this, as well as the medications available to help patients to stop smoking and their effect on depression. How can clinicians best help their patients?

Treating Psychosis in Adolescents Jan 27, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Robert Findling, MD
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

When schizophrenia first presents in the teen years, patients often have a particularly poor prognosis. What are the best treatments for adolescents? Which medicine is best? Dr. Robert Findling, the Rocco L. Motto, MD, Chair of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, talks with host Dr. Leslie Lundt about the long-term effects of medications and new research into treatment of early-onset schizophrenia.

Managing Psychological Distress Post-ICU Stay Jan 26, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Dale Needham, MD, PhD
Host: Lee Freedman, MD

What complications in the ICU might lead to a patient experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after an ICU stay? Is it better to keep ICU patients sedated to prevent pain, or is there an advantage to encouraging movement as soon as possible? Host Dr. Lee Freedman debates this question with Dr. Dale Needham, assistant professor in the division of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins University. Are certain patients more susceptible than others to developing PTSD after being in the ICU?

Practical Advice for Treating Bipolar Patients Jan 14, 2009

Show notes

Guest: Monica Basco, PhD
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD

What are the most successful methods of treating bipolar patients? Dr. Monica Basco, associate professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss her work with treating bipolar patients. Learn the best tools for increasing treatment adherence, recognizing prodromal symptoms and preventing relapse.