PsychEd: Educational Psychiatry Podcast

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners.This episode covers the topic of grief with Dr. Cindy Grief, a Geriatric Psychiatrist at Baycrest Health Sciences in Toronto, where she is the Medical Director for Mental Health Services. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto and has played active roles in postgraduate and continuing education.The learning objectives for this episode are as followsExplain how acute grief becomes integrated over time, and how the dual process model helps us understand this adaptive process.Recognize the clinical features of Prolonged Grief Disorder, understand factors that may increase vulnerability, and distinguish it from trauma-related disorders and depression.Structure a bereavement-focused clinical history, differentiate the management of normative grief from Prolonged Grief Disorder, and approach suicide risk assessment in the context of grief.Guest: Dr. Cindy GriefHosts: Ahmad Khan (incoming PGY1), Dr. Angad Singh (PGY2), and Sara Abrahamson (MS3)Audio editing: Dr. Angad SinghResources:T⁠he Center for Prolonged Grief (https://prolongedgrief.columbia.edu/)Canadian Virtual Hospice (MyGrief.ca)Association for Death Education and Counseling (https://adec.org)What’s Your Grief (https://whatsyourgrief.com/)Podcasts: AllThere Is; Griefcast⁠⁠Books/Memoirs:Joan Didion, The Year of Magical ThinkingHelen Macdonald, H Is for HawkC.S. Lewis, A Grief ObservedChimamand Ngozi Adichie, Notes on GriefArticles:A.C. Shilton, “There Is No Vaccine for Grief,” New York Times, March 2, 2021M. Stroebe, “The Poetry of Grief: Beyond Scientific Portrayal,” OMEGA: Journal of Death and Dying, 2018, 78(1), 67–96References:Shear, K., Frank, E., Houck, P. R., & Reynolds, C. F., III. (2005). Treatment of complicated grief: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293(21), 2601–2608. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.21.2601Simon, N. M., & Shear, M. K. (2024). Prolonged grief disorder. New England Journal of Medicine, 391(13), 1227–1236. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp2308707Zisook, S., & Shear, K. (2009). Grief and bereavement: What psychiatrists need to know. World Psychiatry, 8(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2051-5545.2009.tb00217.x

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This short episode covers Types of SubstancesHosts: Sara Abrahamson, Shaoyuan Wang and Kate Braithwaite.Audio Editing: Kate BraithwaiteReferences:American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5, text revision (DSM-5-TR). 5th ed. Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.CAMH. (2013). Inhalants. Inhalants | CAMHCAMH. (2010). Cocaine and Crack. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/cocaineCAMH. (2012). Amphetamines. https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/amphetamines#:~:text=Chronic%20use%20of%20amphetamines%20can,can%20also%20cause%20amphetamine%20psychosis.Chae J, Marsden J and Sutherland A. (2024, August 21). Benzodiazepine Withdrawal. Emergency Care BC. Benzodiazepine Withdrawal : Emergency Care BCChildHealthBC. (2023, September 21). Common Street names for Substances. https://childhealthbc.ca/mhsu/common_streetnames_substances/printfileJauch EC. (2023, January 18) Inhalants Clinical Presentation. Medscape. Inhalants Clinical Presentation: History, Physical, CausesKaye, AD, Staser, AN, Mccollins, TS, Zheng, J, Berry, FA, Burroughs, CR, Heisler, M, Mouhaffel, A, Ahmadzadeh, S, Kaye, AM, Shekoohi, S, & Varrassi, G. (2024). Delirium Tremens: A Review of Clinical Studies. Cureus, 16(4), e57601. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.57601Long N. (2020, November 3). GHB toxicity. Life in the Fast Lane. GHB toxicity • LITFL • Toxicology Library ToxicantMedx. (2025, November 26). Understanding What is the MOA of Alcohol: A Pharmacological Perspective. What is the MOA of Alcohol? Explained: Receptors and EffectsMendelson, J. H., & Mello, N. K. (1996). Management of cocaine abuse and dependence. The New England journal of medicine, 334(15), 965–972. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM199604113341507Nichols DE. Hallucinogens. Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Feb;101(2):131-81. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2003.11.002.Nickson C. (2024, December 18). Sedative toxidrome. Life in the Fast Lane. Sedative Toxidrome • LITFL • CCC ToxicologyPorter RS, Kaplan JL, Homeier BP, editors. The Merck manual of diagnosis and therapy. 20th ed. Kenilworth (NJ): Merck Sharp & Dohme; 2018.PsychDB. (2021, March). Opioid Intoxication. Opioid Intoxication - PsychDBPsychDB. (2023, October). Opioid Withdrawal. Opioid Withdrawal - PsychDBPsychDB. (2023 February). Cannabis Withdrawal. Cannabis Withdrawal - PsychDBRoth BL, Gumpper RH. Psychedelics as Transformative Therapeutics. Am J Psychiatry. 2023 May 1;180(5):317-20.Vollenweider FX, Kometer M. The neurobiology of psychedelic drugs: implications for the treatment of mood disorders. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2010 Sep;11(9):642-51. doi: 10.1038/nrn2884.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This short episode covers how to take a substance use historyHosts: Dr. Andrew Nguyen, Dr. Zakia Hussain, Jo Kikukawa, and Dr. Kate Braithwaite.Audio editing: Dr. Kate BraithwaiteResources:Chapter 4: Substance Use and Addictive Disorders. In Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral SciencesMeta:Phi Resource LibraryTen Domains of De-escalation to Prevent Behavioural Emergencies (from Alberta Health Services)References:American Psychiatric Association Publishing. (2022). Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders. In Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: Fifth Edition, Text Revision: DSM-5-TR (5th ed., pp. 481-590). American Psychiatric Association Publishing. Boland, R.J., Verduin, M.L., & Ruiz, P. (2022). Chapter 4: Substance Use and Addictive Disorders. In Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry: Behavioral Sciences, Clinical Psychiatry (12th ed., pp. 269 - 336). Wolters Kluwer. Porter, L.D. Getting to the Good Part: How to Take an Engaging SUD History. [Presentation Transcript]. University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Use and Addictions Programs. https://www.uclaisap.org/clinicalproviderquicktips/docs/La-Donna-Porter/Porter_LD_Transcript_Clean.pdf Welsh, C.J. “Trapped”: A Mnemonic for Taking a Substance Use History. Acad Psychiatry 27, 289 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ap.27.4.289For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (⁠@psyched.podcast⁠), Facebook (⁠PsychEd Podcast⁠), X (⁠@psychedpodcast⁠), and Bluesky (⁠@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬⁠). You can email us at ⁠psychedpodcast@gmail.com⁠ and visit our website at⁠ ⁠⁠psychedpodcast.org⁠.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This episode covers metabolic monitoring for patients on antipsychotic medications.Hosts: Grant Yao (MS4) and Dr. Angad Singh (PGY2)Audio editing: Dr. Angad Singh (PGY2)Timestamps:(0:21) - Background(2:22) - Monitoring for metabolic side effects(6:16) - Managing metabolic side effects(9:50) - SummaryReferences:Agarwal, S. M., Stogios, N., Faulkner, G. E., & Hahn, M. (2023). Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of antipsychotic-induced weight gain in people with schizophrenia: A Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 49(4), 833-835.Carolan, A., Hynes-Ryan, C., Agarwal, S. M., Bourke, R., Cullen, W., Gaughran, F., ... & O’Donoghue, B. (2024). Metformin for the prevention of antipsychotic-induced weight gain: guideline development and consensus validation. Schizophrenia bulletin, sbae205.Cooper, S. J., Reynolds, G. P., With expert co-authors (in alphabetical order):, Barnes, T. R. E., England, E., Haddad, P. M., ... & Smith, J. (2016). BAP guidelines on the management of weight gain, metabolic disturbances and cardiovascular risk associated with psychosis and antipsychotic drug treatment. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 30(8), 717-748.DeJongh, B. M. (2021). Clinical pearls for the monitoring and treatment of antipsychotic induced metabolic syndrome. Mental Health Clinician, 11(6), 311-319.Stogios, N., Humber, B., Agarwal, S. M., & Hahn, M. (2023). Antipsychotic-induced weight gain in severe mental illness: risk factors and special considerations. Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(11), 707-721.For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (⁠@psyched.podcast⁠), Facebook (⁠PsychEd Podcast⁠), X (⁠@psychedpodcast⁠), and Bluesky (⁠@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬⁠). You can email us at ⁠psychedpodcast@gmail.com⁠ and visit our website at⁠ ⁠⁠psychedpodcast.org⁠.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This episode covers goals of care conversations.Our guest for this episode is Dr. Tavis Apramian, a clinician-investigator in the Department of Family & Community Medicine (DFCM) at the University of Toronto and scientist in the Office of Education Scholarship. He works as a palliative care physician at St. Michael’s Hospital and at Kensington Hospice. His largely qualitative program of research is focused on advance care planning; workplace-based learning and assessment; palliative care in family medicine; medical assistance in dying; and inequity in end-of-life care. His primary focus is on telling rich stories of learner and patient experiences to spark conversation about socioculturally complex educational and clinical problems in serious illness.The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:Describe a palliative approach to care and its relevance across different contextsDemonstrate a structured and compassionate approach to goals of care conversationsApply effective communication strategies to build therapeutic alliance, navigate difficult conversations, and involve multiple actors in the palliative contextRecognize and manage challenges in goals of care conversationsGuest: Dr. Tavis ApramianHosts: Dr. Daamoon Ghahari (PGY2) and Dr. Angad Singh (PGY2)Audio editing: Dr. Angad Singh (PGY2)Timestamps:(1:07) - Journey to palliative care(5:07) - What is palliative care(14:47) - Understanding patient values(33:47) - Structuring goals of care conversations(44:16) - Communication strategies(57:05) - Navigating family meetings(77:25) - Reflections on MAiD for sole mental illnessResources:Roth, H. (2024). Hearing the unspoken. Canadian Family Physician, 70(10), 642-642. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11477260/pdf/0700642.pdfReferences:Bernacki, R. E., & Block, S. D. (2014). Communication about serious illness care goals: a review and synthesis of best practices. JAMA internal medicine, 174(12), 1994-2003.Gross, J., & Koffman, J. (2024). Examining how goals of care communication are conducted between doctors and patients with severe acute illness in hospital settings: A realist systematic review. PLoS One, 19(3), e0299933.Scheunemann, L. P., Ernecoff, N. C., Buddadhumaruk, P., Carson, S. S., Hough, C. L., Curtis, J. R., ... & White, D. B. (2019). Clinician-family communication about patients’ values and preferences in intensive care units. JAMA internal medicine, 179(5), 676-684.You, J. J., Downar, J., Fowler, R. A., Lamontagne, F., Ma, I. W., Jayaraman, D., ... & Canadian Researchers at the End of Life Network (CARENET). (2015). Barriers to goals of care discussions with seriously ill hospitalized patients and their families: a multicenter survey of clinicians. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 549-556.For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (⁠@psyched.podcast⁠), Facebook (⁠PsychEd Podcast⁠), X (⁠@psychedpodcast⁠), and Bluesky (⁠@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬⁠). You can email us at ⁠psychedpodcast@gmail.com⁠ and visit our website at⁠ ⁠⁠psychedpodcast.org⁠.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners. This episode covers exercise as a treatment for depression. Our guest for this episode is Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, a third-year psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa. His research focuses on the overlap between mental and physical health, particularly lifestyle measures that can be used to improve mental health, including exercise, diet, and sleep.The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:Understand the evidence supporting the antidepressant effects of exercise Explore the mechanisms underlying the benefits of exerciseLearn how to prescribe exercise as a treatment for depressionIdentify the risks and caveats of prescribing exercise for depressionGuest: Dr. Nicholas Fabiano (PGY3)Hosts: Dr. Wendy MacMillan-Wang (PGY4) and Dr. Angad Singh (PGY1)Audio Editing: Dr. Angad Singh (PGY1)Timestamps:(2:55) Origins of the interest in exercise(6:22) Evidence of antidepressant effects(14:05) Considerations in special populations(18:00) Overlap of mental and physical health(20:37) Mechanism of action(26:18) Exercise prescription(33:10) Exercise as addiction and self-harm(36:42) Counselling and mitigating harm(39:30) Combining with other lifestyle interventions(41:41) Evidence for other mental illnessesReferences:Fabiano N, Gupta A, Fiedorowicz JG, Firth J, Stubbs B, Vancampfort D, Schuch FB, Carr LJ, Solmi M. The effect of exercise on suicidal ideation and behaviors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of affective disorders. 2023 Jun 1;330:355-66.Fabiano, N., Puder, D., & Stubbs, B. (2024). The evidence is clear, exercise is not better than antidepressants or therapy: it is crucial to communicate science honestly. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 1(aop), 1-2.Heissel, A., Heinen, D., Brokmeier, L. L., Skarabis, N., Kangas, M., Vancampfort, D., ... & Schuch, F. (2023). Exercise as medicine for depressive symptoms? A systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression. British journal of sports medicine, 57(16), 1049-1057.Hird, E. J., Slanina-Davies, A., Lewis, G., Hamer, M., & Roiser, J. P. (2024). From movement to motivation: a proposed framework to understand the antidepressant effect of exercise. Translational Psychiatry, 14(1), 273.Verhoeven, J. E., Han, L. K., Lever-van Milligen, B. A., Hu, M. X., Révész, D., Hoogendoorn, A. W., ... & Penninx, B. W. (2023). Antidepressants or running therapy: Comparing effects on mental and physical health in patients with depression and anxiety disorders. Journal of affective disorders, 329, 19-29.For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (@psyched.podcast), Facebook (PsychEd Podcast), X (@psychedpodcast), and Bluesky (@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬). You can email us at psychedpodcast@gmail.com and visit our website at psychedpodcast.org.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners.This episode covers South Asian mental health with Dr. Farooq Naeem, a senior scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and a psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. He is also a professor of psychiatry at the University of Toronto.Dr. Naeem pioneered techniques for culturally adapting CBT. These techniques have been used to adapt CBT in South Asia, North Africa, Middle East, Kenya and China. His research areas include CBT, psychosis, and culture, with an overall aim to improve access to CBT. He has also published on issues related to health services and quality improvement. He works with a team of IT experts and has developed a CBT-based therapy program — called eGuru — that can be delivered through web and smartphone apps.The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:By the end of this episode, you should be able to…Recognize the unique mental health challenges and barriers faced by South Asian communitiesUnderstand how cultural nuances shape mental health presentations and assessmentsDescribe culturally adapted CBT and its benefits for South Asian patientsIdentify initiatives and future directions in transcultural psychiatry for South AsiansGuest: Dr. Farooq NaeemHosts: Hira Ahmad, Gurvir Rai, Nikhita SinghalAudio editing by: Nikhita SinghalShow notes by: Nikhita SinghalResources:PsychEd Episode 29: Cultural Psychiatry with Dr. Eric JarvisCulturally Adapted Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Canadians of South Asian OriginSouth Asian Canadian Mental Health FoundationSociety for the Study of Psychiatry and CultureReferences:Gadalla, T.M. (2010). Ethnicity and seeking treatment for depression: a Canadian national study. Canadian Ethnic Studies 41(3), 233-245. https://doi.org/10.1353/ces.2010.0042Karasz, A., Gany, F., Escobar, J., Flores, C., Prasad, L., Inman, A., Kalasapudi, V., Kosi, R., Murthy, M., Leng, J., & Diwan, S. (2019). Mental health and stress among South Asians. Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 21(S1), 7–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-018-0790-4Kumar, A., & Nevid, J. S. (2010). Acculturation, enculturation, and perceptions of mental disorders in Asian Indian immigrants. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 16(2), 274–283. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018352Lai, D. W. L., & Surood, S. (2008). Socio-cultural variations in depressive symptoms of ageing South Asian Canadians. Asian Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 3(2), 84-91.Leung, P., Cheung, M., & Tsui, V. (2011). Asian Indians and depressive symptoms: Reframing mental health help -seeking behavior. International Social Work, 55(1), 53–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872810372801Masood, N., Okazaki, S., & Takeuchi, D. T. (2009). Gender, family, and community correlates of mental health in South Asian Americans. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 15(3), 265–274. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0014301Vakil, K., Desse, T. A., Manias, E., Alzubaidi, H., Rasmussen, B., Holton, S., & McNamara, K. P. (2023). Patient-centered care experiences of first-generation, South Asian migrants with chronic diseases living in high-income, Western countries: systematic review. Patient Preference and Adherence, 17, 281–298. https://doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S391340For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (@psyched.podcast), Facebook (PsychEd Podcast), X (@psychedpodcast), and Bluesky (@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬). You can email us at psychedpodcast@gmail.com and visit our website at psychedpodcast.org.

Welcome to PsychEd, the psychiatry podcast for medical learners, by medical learners.This episode covers catatonia with Dr. Patricia Rosebush. Dr. Rosebush is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. She is the distinguished author of numerous articles on clinical neuroscience, including considerable work on mitochondrial disorders in mental illness and over 30 papers on catatonia, and practices consultation-liaison psychiatry at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.The learning objectives for this episode are as follows:By the end of this episode, the listener will be able to…Develop a conceptual understanding of catatoniaHave an approach for diagnosing catatoniaHave an approach for treating catatoniaGuest: Dr. Patricia RosebushHosts: Dr. Alastair Morrison (PGY1), Dr. Angad Singh (PGY1)Audio editing: Dr. Angad SinghShow notes: Dr. Alastair MorrisonInterview content:(01:20) Clinical features of catatonia (high level overview)(04:15) Clinical anecdote - an index case of catatonia(06:00) History of approaches to catatonia(10:00) Approach to different catatonia phenotypes(15:00) Categorization and ideas of mechanism(18:00) Assessing clinical signs of catatonia (24:00) Preserved awareness in catatonia(27:00) Investigations and differential diagnosis(30:00) First interventions: benzodiazepines and benzodiazepine withdrawal(41:30) Managing medical considerations in catatonia(45:00) Treating other psychiatric illnesses in the catatonic patient(49:00) Acute, chronic, and refractory treatmentsReferences:Barnes MP, Saunders M, Walls TJ, Saunders I, Kirk CA. The syndrome of Karl Ludwig Kahlbaum. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1986 Sep;49(9):991-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.49.9.991Bush G, Fink M, Petrides G, Dowling F, Francis A. Catatonia. I. Rating scale and standardized examination. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1996 Feb;93(2):129-36. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1996.tb09814.xPsychDB. (2023, November 23). Catatonia. https://www.psychdb.com/cl/0-catatoniaRosebush PI, Mazurek MF. Catatonia and its treatment. Schizophr Bull. 2010 Mar;36(2):239-42. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbp141For more PsychEd, follow us on Instagram (@psyched.podcast), Facebook (PsychEd Podcast), X (@psychedpodcast), and Bluesky (@psychedpodcast.bsky.social‬). You can email us at psychedpodcast@gmail.com and visit our website at psychedpodcast.org.