What is Psychiatry?

In its ongoing attempts to define, understand, and categorize disorders, and determine the best treatments, the medical specialty of psychiatry is always up against the protean complexity of the human brain. Both biological factors and environmental factors contribute to symptoms of distress, and the role each plays varies from person to person. Both psychotherapy and drugs are effective for most psychiatric disorders, and often a combination of the two works best, although the effects kick in on different timetables.

Recent posts on Psychiatry

Thomas Szasz: An Evaluation

By Nassir Ghaemi M.D., M.P.H. on January 05, 2018 in Mood Swings
Why did Thomas Szasz reject the idea of mental illness? Why was he wrong when right, and sometimes just dangerously wrong?

Is Good Insight Always a Good Thing?

By Philip Yanos Ph.D. on January 04, 2018 in Written Off
Because of stigma, the effects of "good" insight into one's condition can be a mixed bag.

Deep Brain Stimulation Without Surgery

A technique to selectively stimulate specific brain regions without the need for surgery has been developed recently. Such technology has tremendous therapeutic potential.

What Is Your Risk for Clinical Depression after Disasters?

By Grant Hilary Brenner M.D. on December 30, 2017 in ExperiMentations
Due to the increasing prevalence of disasters, including natural disasters, technological accidents and terrorism, understanding risk and intervention is more important than ever.
"Yin and Yang" by Klem - This vector image was created with Inkscape by Klem, and then manually edited by Mnmazur.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons -

Insomnia and Heart Disease

By John Cline Ph.D. on December 30, 2017 in Sleepless in America
Over the past decade increasing evidence has emerged indicating that insomnia, especially when it occurs in a setting of short sleep, is related to heart disease.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Unipolar Mania

Unipolar mania (mania without depression) is currently diagnosed as bipolar I disorder. But scientific evidence suggests that it may be a subtype of ADHD.

Antidepressant Not Working? You Could Be a "Nonresponder"

By Christopher Bergland on December 29, 2017 in The Athlete's Way
Why do some antidepressants work for one person but not another? The answer to this question has baffled psychopharmacologists for decades. Finally, a new study offers fresh clues.

Energetic Therapies in Mental Health Care

Curious about uses of energetic therapies in mental health care?

Why Do We Misunderstand Depression?

By Jean Kim M.D. on December 28, 2017 in Culture Shrink
Depression is an illness that reflects the complex relationship between brain biology and life stressors. But coping with it is never as simple as "snapping out of it."

Cooling Brain Inflammation Naturally with Food

By Georgia Ede MD on December 27, 2017 in Diagnosis: Diet
Which foods tilt your brain towards inflammation and away from healing?

Dickens' "Christmas Carol"

Charles Dickens, in " A Christmas Carol", taught us all we need to know about character formation, the effects of trauma, and the healing process of mourning.

What Is Cranial Electrostimulation?

By Emily Deans M.D. on December 22, 2017 in Evolutionary Psychiatry
A very small electric current applied to the brain from an FDA-cleared device can reduce anxiety, insomnia, and even depression and pain syndromes.
M. Farrell

The Subtle Art of Poisoning

By Katherine Ramsland Ph.D. on December 22, 2017 in Shadow Boxing
The who, what, how, and why of poisoning explained for those who must investigate these killers and bring them to trial.

How to Know You're in a Good Therapy for Addiction

By Lance Dodes M.D. on December 21, 2017 in The Heart of Addiction
Finding the right therapy for addiction is critical. Here are some things to watch out for.

Bergdahl and Moral Injury in War-Related PTSD

By Jean Kim M.D. on December 20, 2017 in Culture Shrink
Bowe Bergdahl's controversial desertion and return highlights the dilemmas of moral injury and its relationship to PTSD in combat zones.

Revisiting Preempting the Holocaust: Frankl versus Levi

How I came to develop a phenomenology of Holocaust survival.

Helping Kids Who Grieve During the Holidays

By David Rettew M.D. on December 15, 2017 in ABCs of Child Psychiatry
For many kids, the joys of the season are mixed with feelings of loss. Here are a few thoughts aimed to help those dealing with grief during the holiday.

Depression: A Symptom, Not a Disorder

By David M. Allen M.D. on December 15, 2017 in A Matter of Personality
In the popular press and even in articles meant for professionals, the term "depression" is used as if it were a scientific word, when it is a symptom of many different diagnoses.

Top 10 Things You May Not Know About the ICD-10

By Jonathan D. Raskin, Ph.D. on December 13, 2017 in Making Meaning
American mental health professionals are often quite unfamiliar with aspects the ICD-10, despite its relevance to their work. Here is some basic information to help them.

Can Ketamine Help Suicidal Children?

By Jack Turban MD MHS on December 12, 2017 in Political Minds
Early research suggests that the psychedelic drug ketamine may help suicidal children, but are there risks?

Our Youth Deserve Better

By J. Wesley Boyd M.D., Ph.D. on December 11, 2017 in Almost Addicted
Transition-age youth (age 18-25) are at high risk for mental health, physical health, and substance use problems, yet they are falling through the cracks due to the lack of service

A Possible New Treatment for Bipolar Depression

A six-week course of bright light therapy administered midday led to substantial improvement in 68 percent of persons with depressive symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.

Psychotherapy Is THE Biological Treatment

Psychiatric problems come purely from traumatic adaptations as digested by our temperament. Psychotherapy deactivates problematic brain mappings and activates healthier ones.

Global Mental Health Challenges and Remedies in Chicago

By  Stevan Weine, M.D. on December 07, 2017 in Cafes Around the World
Are there global mental health problems in our university's backyard?

Professional Self-Care to Prevent Ethics Violations

Little is known about the association between physician stress and ethical errors like boundary violations or lack of professionalism in the workplace.

Could an App Diagnose Your Memory Problems?

Could an iPad app diagnose you with dementia? Researchers believe it can.

Sunlight Is the Best Medicine

By Michael Terman Ph.D. on December 01, 2017 in Chronotherapy
Justice Brandeis remarked, “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants.” It also helps cure people, as first observed in tuberculosis patients. It targets depression, too.

Making the Most of Rough Times in Therapy

By Susan Rako M.D. on November 30, 2017 in More Light
Is there any way to learn but the hard way?

Pregnant Women Struggle with Managing Psychiatric Medication

By Robert T Muller Ph.D. on November 30, 2017 in Talking About Trauma
Mentally ill pregnant women encounter inadequate information and stigma.

Why Does Trump Post on Twitter?

By Fredric Neuman M.D. on November 23, 2017 in Fighting Fear
A psychiatric explanation of why Trump tweets when it is not in his best interest to do so.