The Experts Speak

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Hosted by Abbey Strauss, M.D.

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Information may have changed since the interview was recorded.

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Comments: Florida Psychiatric Society

We now have over 200 episodes.

And thanks for listening!

Coming soon: (1) The Power of Human Touch, (2) Later Adult ADHD

(3) The Transgender Person

Understanding The Placebo, Including Its Clinical Use

Walter Brown, MD, from Brown University, speaks to the fascinating history of, nature of, and the potential clinical use of the placebo in treatment, including in substance abuse treatment. April 2018 Listen.

Psychological Approaches To Trauma, Such As A School Shooting. Danny Brom, Ph.D., founder of the Israeli Center for Treatment of Psychotrauma, lays out the nature of trauma and then gives basic, time-proven suggestions to professionals, family, and the larger community, on how to best understand and manage the levels of the emotional responses, for different age groups, following such gruesome events. February 2018 Listen

The Emotional Component Of Pain. Jay Goldman, DDS and LCSW, who ran the Orofacial Pain and TMJ Clinic at the NYU Dental School, gives important perspectives on the understanding and treating of chronic pain. He is now a psychotherapist. January 2018 Listen

Cellular Receptors. James Woods, a psychiatrist in Memphis, explains the notions and roles of cellular receptors in the treatment of psychiatric conditions, and how advances here will improve diagnostic and treatment accuracy. Common receptors are 5HT’s for the serotonin and D2, D3, etc., for the dopamine systems. January 2018 Listen

The Process of Growing Up. Susan Neiman, Ph.D., director of the Einstein Forum in Berlin, explores the experiences and stages needed to ‘grow up.” She brings us a thought provoking mixture of philosophical and other processes in the development of maturity. January 2018. Listen

Update/Overview of Movement Disorders. Bruno Gallo, M.D., a neurologist in Miami, speaks in an understandable manner about ataxia, dyskinesia, Parkinson’s Disease, tremors, chorea, etc. He talks of causes and of the established and new treatments. He ends with an explanation of deep brain stimulation. December 2018 Listen

A County State Attorney’s Efforts To Conquer The Opioid Crisis. Palm Beach County (Florida) State Attorney Dave Aronberg gives an overview of the problem and then speaks to his taskforce’s work to stop, using legal tools, the destructive cycle of sober homes, patient brokering, and insurance loopholes which feed and encourage the opioid crisis. This includes arrests made of those involved with these activities, working with other groups and agencies, etc. November 2017 Listen

Cannabis and Chronic Pain – A Literature Review -- Devan Kansagara, MD., speaks to the current station of cannabis use in the control of chronic pain, the real research interests, suggesting how physicians should address marijuana use with their patients, potential of risks, etc. November 2017 Listen

The Critical Psychology Of Living Spaces – Architect Terrence Glassman on our connections to our living spaces, a bit of a history overview, the emotional and functional aspects of a healthy environment and sense of a safe community, his shift from knowing how to design to learning what to design, etc. November 2017 Listen

Integrating Chronic Pain Treatment With Co-Existing Mental Health Problems. David Cosio, Ph.D., addresses this common problem and how to approach it. He offers his clinical experiences and observations, with a co-emphasis on educating clinicians on the need for treatment consistency and team efforts. September 2017 Listen

Residential Programs for the Mentally Ill – A Successful Model. Elaine Rothenberg, Ph.D., directs such a program in SE Florida. With 20 years of existence, it has evolved into a project that deserves a close study and considerable modeling. September 2017 Listen

The Binge Eater – Roslyn Malmaud, Ph.D., discusses the nature, common etiology, symbolisms, and treatment of binge eating and this type of attachment to food. It happens in men too. This is an understandable, ground level look at basic dynamics and real-time interventions. August 2017 Listen

Tools for Tardive Dyskinesia and Parkinson’s Psychosis – Jonathan Meyer, M.D., from the University of California-San Diego. Part one discusses two new medications for tardive dyskinesia; part two addresses the psychosis often seen in Parkinson’s Disease. Detailed, but easy to understand. August 2017 Listen

Understanding Hemingway’s Brain – Andrew Farah, M.D., psychiatrically integrates the genetic background, the numerous concussions, his alcoholism, his suicide, and his genius. August 2017. Listen

Mental Health in Saudi Arabia – Update. Haifa Gahtani and Yasser Dabbagh, both psychiatrists in Saudi Arabia, openly discuss the history and growing roles and practices of mental health care in Saudi Arabia. Included are topics of culture and religion, women, and even insurance issues. July 2017 Listen

The Opioid Crisis – Needed Information. Robert Moran, M.D., psychiatry and addictionology, outlines issues of etiology, prevention and intervention, the failure to use evidence based science and medicine, relapses, addiction and pregnancy, etc. June 2017. Listen

Smoking – An Update from the CDC. Dr. Brian King, deputy director at the U.S. Center for Disease Control, for Research Translation in the Office of Smoking and Health, speaks to first hand and second hand smoke, anti-smoking educational real successes and challenges, acknowledged medical concerns, socioeconomic use patterns, state legislative differences, smoking advertising, etc. April 2017 Listen

Cultural Insensitivity, Prejudice, & Dangerous Profiling. Gail Price-Wise discusses a famous Miami malpractice case which was the result of defective and negligent culture-driven errors. She has since set up the Center for Cultural Competence to study and teach how to defuse prejudice and related bias. She shares her insights. March 2017 Listen

On Being a Cuban Refuge to the USA. Jose de la Gandara and Rigo Rodriguez are both psychiatrists. Both left, as children, Cuba’s Castro government. They speak to the emotional and mechanical processes, the impacts on their lives and families, some of their personal histories when they lived in Cuba, of their on-going concerns about human rights in Cuba and elsewhere, and the deep insights from the residual and feelings that still live within them. January 2017 Listen

Genetic Testing and Mental Health Treatment. Catherine Passariello, Ph.D., explains how to use genetic testing in psychopharmacology. She also explains the differences between pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic processes, a brief overview of epigenetics, etc. December 2016. Listen

My Yes, and Then My No, of Cigarette Use. Rebecca Cox-MacDonald gives her story of tobacco use, why she started and how she stopped. One element is to be passionate about quitting and to respect one’s body. She is part of a U.S. Center for Disease Control anti-smoking project. November 2016 Listen

On Women and Their Inner Lives – Jacqueline Hobbs, M.D., from the University of Florida, Department of Psychiatry, speaks to the traumas of sexual disrespect and abuse, cultural issues of expectations, libido changes, breastfeeding, hormonal realities, pregnancy and/or post-partum and mental illness, the need for a safe place to discuss these issues, etc. October 2016 Listen

Poverty, Growth, and Mental Illness – Amanda Terrell, Ph.D., offers her concrete professional observations and concerns. She works to reach out to families to reduce how poverty impacts mental, social and physical growth. October 2016. Listen

L-Methylfolate, Homocysteine and Depression. – Andrew Farah, M.D., revisits and details the roles of these substances in the treatment of depression, the theory, the prospects, and how it may shift approaches to some biological depressions. August 2016 Listen

Art Therapy – A Powerful Tool. Myria Levick, Ph.D. is a pioneer, teacher, and researcher in art therapy. She discusses, with examples, how useful it can be across all ages and how it can be helpful to understand emotional and cognitive development in children. She speaks as well about working with Anna Freud. (Recorded in her living room.) July 2016. Listen

Dementia – Understanding and Managing. Kenneth Kosik, M.D., neuroscientist and author from University of California (Santa Barbara), speaks to the treatment, research goals and expectations, and practical life style changes that can mitigate its onset and course. June 2016 Listen

Mental Health After Disasters – Orlando, et. al. -- Robert Ursano, M.D., Chair of Disaster Psychiatry for the American Psychiatric Association, carefully explains typical post event reactions, the better style of interventions, details acute from chronic reactions, etc. June 2016 Listen

‘Into The Magic Shop’ – James Doty, M.D., a neurosurgeon, retells the story (in his book of the same name) that changed his life insofar as helping him be a more humanistic physician, the role of mentors, pacing oneself, choice of values, etc., all leading to the creation of the Center for Compassion and Altruism and Education at Stanford University. May 2016 Listen

Living in the International Space Station – Tom Marshburn, M.D., and an US astronaut, speaks to the science and his two experiences in space, first working in the shuttle and then living in the space station, and of the many research spin offs, the life patterns in space, of no gravity, medical changes, etc., giving us many fascinating details. April 2016. Listen

The Aging Process – Attitudinal and Other Aspects – Deirdre Robertson, Ph.D., describes her research into cognitive and physical decline, fragility, and how perceptions of aging mitigate the aging process, etc. From The Irish Longitudinal Study of Aging (www.tilda.tcd.ie). She is now at Columbia University, NY. April 2016. Listen

Gambling – Luke Clark, Ph.D., from the University of British Columbia, explains gambling: the impetus, evolving theories, characteristics, the drive, that it is an addiction, and the interventions and treatments. February 2016. Listen

The Zika Virus - Larry Bush, M.D., specializes in infectious diseases. He examines the nature, history, and concerns with the Zika virus outbreaks. February 2016. Listen

Helping Veterans – Mary Houlahan, R.N, and former Captain with the US Marines, offers a poignant explanation about the importance of knowing about a person’s military history as part of their medical care, of trust issues with veterans, and of the critical, yet simple and ever so powerful impact of reaching out to them. February 2016 Listen

As The Sea Level Rises – Roderick King, M.D., from the Florida Institute of Health Innovation and an Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, steadily details the challenges, and how the world must coordinate efforts to offset and adapt to changes in society, the geography of some of our communities, medical issues, weather changes, etc., in response to global climate change. January 2016. Listen

Physician Burnout – Penelope Ziegler, M.D., outlines the process, common causes, nature, and needed interventions related to physician burnout. These patterns apply to other professions as well. Dr. Ziegler is the medical director of the Professionals Resource Network (Florida). December 2015 Listen

All About Group Therapy – Holly Katz, Ph.D., explains the reasons, approaches, roles, and great value of group therapy. She addresses the unique dynamics occurring in groups, core differences support versus counseling groups, between individual and group interactions, and doing so in an easy to understand and engaging manner. She is the training director at the Faulk Center for Group Therapy in Boca Raton, Fl. November 2015. Listen

My Life Being Bipolar – Hakeem Rahim suffers from a bipolar disorder. He describes how the impact it has on his life. He works as a very active advocate and speaks on mental health issues and challenges. Also attached at the end of this interview is a recording of his testimony on mental health to a US Congressional Committee. November 2015 Listen

Sustainability Challenges – Cultural, Economic, and Environmental – Natalie Schneider, Climate Change and Sustainability Coordinator for Palm Beach County (Florida), outlines the necessary concepts and challenges to maintain sustainability, how to grow in a manner that allows future generations to have available resources, how people adapt to these demands, etc. October 2015 Listen

Chronic Pain in Kids, Teenagers, and the Elderly – Kern Olson, Ph.D., a pain psychologist, discusses the common pain types in these three groups, and the importance of behavioral interventions, the ability to articulate pain, family involvements, sleep issues, medications’ role, and marijuana use, etc. October 2015. Listen

Sugar Cane Burning – The Downwind Health Effects. Julia Hathaway, from the Sierra Club, describes the concerns about the health effects of large scale sugar cane burning, and why and how other countries use green harvesting instead. October 2015 Listen

Pesticides and Our Health – Jeannie Economos explains the serious health concerns regarding pesticide exposure, including effects on human development, fertility, and disease, the need for medical attention to occupational exposure, endocrine disruption, informational links, and the Lake Apopka story. (Co-posted with Palm Beach County Medical Society) August 2015 Listen

Pseudobulbar Affect – William Ondo, M.D., from the University of Texas, explains this disorder, of how an expressed emotion is not always matched to the felt emotion, its possible role in brain injuries, Parkinsonism, Lew Gehrig disease, or dementia, and its history and its treatment. August 2015. Listen

Grassroots Mental Health – Pakistan. – Dr. Zulqurnain Asghar, a psychologist in Islamabad, describes the unmet mental illness challenges in his country. These include his work with a mental health camp and a program to empower women through education, designed to prevent and deal with mental and other health problems. (More background at www.pmha.org.pk) July 2015. Listen

Predicting Dangerousness – Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D., from Columbia University, discusses the real limits and possibilities of predicting, and the nature of, dangerousness. July 2015 Listen

Three Psychiatrists’ Concerns About Marijuana – Three psychiatrists, Aldo Morales, Dean Rotondo and Abbey Strauss, share their concerns and experiences with the clinical aspects of marijuana use. From a forum of April 29, 2015 in Palm Beach County, Fl. Opening comments by Donna Hearn, Ph.D. July 2015 Listen

The Mental Health Court – Judge Ginger Lerner-Wren presides over the 18 year old award winning mental health court in Broward County, Florida. Hear her intriguing comments to its history, philosophy, challenges, and style. June 2015 Listen

The Common Language of Science – In September 1941, Albert Einstein wrote and read on London’s Science Conference this 8 minute piece on language, science, and mental health. This is that essay in Einstein’s own voice. June 2015 Listen

About Psychiatry – Jeffrey Lieberman, M.D., reviews how mental health treatment evolved, its strengths and challenges, and the nature of its treatments. Currently he is the chair of Psychiatry at Columbia University, past president of the American Psychiatric Society, and author of “Shrinks...” May 2015 Listen

Decriminalizing the Mentally Ill – Judge Steven Leifman, 11^th Judicial Court (Florida), recounts his entry into dealing with the mentally ill, gives an overview and history of mental health and the courts, why problems developed, and outlines the good changes made in Dade County that can be a model for other communities. May 2015 Listen

Flakka – Another Designer Drug -- Krithika Iyer, M.D., explains the nature and great danger of this newest of the designer drugs. Her comments stem from theory and actual clinical experiences with its users. April 2015. Listen

Why Speak About ADD? -- Elias Sarkis, M.D., speaks to other aspects of the condition, the differences between child and adult presentations, how it can so dramatically impact the course of a person’s life, etc. April 2015 Listen

Dementia Update – Neil Buckholtz, Ph.D., Director of Neurosciences at the National Institute of Aging (part of the NIH) discusses in detail the state of the research and treatment domains for dementia. March 2015. Listen

Infidelity – Jesse Selkin, Psy.D., discusses the definition of infidelity, culture variances, the role of web pornography, the role of trust, and the nature of styles of relationships in which infidelity is associated. March 2015. Listen

Telemedicine – Donna Vanderpool, J.D., a medical malpractice carrier’s risk manager, explains the rising presence of telemedicine, it’s history, it’s potential, and it’s dangers, including a discussing of privacy and various state requirements, even for psychotherapy only. February 2015. Listen

Measles Again -- Really – Larry Bush, M.D., explains why measles has returned, how it is spread, the concepts and history of vaccinations, and that the major tools against infection are sanitation and vaccination. February 2015. Listen

Post-Traumatic Growth -- Susan Gallagher-Ross, Ph.D., explains how trauma can lead to growth with certain psychological concepts and approaches, all to help people better develop and thrive following a crisis. She presents some personal experiences as well. January 2015 Listen

Stalking – Phil Heller, Psy.D., talks with blunt detail about the make-up of stalkers, rejection and rage, what triggers stalking, the legal challenges, how to deal with it, etc. December 2014 Listen

The Robin Williams’ Suicide – Mindy Rosenbloom, M.D., considers the reality and risk factors of depression and suicide regardless of economic and social positions. We also spoke of the special place Mr. Williams had in our society. November 2014 Listen

Sexual Pressures on Special Needs Girls – Maureen Whelihan, M.D., a gynecologist, openly discusses the sexual worlds’ of special needs girls, including birth control, social pressures, emancipation, relationships, advice to parents, etc. Some comments overlap the needs of mainstream girls as well. October 2014 Listen

Effects of Adolescent Marijuana Use - Edmund Silins, Ph.D., explains his recently published study on the consequences on school completion, suicide, and subsequent illicit drug abuse in those who smoked marijuana before and through age 17. October 2014. Listen

Latino’s and Their Mental Health Needs – Daniel Jimenez, Ph.D., highlights the importance of critically understanding the harmonics of cultural backgrounds of Latino’s when they have mental health needs. October 2014. Listen

Inflammation and Psychiatry – A New World – Charles Raison, M.D., explores this fascinating new world that connects inflammation and psychiatric issues, the research, the theories, and the possible new set of understanding and treatments. September 2014. Listen

Understanding Menopause -- Maureen Whelihan, M.D., gynecologist, presents the practical data, interventions, and some truths about this very real phase of life event. August 2014 Listen

The Industrialization of Marijuana: Reflections of Tobacco?– Kimber Richter, Ph.D., (University of Kansas) and Sharon Levy, M.D. (Harvard University) discuss the effects of industrializing marijuana as a public health issue that reflects the history of the tobacco industry. August 2014 Listen

Ebola -- Larry Bush, M.D., an infectious disease specialist, explains Ebola and other viral concerns, including origin, spread, treatment, and prevention. August 2014 Listen

Psychiatry and Space Travel – Ronald Moomaw, D.O., NASA flight surgeon/psychiatry, explains the unique challenges and methods of supporting those in long term space flight. He is directly involved with the International Space Station project. A fascinating look into this area. July 2014 Listen

Ketamine and Depression. Charles Nemeroff, M.D., Chair of the Department of Psychiatry (University of Miami) discusses the history, nature of, and dangers to ketamine use as we currently understand it, but that careful research with ketamine may give us clues and tools into a clinically safe intervention to help the truly treatment resistant depression. July 2014. Listen

Visit - The Medical Marijuana Module – podcasts in conjunction with the Palm Beach County Medical Society Podcast Series.

Blending Neuroscience and Psychoanalysis – Mark Solms, Ph.D., from South Africa, brings these two domains into a necessary union because both are integral aspects of our lives. He is also co-chair of the International Neuropsychoanalysis Society. June 2014. Listen

Cellular Receptors and Psychiatric Medications – Youssef Hausson, M.D., from Zucker-Hillside Hospital in New York City, discusses the common cellular receptors (dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, etc.) important to the treatment of certain psychiatric conditions. June 2014. Listen

Medical Marijuana – David Gross, M.D., takes on this critical topic. He discusses the possible medical potential that might follow trustworthy scientific research, concerns with the exposure – especially to the teenage brain -- to the marijuana plant, potential legal challenges, etc. April 2014 Listen

Please visit our joint efforts and colleagues at the Palm Beach County Medical Society Podcast Series – many of these are co-posted.

Click here to go to our other podcasts. Experts talk about depression, use of medications in children, aging issues, suicide, bullying, forensic issues, PTSD, managing psychological trauma, hypnosis, teenage cutting, borderline personality, dementia, and so on; there are over 200 episodes, with more to come. Make us a ‘Favorite’ so it is easy to return.

Important Note: All treatment decisions must result from a doctor-patient process. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the host or either the Florida Psychiatric Society or the Palm Beach County Medical Society. New information may develop since the time the interview occurred; consult your physician before any clinical decision is made. Find us also on Zune and iTunes. Comments or questions go to astrauss@katenagroup.org Unrestricted production underwriting is generously provided by The Wellington Retreat, Florida, and the Palm Beach County Psychiatric Society.

And again, thanks for listening.