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Fix the Brain, Change the Mind: Root-Cause Psychiatry with Dr. Robert Hedaya

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Jan 21, 2026

Guest

Robert Hedaya

Dr. Robert Hedaya, a psychiatrist specializing in functional and biological psychiatry, shares his groundbreaking insights on mental health. He reveals how biological imbalances can lead to anxiety and depression, advocating for root-cause treatment over symptom management. The discussion delves into innovative techniques like QEEG brain mapping and photobiomodulation, highlighting their roles in personalized care. Hedaya also emphasizes lifestyle factors—diet, community, and mindset—as crucial for mental health prevention and rehabilitation.

01:10:06

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ANECDOTE

B12 Reversed Severe Panic Quickly

A patient with panic attacks had an elevated MCV and turned out to be B12 deficient.
After a single B12 injection, her panic attacks stopped immediately.

insights

INSIGHT

Hardware Before Software

Hedaya frames mental health as hardware (brain biology) plus software (thoughts/therapy).
He argues therapy needs intact brain hardware to produce durable change.

insights

INSIGHT

QEEG Reveals Network-Level Brain Dysfunction

Quantitative EEG maps brain network function and information flow across regions.
Hedaya uses QEEG patterns to correlate dysfunction with specific symptoms and guide targeted treatments.

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Hedaya’s Path to Biological Psychiatry

03:00 • 7min

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Case: Panic Attacks Resolved by B12

10:18 • 3min

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Hardware vs Software: Treating Biology First

12:50 • 2min

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Psychiatry’s History and Its Limits

Metabolic Psychiatry and Personalization

18:56 • 3min

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QEEG: Mapping Brain Network Function

22:20 • 1min

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Correlating NeuroQuant MRI with QEEG

23:35 • 2min

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Causes of Abnormal Brainwaves

Discovery of Targeted Photobiomodulation

29:04 • 2min

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How Laser Therapy Boosts Brain Energy

30:50 • 4min

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Laser vs TMS and Treatment Durability

34:54 • 4min

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Rapid Cognitive Gains from Targeted Laser

38:51 • 2min

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Multimodal 'Brain Gym' Rehabilitation

40:50 • 3min

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Treating Severe Neurological Disorders

43:37 • 10min

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Neurofeedback: Reward-Based Brain Training

53:54 • 2min

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Infections, Dental Health, and Mental Illness

55:35 • 6min

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Genetics and Glucocorticoid Resistance

01:01:07 • 1min

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Functional Medicine Outcomes for Depression

01:02:31 • 2min

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Prevention: Lifestyle, Mindset, Community

01:04:56 • 3min

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Barriers to Adoption and Training Needs

01:07:59 • 2min

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How to Access WholePsychiatry Education

01:10:05 • 40sec

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Closing: Personal Brain Health Practices

Understanding Biological Psychiatry

Advancing the Treatment Paradigm

Robert Hedaya

Published in 1996, Understanding Biological Psychiatry was Dr. Hedaya's first book and established him as a pioneer in applying Functional Medicine principles to the psychiatric field. The book provides comprehensive explanations of brain function and its relationship to physical symptoms, cognitive performance, and emotional well-being, offering a data-driven approach to understanding mental illness.

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The brain's way of healing

Norman Doidge

This book delves into the brain's capacity for recovery and healing, highlighting cases of remarkable recoveries from various conditions. It builds on Doidge's earlier work, further exploring the potential of neuroplasticity in managing medical diagnoses.

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Brain Energy

A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Mental Health--and Improving Treatment for Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, and More

Christopher Palmer, MD

Drawing on decades of research, Harvard psychiatrist Dr. Chris Palmer outlines a revolutionary new understanding that unites existing knowledge about mental illness within a single framework: Mental disorders are metabolic disorders of the brain. The book details the connections between mental illness and metabolic disorders, including diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, and other conditions. It also sheds light on new treatment pathways that apply to various mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, alcoholism, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, autism, and schizophrenia. Palmer pairs cutting-edge science with practical advice and strategies to help people reclaim their mental health, emphasizing the role of metabolism in mental health and the potential of dietary and metabolic interventions for treatment.

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Made In America

John Huey

Sam Walton

In this autobiography, Sam Walton shares his life story and business philosophy, detailing how he transformed a small dime store into the global retail giant Walmart. The book is rich with anecdotes and insights into Walton's leadership style, entrepreneurial spirit, and the 'rules of the road' that guided him on both Main Street and Wall Street. It highlights his humility, frugality, and commitment to customer service, as well as the challenges and setbacks he faced along the way. The narrative provides a deep understanding of Walmart's culture and foundational principles, making it a valuable resource for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

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The blood sugar solution

Mark Hyman

In this book, Dr. Mark Hyman reveals that balanced insulin levels are the key to losing weight and preventing various diseases. He describes seven keys to achieving wellness: nutrition, hormones, inflammation, digestion, detoxification, energy metabolism, and a calm mind. The book outlines a revolutionary six-week healthy-living program with advice on diet, green living, supplements, medication, exercise, and personalizing the plan for optimal results. It also teaches readers how to maintain lifelong health.

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Ultra Mind Solution

Mark Hyman

On this episode of The Dr. Hyman Show, I sit down with Dr. Robert Hedaya, a psychiatrist who has spent decades working at the intersection of biology, brain function, and mental health. His approach starts with a different question than most psychiatry asks: what’s interfering with the brain’s ability to regulate, adapt, and repair itself? We talk about why many mental health diagnoses describe symptoms without explaining causes—and how measuring brain function, energy, and network activity is opening the door to more precise, individualized care. Watch the full conversation on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts. [YOUTUBE THUMBNAIL] We discuss: • How biological imbalances can drive anxiety, depression, and cognitive symptoms • Why many “treatment-resistant” mental health issues have overlooked root causes • How brain energy and mitochondrial function influence mood and cognition • What advanced brain mapping reveals about how your brain is actually working For far too long, mental health care has focused on managing symptoms in isolation. This discussion looks at what becomes possible when we treat the brain as part of the whole system and support its ability to heal. View Show Notes From This Episode

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