Evolving Psychiatry

Gurjot Brar is a trainee psychiatrist in Ireland. He runs the 'Evolution and Psychiatry' substack, a monthly collaborative 'journal' dedicated to discussing and exploring how evolutionary science can inform our understanding of psychiatry. In this episode we discuss how Gurjot got introduced to evolutionary psychiatry and the major points he finds exciting about the field. You can follow him on Twitter/X at @gurjotbrarmd You can follow Adam on Twitter/X at @RealAdamHunt

Professor Henry O’Connell is a Consultant Psychiatrist working in Portlaoise, Ireland and Associate Clinical Professor with the School of Medicine at the University of Limerick. A graduate of Trinity College Dublin in 1997, he obtained his Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2001. He holds Masters and doctorate level postgraduate qualifications in medical education and delirium research. In this episode, we discuss Henry's experience as a medical educator, the most important principles and takeaways of evolutionary psychiatry, and its clinical relevance. You can follow Henry on Twitter/X at @henrypoconnell You can follow Adam on Twitter/X at @realadamhunt

Kristen Syme is an Assistant Professor of Suicide and Suicide Prevention at Leiden University. She is an evolutionary anthropologist who works on understanding suicidal and self harm behavior from an evolutionary perspective, and works with the Chon Chuuk of Micronesia and the USA. In this episode Kristen and Adam discuss cases of adolescent-parent conflict, the outcomes and evolutionary models which help us understand such conflicts. You can follow Kristen on Twitter @KristenSyme You can follow Adam on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Kristen Syme is an Assistant Professor of Suicide and Suicide Prevention at Leiden University. She is an evolutionary anthropologist who works on understanding suicidal and self harm behavior from an evolutionary perspective, and works with the Chon Chuuk of Micronesia and the USA. In this episode Kristen and Adam discuss the bargaining model of suicidal behavior and depression, especially regarding adolescent-parent conflict. You can follow Kristen on Twitter @KristenSyme You can follow Adam on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Season 2 of the Evolving Psychiatry Podcast begins with a brief comment on what's to come in the season, as Adam interviews psychiatrists and researchers who work in evolutionary psychiatry. Adam then discuss a fundamental theoretical advantage of evolutionary psychiatry and medicine, which is its ability to define health and disorder objectively. Adam Hunt is a PhD student researching evolutionary psychiatry in the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine, University of Zurich. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Alfonso Troisi discusses how an evolutionary perspective should inform our measurement of clinical outcomes, the potential of evolutionary thinking to advance care, and his experience treating patients as an evolutionary psychiatrist.  This episode is based on a chapter titled 'Evolutionary Thinking and Clinical Care of Psychiatric Patients', authored by Alfonso Troisi. It is chapter 20 in the book 'Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health', published by Cambridge University Press. The book is available for purchase here via CUP or on Amazon. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Adam Hunt considers how evolutionary thinking helps us understand criminal behaviour, circumstances leading to crime, blameworthiness and the chance to improve social outcomes.  This episode is based on a chapter titled 'What the Evolutionary and Cognitive Sciences Offer the Sciences of Crime and Justice' authored by Brian B. Boutwell, Megan Suprenant and Todd K. Shackelford. It is chapter 19 in the book 'Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health", published by Cambridge University Press. The book is available for purchase here via CUP or on Amazon. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Martin Brüne talks through the paradox of why schizophrenia persists, how his view on its persistence has changed over the decades, and how an evolutionary approach informs us regarding treatment and prevention. This episode is based on a chapter titled 'Evolutionary Perspectives on Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders' authored by Martin Brüne. It is chapter 10 in the book 'Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health', published by Cambridge University Press. The book is available for purchase here via CUP or on Amazon. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Paul St-John Smith gives an evolutionary psychiatrist's perspective on using pharmaceuticals in treatment, thinks about the limits of rating scales and the usefulness of animal models, and how evolution adds necessary depth to the task of healing in psychiatry.  This episode is based on a chapter titled 'Psychopharmacology and Evolution', authored by Paul St John-Smith, Riadh Abed and Martin Brüne. It is chapter 18 in the book 'Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health", published by Cambridge University Press. The book is available for purchase here via CUP or on Amazon. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt

Molly Fox gives an insight into why evolution has left us vulnerable to Alzheimer's, what odd aspects of modern life may lead to increased rates of Alzheimer's, and how female reproductive health are a particularly important consideration.  This episode is based on a chapter titled 'Alzheimer’s Disease as a Disease of Evolutionary Mismatch, with a Focus on Reproductive Life History' authored by Molly Fox. It is chapter 17 in the book 'Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health', published by Cambridge University Press. The book is available for purchase here via CUP or on Amazon. You can follow Adam Hunt on Twitter @RealAdamHunt