The Thinking Mind Podcast: Psychiatry & Psychotherapy

Joanna Moncrieff, a British psychiatrist and professor at UCL, shares her critical insights into the serotonin theory of depression. She discusses the lack of evidence supporting the idea that low serotonin causes depression and calls for a reevaluation of antidepressants' effectiveness. The conversation dives into the multifaceted nature of depression, emphasizing social factors and personal experiences over strict biological interpretations. Moncrieff also highlights the risks of long-term medication use, advocating for a nuanced approach to mental health that includes comprehensive support systems.

In this discussion, Richard Bentall, a Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Sheffield, shares his insights into psychosis and severe mental illnesses. He emphasizes the significant role of trauma in developing these conditions, challenging traditional biomedical models. Bentall advocates for a collaborative approach to treatment, integrating various psychological methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The podcast also explores the complexities of symptoms like delusions and hallucinations, shedding light on the social dynamics influencing mental health.

Dr. Adam Hunt, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge and host of the Evolving Psychiatry podcast, discusses groundbreaking insights into evolutionary psychiatry. He explores the relationship between human evolution and conditions like depression and ADHD, emphasizing cultural context in mental health. Adam delves into the role of individual personality traits, their societal advantages, and the importance of self-awareness in fostering personal and community growth. He also touches on the moral implications of self-development and the future of psychiatry.

In this discussion, Dr. Alex Meaburn, a specialty doctor in psychiatry, shares insights from behind the scenes in mental health. They critically examine the limitations of the biomedical model in treating depression, advocating for a more holistic biopsychosocial approach. The conversation digs into ADHD, questioning reliance on medication, and explores the biases in pharmaceutical research shaping treatment views. They also address emotional blunting from antidepressants and call for recognizing normal emotional pain as a valuable learning experience.

This podcast is a guide to making any kind of resolution towards long term behaviour change. It includes a step by step guide to implementing a new behaviour including choosing an area to work on, framing your resolution appropriately, setting an intention, making a plan, measuring your results, leveraging positive and negative emotions to your advantage, anticipating identity level change, and much more. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to work with Alex for a set for coaching sessions you can email alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com and put "New Year's Resolution" in the subject line.If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com and put "Therapy Enquiry" in the subject line. Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

This week's episode is a live Q & A recorded at Trinity Rugby Club in South London. Dr. Alex is interviewed by Andrew Edwards the Director of Rugby at the club and they discuss various topics such as:- Modern problems men face- Difficulties with dating and relationships- Preventing anxiety and depression- Making friends with failure- The value of introspection - The importance of facing conflict directly- Using aggression in a healthy way And much more. Dr. Alex Curmi is a consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcastTrinity RFC are a rugby club working hard to promote a positive culture in sport and improve player welfare. You can find out more about Trinity here: https://trinityrfc.com/

Dr Hamilton Morrin is a psychiatrist at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and an NIHR academic clinical fellow at King's College London researching neuropsychiatric disorders using neurotechnology. He is a Trustee for Gaming the Mind, a charity that promotes positive mental health within the gaming community and the games industry by raising awareness of mental health challenges and reducing the stigma surrounding these issues.Find out more here:gamingthemind.orgBlueSky/X: @gamingthemind @HamiltonMorrinInterviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training.If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Mark Horowitz is a training psychiatrist, now working as a Clinical Research Fellow at UCL. He is an Associate Editor of the journal Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology and has edited a collection of papers in the journal on Discontinuing PsychiatricMedication. He has a PhD in psychopharmacology and the neurobiology of depression from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King’s College London. He also co-wrote the Maudsley Deprescribing guidelines.Mark has his own blog https://markhorowitz.org/ and has written in the media about his own personal experiences with antidepressant withdrawal syndrome.Today we discuss:The problems with viewing depression primarily through a biomedical lens The causes of depressionThe limitations of anti-depressants, the risks of withdrawal symptoms when stopping them and Mark’s own personal experiences with thisSome useful principles in how to wean off psychiatric medications safely if you are considering doing soInterviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training. If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

Matilda Gosling is an author, social scientist and researcher, with two books that cover parenting, development and mental health. Evidence-Based Parenting came out in January 2024, and Teenagers: The Evidence Base will be published in the new year. Her latest book uses evidence from social and experimental psychology, neuroscience, family systems and adolescent development (among others) to examine parent-teenager relationships, the online world and other connections, mood and maturity, mental health and resilience, risk, and the building blocks needed to become a healthy adult. Today we discuss both of her books, including topics such as different parenting styles, the psychological function of adolesence, how to guide teenagers with regards to drugs and alcohol, supporting children in terms of their life path, the problem of social contagion amongst teenagers and much more.You can find out more about Matilda's work here:https://www.matildagosling.com/ Interviewed by Dr. Alex Curmi, consultant psychiatrist and a UKCP registered psychotherapist in-training. If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.com.Give feedback here - thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com -  Follow us here: Twitter @thinkingmindpod Instagram @thinkingmindpodcast

This week we're taking a well deserved break, so if you're looking for something to listen to you can check out one of our recent episodes - including our episode last week breaking down the factors that make for successful psychotherapy, our recent conversation exploring the fundamentals of self-development, and our November episode illustrating 8 lessons we learned making our first 100 episodes, which are applicable to anyone considering embarking on a change in their career, or a creative side-project. Any and all feedback, questions, comments or suggestions can be sent to thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com. If you would like to invite Alex to speak at your organisation please email thinkingmindpodcast@gmail.com with "Speaking Enquiry" in the subject line. If you would like to enquire about an online psychotherapy appointment with Dr. Alex, you can email - alexcurmitherapy@gmail.comSUPPORT THE PODCAST: buymeacoffee.com/thinkingmindThanks for listening and see you next week!