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These podcasts are similar to those on the RCPsych website, but have been recorded specifically for CPD Online. Access to the recordings is free, but you need to be a CPD Online subscriber in order to take the test at the end and gain CPD certification. Please note that the views of the interviewees are not necessarily those of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
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Alcohol use amongst the general population has become more polarised during the COVID-19 pandemic, with those who previously drank heavily reportedly now drinking even more. It is therefore vital that those in the at-risk groups for severe dependency are identified and supported to cut down their intake safely. In this podcast, Dr Peter Rice talks to Dr Jennifer Powell about the most effective ways to help alcohol-dependent patients self-manage their alcohol use during the pandemic and beyond. More...
7/10/2020 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Clinical
Alcohol withdrawal is a process that should be managed carefully and gradually. But this can be challenging in psychiatric in-patient units where patients may already have severe withdrawal symptoms when they arrive, or may later present with withdrawal symptoms having been admitted for a separate condition. In this podcast, Dr Chris Daly talks to Dr Howard Ryland about the most effective assessment, treatment and ongoing management procedures to put in place in order to help patients withdraw from alcohol safely. More...
7/7/2020 | Download
With the current COVID-19 pandemic appearing to inflict suffering indiscriminately, age-old questions have come to the fore, like “why do we suffer?, why do people die young?, is there any point to our physical and emotional pain?”. In his 2018 book, ‘Seven Ways of Looking at Pointless Suffering’, Professor Scott Samuelson examines the various philosophies of suffering and attempts to tackle these hardest questions of all. Here he talks to Dr Raj Persaud about the conclusions he has drawn from these theories, and how this may help us to cope with suffering at this challenging time. More...
6/5/2020 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
Albert’s Camus’s famous 1947 novel ‘The Plague’ has now come to the attention of a new generation of readers – those who draw parallels between Camus’s depictions of disease-ridden Algeria and the COVID-19 pandemic we are currently living through. It is the story of placid everyday lives that are suddenly, brutally disrupted by a virus: an existential reminder of the arbitrariness of life and the certainty and randomness of death. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to the author of ‘A Very Short Introduction’ to Camus, Dr Oliver Gloag, about the impact this writer could have on our outlook and behaviour during these challenging times. More...
5/29/2020 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic
In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Stephen Reicher about Milgram’s famous ‘obedience study’ (Milgram, 1963) and the various conclusions that can be drawn from the findings. What does this, together with more recent research into obedience, imply about our willingness to conform to authority, and what does it tell us about our likelihood to comply with instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic? More...
5/20/2020 | Download
It is essential that the rights of patients detained under the Mental Health Act continue to be met during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, during this period of social distancing the processes surrounding Mental Health Tribunals have had to be adjusted in order to keep all parties safe. In this podcast, Chief Medical Member Dr Joan Rutherford outlines the emergency measures that have been put in place, and provides guidance on how clinicians can continue to treat detained patients fairly and respectfully during this time. More...
5/15/2020 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Clinical,Professional
Now more than ever, there’s a need for effective leadership to guide healthcare teams and societies across the world through the COVID-19 pandemic. But how do you define good leadership and how can this be measured? In this podcast, leadership expert Professor Alexander Haslam discusses the surprising psychology of what makes a truly great leader, the importance of a group identity, and how to lead a team at a time of crisis. More...
5/13/2020 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic,Professional
During this period of social distancing it is more important than ever for mental health clinicians to engage with their patients. Many are feeling anxious, stressed and lonely, while those with existing mental ill-health may be even more vulnerable. So now that we cannot, in most cases, hold face-to-face consultations, how can we continue to treat patients remotely? Here, Dr Isobel Heyman talks to Dr Raj Persaud about the current evidence base for remote working, and provides some practical advice on the ways in which clinicians can stay ‘remote, but not distant’. More...
5/7/2020 | Download
Psychiatrists are used to dealing with ethical issues in daily practice, but COVID-19 has pushed many into unfamiliar territory and challenged us with new ethical dilemmas. In this podcast, Dr Steve Pearce and Dr Jacinta Tan talk to CPD Online Trainee Editor Dr Jennifer Powell about ethical considerations arising from COVID-19, including equity of access to services, personal and collective needs around prevention and treatment, potential changes to the Mental Health Act, risks and benefits of remote working and where to find support when confronted with COVID-19-related ethical dilemmas. More...
5/5/2020 | Download
Isolation and loneliness are part of the mental health fall-out of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine – but what are the most effective responses to this? Is there a 'social cure'? In this podcast, Professor Catherine Haslam discusses her research into the many health benefits of social integration, as detailed in her latest book 'The New Psychology of Health', and outlines how clinicians can support their patients in this important area. More...
5/1/2020 | Download
In this podcast, CPD Online Deputy Editor Dr Howard Ryland talks to Dr Peter Hughes about his experience of working in West Africa during the Ebola outbreak. They discuss what comparisons can be drawn between Ebola and COVID-19 and examine the lessons we can learn from the psychosocial response seen in West Africa – from the perspective of patients, healthcare workers and wider society. More...
4/28/2020 | Download
Surviving the trauma of COVID-19: what does the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its treatment tell us about how to cope with the current pandemic? In this podcast, Professor Jonathan Bisson talks to Dr Raj Persaud about PTSD and the notion of ‘trauma’ in the context of COVID-19, including the diagnostic criteria for PTSD and evidence-based effective pharmacological and psychological approaches for its treatment and management. More...
4/16/2020 | Download
Like many infections COVID-19 can produce mild symptoms or none at all in some people, meaning they are not aware they are infected and can spread the virus without realising. COVID-19 may therefore be prone to the phenomenon of the ‘super-spreader’. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Dr Susan Campbell Bartoletti about Mary Mallon, the subject of her recent book ‘Terrible Typhoid Mary: A True Story of the Deadliest Cook in America’. Mallon was a healthy carrier of typhoid fever at the turn of the 20th century who resisted public health officials’ attempts to contain her. Can the first documented ‘super-spreader’ in history reveal true causes of modern pandemics? More...
4/9/2020 | Download
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many people around the world to enter a period of quarantine, but what outcome will this have on our mental health and how can we help to reduce the psychological impact? In this podcast, Professor Neil Greenberg talks to Dr Raj Persaud about how to cope with quarantine and the surprising findings of the latest psychological research on the mental effects of quarantine, as recently published by a group of mental health experts including Professor Greenberg in The Lancet – 'The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence'. More...
4/7/2020 | Download
The World Health Organization (WHO) characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March 2020 and countries around the world are putting measures in place to combat the spread of coronavirus. How do psychological factors influence the spread of pandemic infection and the associated emotional distress and social disruption? In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Steven Taylor about his recently published book offering a comprehensive analysis of the psychology of pandemics. More...
3/24/2020 | Download
In daily practice psychiatrists prescribe drugs that can encourage weight gain, but physical activity is often not widely promoted. A widening robust evidence base is proving the benefits of exercise in mental health, so how can we increase mental health professionals’ active involvement in this area? Dr Amit Mistry and Dr Lynne Drummond talk to CPD Online Trainee Editor Dr Jennifer Powell about physical activity guidelines, research, risks and guidance in promoting physical activity in severe mental illness. More...
3/17/2020 | Download
The Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 states that specified authorities, including healthcare bodies, must ‘have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.’ In this podcast Dr Jonathan Hurlow identifies how psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can carry out this duty, and how they can work within the Government’s wider framework in cases where potential risks are identified. More...
12/10/2019 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Professional
Psychological science has made extraordinary discoveries about the human mind, but can we trust everything its practitioners are telling us? In recent years it has become increasingly apparent that a lot of research in psychology is based on weak evidence, questionable practices and sometimes even fraud. Here Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Chris Chambers about his recently published book ‘The Seven Deadly Sins of Psychology: A Manifesto for Reforming the Culture of Scientific Practice’, in which he diagnoses the ills besetting the discipline today and proposes sensible, practical solutions for change. More...
10/23/2019 | Download
Dr David Sellu was a surgeon with a distinguished record extending over 40 years, but in 2010 a patient died under his care in a private hospital, resulting in Dr Sellu's GMC suspension, criminal prosecution and prison sentence. The conviction was later appealed and shown to be an unfair trial with tinges of racism, but the damage had already been done. In this podcast, Dr David Sellu talks openly and frankly to Dr Raj Persaud about his ordeal, and about his fight to create a fairer, more accountable medical justice system. More...
10/2/2019 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Dr Henrietta Bowden-Jones prior to her talk on gaming disorder at the 2019 RCPsych Congress. Here she shares her expertise in the behavioural disorders of gambling and gaming addiction, discussing the factors that make people more prone to developing these disorders and the most effective preventions and treatments available. More...
8/6/2019 | Download
Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Eileen Joyce prior to her talk entitled ‘All you need to know about Tourette syndrome’ at the 2019 RCPsych Congress. In this interview Professor Joyce defines the various forms of tics and Tourette syndrome, discusses the work being carried out in specialist clinics, and outlines some of the most effective treatments being used for both children and adults who present with these disorders. More...
7/26/2019 | Download
Here Raj Persaud talks to Professor David Taylor after his keynote talk at the 2019 RCPsych Congress about the right and wrong ways to discontinue psychiatric medication. He explains why antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs should not be stopped abruptly, and outlines the methods that can be used to effectively taper down these drugs with a view to eventual discontinuation. More...
7/16/2019 | Download
Prior to the Second World War mental illness was largely untreatable, but all that changed when an Australian doctor and recently returned prisoner of war, John Cade, made the monumental discovery that lithium could serve as an effective treatment for manic depression, now bipolar disorder. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud interviews Professor Greg de Moore about the life and work of John Cade, discussing his remarkable – but often overlooked – contribution to the history of mental health treatment. More...
7/1/2019 | Download
Aphorisms – or philosophical short sayings – appear everywhere, from Confucius to Twitter, the Buddha to the Bible, Heraclitus to Nietzsche. Yet despite this ubiquity, the aphorism is the least studied literary form. In this podcast Professor Andrew Hui talks to Raj Persaud about his work on aphorisms, and explores how their use could be applied in a meaningful and helpful way when working with patients. More...
6/21/2019 | Download
Our everyday lives are shaped by geological processes that vastly predate us, and our habits will in turn have consequences that will outlast us by generations. So could a greater awareness of this ‘timefulness’ give us the perspective we need for a more sustainable future? In this compelling podcast, Raj Persaud talks to Professor Marcia Bjornerud about the concept of timefulness, arguing that opening our minds to geology could benefit us all psychologically. More...
6/4/2019 | Download
In 1969, psychiatrist Anthony Storr published an essay that established very firmly in the public imagination that Sir Winston Churchill suffered from recurrent attacks of severe depression, which he termed the ‘black dog’. But how much evidence is there to support this diagnosis? In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud interviews Dr Anthony Daniels about his recent paper which calls into question this supposed diagnosis, and considers the extent to which Churchill’s low moods could be accounted for by circumstance and simple human nature. More...
4/17/2019 | Download
In his essay “On Anger” (De Ira), the Roman Stoic thinker Seneca argues that anger is the most destructive passion, and offers a timeless guide to avoiding and managing this dangerous emotion. In this podcast, Raj Persaud talks to the editor and translator of Seneca’s work, James Romm, about the relevance of this philosophy, which has arguably never been more relevant than it is today. More...
4/2/2019 | Download
Close to 100,000 children in the UK are thought to be taking prescribed antidepressant medication, but are these drugs really doing them any good? Do the possible harms and side-effects of antidepressants in children outweigh their potential benefits, and what does the current evidence tell us? In this podcast, psychiatrist and psychopharmacologist Dr David Healy discusses his findings with Dr Raj Persaud, arguing that greater scrutiny of the evidence and a greater degree of professional autonomy are required in this area. More...
3/14/2019 | Download
It is thought that depression will be the single biggest cause of disability worldwide in the next 20 years; however, treatment for depression has not changed much in the last three decades. In his game-changing book, ‘The Inflamed Mind: A radical new approach to depression’, Professor Edward Bullmore reveals the breakthrough links found between depression and inflammation of the body and brain, representing a whole new way of looking at how mind, brain and body all work together. Here he discusses this fascinating book with Dr Raj Persaud and outlines a future revolution in the treatment of depression. More...
3/1/2019 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Clinical
Is there a connection in Western society between rates of immigration and rates of crime? How much of our understanding in this area is based on fact, and how much are we influenced by the media? In this podcast, Raj Persaud talks to Professor Charis Kubrin about her wide-ranging research on immigration, crime, gated communities and rap music, and discusses her fascinating findings in these areas. More...
2/12/2019 | Download
In a society where so many organisations measure performance and success numerically, have we become fixated on metrics and blind to the facts? In this podcast, Professor Jerry Muller talks to Dr Raj Persaud about how our zeal to instil the evaluation process with scientific rigor could potentially threaten our quality of life and our most important institutions. More...
1/30/2019 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic
In the early 1800s, physicians in asylums began to keep records of their patients, and pointed to heredity as the most important cause of ‘madness’. This led to doctors and state officials attempting to curb the reproduction of the insane amid high levels of anxiety in society. In this podcast, Theodore Porter talks to Raj Persaud about his book ‘Genetics in the Madhouse’, discussing the history of data collection and its important links with eugenics and studies of genetics. More...
9/25/2018 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Charles Fernyhough about his 2016 book looking into the history and science behind hearing voices. He argues that we should avoid the pejorative term ‘hallucinations’ by using the more neutral term ‘voice hearing’, and puts forward the idea that inner speech is a highly varied phenomenon that can also serve a beneficial purpose. More...
8/22/2018 | Download
Following his keynote address at the 2018 RCPsych International Congress, Professor Simon Lovestone talks to Raj Persaud about the use of ‘big data’ in psychiatric research. Focusing on dementia and Alzheimer’s, he reveals the ways in which pseudonymised real-world data has been used to develop our understanding of mental illness, and the opportunities that this provides for future research. More...
8/7/2018 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Ethiopia-based Dr Charlotte Hanlon about how low-income countries cope with delivering mental health services. She discusses how primary healthcare workers are trained to deliver treatment, and considers the links between mental illness and poverty. More...
6/8/2018 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Peter McKenna provides an in-depth and critical review of delusions and the various approaches taken to understanding them, discussing Karl Jasper’s concept of ‘un-understandability’, overvalued ideas, and the considerable diagnostic nuances involved. More...
5/22/2018 | Download
Maurice Pappworth’s 1967 book ‘Human Guinea Pigs’ famously uncovered shockingly unethical practices within the medical establishment, including experimentation on humans. In this podcast, Pappworth’s son-in-law, Sir Anthony Seldon, discusses the life and work of Pappworth and reveals how his late wife Joanna was inspired to write a biography of her father, reassessing the importance of Pappworth’s contribution to today’s medical ethics. More...
5/3/2018 | Download
In this podcast, Professor Sean Young talks to Dr Raj Persaud about his bestselling book Stick With It, in which he analyses the science behind not just achieving our goals, but making lasting behaviour change. He argues that it is the process rather than the person that needs to change, and offers practical advice to help anyone successfully alter their actions and improve their lives. More...
4/20/2018 | Download
In this podcast, existential psychotherapist Antonia Macaro talks to Dr Raj Persaud about Buddhist and Stoic philosophies, focusing on the elements that can have the biggest impact on modern life. Discussing the value we place on worldly possessions and the degree to which we concentrate on emotions, she argues that there is a great deal we can learn from these two philosophies, and much that may be better left behind. More...
4/5/2018 | Download
To what extent are the judgements we make about people formed specifically from their facial appearance? How did this process evolve in human beings, what purpose does it serve, and what dangers could it pose? In this podcast, one of the world’s leading researchers on this subject, Professor Alexander Todorov, talks to Dr Raj Persaud about the science behind first impressions. More...
3/20/2018 | Download
In this podcast, author of the 2017 book ‘Stranger in the Mirror’, Professor Robert Levine, talks to Dr Raj Persaud about a range of case studies and scientific experiments that challenge the ideas we hold about ‘the self’, and questions whether we as human beings are more malleable and capable of change than we realise. More...
3/6/2018 | Download
Disenchantment is commonplace in the workplace, but how can it be tackled? In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Adrian Furnham about his recently released book with Luke Treglown, Disenchantment: Managing Motivation and Demotivation at Work, to explore the theories behind job satisfaction and enchantment, and how organisations and individuals can work to improve engagement and motivation. More...
2/21/2018 | Download
Increasing secularism during the 18th century Enlightenment period led to the emergence of a natural concept of ‘the mind’ as a separate from the previously accepted body-soul duality. Here Dr Raj Persaud talks to award-winning historian and author of the book Soul Machine, Dr George Makari, about some of the key historical cases that contributed to this new idea, and paved the way for the cognitive-style therapies used today. More...
2/6/2018 | Download
Viktor Frankl’s 1946 memoir Man’s Search for Meaning, which documented its author’s philosophical journey in the wake of the Holocaust, remains one of the most influential books of the last century. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor Timothy Pytell about Frankl’s experiences before, during and after World War 2, and the development of the ‘third Viennese school’ of psychotherapy that Frankl developed, logotherapy. More...
1/23/2018 | Download
Sleep – why is it important? In this podcast, Professor Russell Grant Foster talks to Dr Raj Persaud regarding his presentation at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress 2017 addressing this question. This podcast explores the regulation and significance of circadian rhythms, as well as the health risks associated with lack of sleep. More...
9/15/2017 | Download
Why do people choose psychiatry as a career? Why do others avoid it? Professor Anthony David explores these questions using writer and neurologist Oliver Sacks’ life story. In this podcast, Dr Raj Persaud talks to Professor David following his keynote lecture at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress 2017 on The strange case of Dr Oliver Sacks. More...
7/21/2017 | Download
Ahead of his presentation at the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ International Congress 2017, Professor Allan Young spoke with Dr Raj Persaud to record this podcast on the treatment and management of complex affective disorders, considering the difficulties and common errors made in diagnosis and the differences in treatments for mixed affective states. More...
7/11/2017 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Ardesheer Talati talks to Dr Raj Persaud about his latest research into the association between exposure to smoking during pregnancy and the risk for bipolar disorder. In addition, he discusses the link between brain imaging and depression, following on from his involvement in a three-generational study into the transmission of depression among offspring, as explored in a recent podcast with Professor Myrna Weissman. More...
4/28/2017 | Download
Support for violent extremism, and participation in such activity, is believed to be associated with radicalisation among some individuals, yet little empirical research has been conducted into its relationship with mental illness. In this podcast, Professor Kamaldeep S Bhui talks to Dr Raj Persaud about his latest research on the links between psychological problems and sympathies for violent protest and terrorism (SVPT) in a community-based sample. More...
3/21/2017 | Download
The increased risk of psychological problems in the children of depressed parents has been widely studied, but less is known about their long-term outcomes. In this podcast, Professor Myrna Weissman talks to Raj Persaud about the results of a 30-year follow-up study into the biological offspring of depressed parents. More...
1/26/2017 | Download
A 2016 study led by Dr Charles Raison found that raising the body temperature of depressed volunteers through whole-body hyperthermia treatment improved their symptoms of major depression for up to 6 weeks. In this podcast Dr Raison talks to Raj Persaud about how the treatment works, the effect it has on the brain, and how these findings could be built upon in future research. More...
12/6/2016 | Download
What sociological factors can lead people to adopt extremist views or commit terrorist activities? What is the relationship between extremism, religion and depression? In this podcast Professor Jeremy Coid discusses these questions and talks to Raj Persaud about the findings of his study into extremist views among young British men. More...
11/8/2016 | Download
In recent years, concerns about crystalline methamphetamine use have increased in multiple countries. Taking the drug regularly can lead to dependence, anxiety, depression, psychosis and, in some cases, overdose deaths. In this podcast, Raj Persaud talks to Professor Michael Farrell about these associated harms, and the possible preventative strategies that can be adopted. More...
7/28/2016 | Download
Dr Kelly Diederen discusses the findings of her latest research published in the academic journal ‘Psychological Medicine’, which follows up a group of adults who hear voices but who are not formally diagnosed as psychotic – what happens to these people over a period of time? More...
7/25/2016 | Download
Walk into any health food shop and you might think that omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids are a cure for all ills. The hype for these dietary supplements arose from research that appeared to find various benefits, including many trials that reported beneficial effects in depressive disorders. However, other trials have reported essentially no effect. In this podcast Dr Brian Hallahan discusses the key findings of his meta-analysis, which pools together all the data accumulated on the subject in an attempt to cut through to the truth about omega-3s and depression. More...
7/1/2016 | Download
Under National Socialism prior to and during World War 2, more than 200,000 patients with mental illness or learning disability were killed, often by their own doctors. Could similar atrocities ever happen again, and what lessons can be learned from this dark period in history? Raj Persaud talks to the former President of the German Society of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Professor Frank Schneider, prior to his panel discussion on this topic at the RCPsych International Congress 2016. More...
6/30/2016 | Download
Refugees are subject to a wide range of day-to-day stressors, and many will have been exposed to potentially traumatic events. In this podcast Ruth Wells talks to Raj Persaud about her experiences working with Syrian refugees in Jordan, and discusses how mental health professionals can best address their psychosocial needs. More...
6/16/2016 | Download
In this podcast, Tony Woolfson talks to Raj Persaud about C.G. Jung's approach to psychotherapy, adding a historical perspective and touching on the differences between Jungian and Freudian theory. More...
3/23/2016 | Download
In this podcast, Professor Richard Bentall talks to Raj Persaud about the various theories of delusions, focusing on early attachment theories and so-called 'tricky' cases of delusions. More...
12/21/2015 | Download
Is it ever appropriate for therapists to talk about themselves with clients? Could it even be beneficial? Therapist self-disclosure is a topic infrequently discussed and researched, but one study showed that over 90% of therapists do self-disclose to some extent. In this podcast, Raj Persaud talks to clinical psychologist Anna Ruddle about the potential advantages of therapist self-disclosure. More...
11/5/2015 | Download
In their 2014 book 'Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep?', Professors Timothy Verstynen and Bradley Voytek use the popular topic of zombies to explain various neurological processes. They do this by treating zombies as if they are regular patients, performing a systematic neurological investigation to link their classic behaviours back up to the brain. In this podcast, Timothy Versynen talks to Raj Persaud about what zombies can teach us about the human brain. More...
10/5/2015 | Download
A major challenge regarding delusions is understanding them in terms of changes in brain function. Dr Corlett is attempting to meet this challenge by investigating the neural basis of human associative learning and belief formation, and relating these processes to the formation of delusional beliefs. His findings have shaped the development of a novel mechanistic model of delusion formation, which he discusses with Dr Raj Persaud in this podcast. More...
8/17/2015 | Download
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has been shown to be a well-tolerated, minimally invasive procedure for treatment-resistant depression. Here Raj Persaud talks to Dr Lena Palaniyappan at the RCPsych International Congress 2015 about the practicalities and efficacy of TMS. More...
7/2/2015 | Download
The current view of delusions is that they are the result of biology gone awry; in contrast, New York psychiatrist Joel Gold argues that delusions are the result of the interaction between the brain and the social world. In this podcast Raj Persaud talks to Dr Gold about his theory and explores the role of the social world in the development of psychosis. More...
6/5/2015 | Download
The assumption that therapy should always be long term has been challenged repeatedly over the past 25 years, but single-session integrated CBT (SSI-CBT) has become associated in many therapists' minds with being money driven and poor quality. Professor Windy Dryden offers a unique perspective on CBT and advocates an integrated approach to single-session therapy. Here he talks to Raj Persaud about the technique and the evidence for its effectiveness. More...
4/16/2015 | Download
How much control do we have over our own lives? What role does the unconscious play in our decision-making? Psychologist Magda Osman talks to Raj Persaud about these issues and the various studies that have been conducted around agency and control. More...
3/12/2015 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
Dr Raj Persaud talks to Wesley Turner and Leanne Casey, who have conducted a meta-analysis of outcomes associated with clinical virtual reality randomised controlled trials. More...
12/23/2014 | Download
Dr Penny Campling is co-author of the bestselling RCPsych publication 'Intelligent Kindness' and author of the Psychiatric Bulletin paper 'Reforming the culture of healthcare: the case for intelligent kindness'. In this podcast Dr Campling talks to Ali Ajaz about the culture of healthcare and her powerful approach to healthcare reform. More...
11/4/2014 | Download
Raj Persaud talks to Professor Allan Horwitz, author of the 2013 book 'Anxiety: A Short History', about our cultural understanding of anxiety and how this has changed through the centuries. More...
10/28/2014 | Download
Medically unexplained symptoms can be extremely distressing and debilitating for patients, but they are often difficult to treat. In this podcast Dr Raj Persaud talks to Dr Richard Brown about his 'integrative cognitive' model of medically unexplained symptoms, and discusses the practical implications regarding treatment. More...
9/29/2014 | Download
In this podcast Dr Raj Persaud discusses the meaning and underlying psychological constructs of optimism with Dr Rebecca McGuire-Snieckus, author of the paper 'Hope, Optimism and Delusion' published in the Psychiatric Bulletin. More...
9/16/2014 | Download
Organisations can be notoriously bad at the retention and development of talented people. In this podcast Professor Adrian Furnham discusses his book (co-authored with Ian MacRae), High Potential: How to Spot, Manage and Develop Talented People at Work, with Dr Raj Persaud; focusing on what talent really is and recognising how it differs from leadership. More...
8/14/2014 | Download
In this podcast Dr Amy Manley talks to Dr Kate Saunders about her study on psychiatric assessment of mood instability using qualitative methods to explore the patient experience of the assessment process. More...
8/13/2014 | Download
In this podcast Dr Raj Persaud discusses the cognitive assessment with Professor Adam Zeman, Professor of Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology at the University of Exeter Medical School. More...
7/7/2014 | Download
The neurological examination is often approached with trepidation by psychiatrists but can be done quickly and reliably with practice. The best approach is to keep doing them as often as possible, but in order for them to be useful, and conducted without fear, it's advantageous to a have an understanding of what you are trying to achieve. In this podcast Professor Adam Zeman, Professor of Cognitive and Behavioural Neurology at the University of Exeter Medical School, explains to Dr Raj Persaud how to conduct a neurological examination. More...
Dr Aaron Reeves and colleagues have recently published the following paper in the British Journal of Psychiatry: 'Economic suicides in the Great Recession in Europe and North America'. This report estimates that the Great Recession is associated with at least 10,000 additional economic suicides between 2008 and 2010. Dr Raj Persaud discusses the paper's findings with Dr Reeves and why recession may be linked to suicide. More...
6/16/2014 | Download
In this podcast Professor Anthony David discusses with Dr Raj Persaud the paper he co-wrote on a brain imaging investigation of conversion disorder or hysteria. The study probes a neuroscience explanation for conversion symptoms where a traumatic experience is transformed into a physical symptom. More...
6/10/2014 | Download
In this podcast Professor Heidi Feldman, from the Stanford University School of Medicine, talks with Dr Raj Persaud on attention deficit–hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents; referring to her recent clinical review of the disorder published in the New England Journal of Medicine. More...
5/7/2014 | Download
In this podcast Dr Joyce Almeida, author of the Minds on Film blog featured on the Royal College of Psychiatrists website, discusses the use of film for teaching and learning psychiatry with Dr Ali Ajaz, providing some examples of films that have explored mental health issues and conditions. More...
5/1/2014 | Download
Dr Madhav Goyal, lead author of a new analysis of research on meditation, recently published his study: 'Meditation Programs for Psychological Stress and Well-being: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis' in JAMA Internal Medicine. In this podcast, Dr Goyal discusses his findings from the study and some surprising conclusions about the effectiveness of meditation with Dr Raj Persaud. More...
4/10/2014 | Download
In this podcast Dr Fiona Gaughran, the lead consultant in the UK’s National Psychosis Service, discusses refractory psychosis with Dr Ali Ajaz, providing an understanding of what it is and the challenges related to research in this field. More...
3/21/2014 | Download
In this podcast Raj Persaud is in conversation with Vicky Pryce, author of Prisonomics. More...
1/6/2014 | Download
Dr Chris Cantor - author of 'Evolution and Posttraumatic Stress: Disorders of Vigilance and Defence' in conversation with Raj Persaud. More...
12/19/2013 | Download
In this podcast the College Public Health Lead, Professor Kamaldeep Bhui, discusses public health medicine with Dr Ali Ajaz, providing an overview of the relationship between public health and psychiatry and examining the importance of well-being to public health outcome measures. More...
7/31/2013 | Download
In this second interview with Dr Gwen Adshead, she discusses her recently published paper on the role of mentalisation in the management of violence. More...
3/28/2013 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Gwen Adshead discusses the concept of mentalisation and the role of psychological therapies in changing the mind. She argues that mentalisation-based therapies can be applied to even the most complex psychological disorders as they work to alter the underlying neuronal structures in the brain. More...
2/26/2013 | Download
The high prevalence of sexual dysfunction in people with psychosis has often been attributed solely to the side-effects of antipsychotic medication, and less is known about the rates of sexual dysfunction in prodromal and first-episode psychosis. In this podcast, Dr Oliver Howes and Dr Tiago Reis Marques discuss the findings of their recent study into this area, published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. More...
11/20/2012 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Ezra Susser talks to Ali Ajaz about the relationship between micronutrient deficiency and neurodevelopmental disorders, and some of the challenges facing researchers in this field. More...
10/22/2012 | Download
The ‘National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness’ is an annual inquiry that looks at the circumstances in which people with mental illness commit suicide or homicide, identifying annual trends and using these to make recommendations to the health service. In this podcast, Professor Louis Appleby discusses the findings of the most recent inquiry with Dr Paula Murphy. More...
9/28/2012 | Download
Professor Georg Kuhn talks to Dr Steven Moylan about his recently published study into cardiovascular fitness and its link with the development of depression. More...
9/7/2012 | Download
Here, Dr Peter Mason discusses a number of case reports of adults with ADHD and comorbid psychosis, outlining the symptoms that commonly present. He also reviews the current evidence base for the treatment of the disorders, including the risks and benefits of prescribing stimulants to adults with psychosis. More...
8/20/2012 | Download
Dr Andreas Schröder talks to Dr Steven Moylan about the prevalence of functional somatic syndromes and the issues that currently exist with their diagnosis and treatment. He discusses the results of his recently published study, which indicate that a cognitive-behavioural group treatment is effective in the management of such syndromes. More...
7/4/2012 | Download
Dr Ylva Ginsberg and colleagues recently conducted a study to test the effectiveness of methylphenidate as a treatment for ADHD in prison inmates. Here, Dr Ginsberg discusses her findings with Dr Ovais Badat, and reviews how the research can influence future treatment in prison populations. More...
3/13/2012 | Download
Here, Dr Vikram Patel talks to Dr Ovais Badat about his recently published study into lay health worker intervention in common mental health disorders in India. More...
2/14/2012 | Download
In this series of podcasts, two giants of their field, Professor Robin Murray and Professor Tim Crow (left), discuss their experiences of psychosis research since the 1960s, reflecting upon the ideas, evidence and arguments that have taken place over the years, and where they have led. More...
1/19/2012 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 90 minutes | Credits: 1 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
Dr Riviere discusses the findings of his recent research on risk factors for mental ill health in US reservists after deployment in Iraq. More...
7/22/2011 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: 0.5 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical,Professional
Here, Dr Ovais Badat talks to Professor Val Curran about a recently published study which aimed to investigate how varying levels of cannabidiol and THC have an impact on the acute effects of the drug in naturalistic settings. More...
11/26/2010 | Download
The mental health needs of people require input at different levels: biological, psychological and social. Whilst a lot of attention is being paid to biological and psychological interventions, social interventions at a community level is still in its infancy. Dr Nusrat Husain and his colleagues have conducted a randomised control trial looking at social interventions for British Pakistani women with depression. In this podcast he talks about the study design, the findings and the way forward for social intervention. More...
11/11/2010 | Download
Abreaction, or the ‘drug interview', was a relatively common therapeutic intervention in psychiatry in the middle to late 20th century. It is far less commonly practiced now, though there has been little investigation or understanding of why this decline in practice occurred. Dr Norman Poole and colleagues investigated the published English language reports on the process as applied to conversion disorder, and found that the reasons for its declining use were certainly not due to lack of evidence for its effectiveness. More...
9/2/2010 | Download
Involuntary hospital admissions in psychiatric practice bring up many ethical dilemmas. Any process that restricts the autonomy of a person needs to be carefully thought about. Involving the people and getting their perception of the entire proceeding is a step in the right direction. Professor Stefan Priebe and his team have conducted the largest prospective study to date to find out how patients view involuntary hospital admission. Here, Dr Saliha Nazir talks to Professor Priebe about the study design, the findings and the outcomes from this study. More...
8/3/2010 | Download
In this podcast we are discussing internet addiction, which has become a growing global phenomenon reported by professional anecdote and by mainstream media. Although internet addiction is not formally recognised by the ICD or DSM as yet, there is much research afoot to attempt to define it, and by so doing, develop specific and evidence-based ways to treat it. We discuss a two-wave prevalence study looking at how big the problem of internet addiction is, what it is comorbid with, and whether it can be seen to exist on its own as a diagnostic entity. More...
7/22/2010 | Download
This podcast is about the concept and practice of supported employment programmes. We all have concerns about helping patients maximise their potential, and of course, meaningful work is one of the prime ways in which this is achieved. In an uncommon trial for the UK, Dr Louise Howard and colleagues conducted a randomised controlled trial of an American system called IPS or Individual Placement Support, to see if this evidence based programme would be as effective over here in the UK. Their paper helps shed a lot of light on the challenges that supported employment programme participants and professionals face. More...
6/9/2010 | Download
The condition of borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most distinctive psychiatric syndromes of adulthood. Environmental factors such as child sexual abuse, and other family influences such as maternal over involvement and inconsistency may have a role in its pathogenesis. Indeed, various forms of maternal psychopathology may be associated with patterns of mother–infant interaction that have an impact on infant development. In this podcast, Dr Margaret Murphy speaks with Professor Peter Hobson about his study which aimed to assess how women with BPD engage with their 12-18 month-old infants in separation-reunion episodes. More...
6/7/2010 | Download
Autism has been the subject of intense public and professional attention in recent years. One of the biggest questions is what causes it. Like the discoveries made about schizophrenia in the late 20th century, we are learning that autism too has genetic and environmental determinants. Here Dr Daphne Keen discusses her paper which attempts to answer the question of whether maternal immigration and ethnicity, together or in tandem, are implicated as being risk factors in young children who develop autism. More...
5/30/2010 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Kamran Ahmed talks to Professor Klaus Lieb about the Cochrane review conducted by his team on trials of pharmacological treatments for borderline personality disorder. The findings of the review and their implications are discussed. More...
3/25/2010 | Download
The notion that genius and madness are closely related can be found in the writings of Aristotle, Plato and Socrates. There is some modest, mostly historically collected scientific evidence for this. In this podcast, Dr Ovais Badat speaks to Dr James MacCabe about his latest article in which he explores the link between school performance and bipolar disorder in later life. More...
3/12/2010 | Download
There is increasing interest and public concern about the relationship between diet and physical health. There has been less focus on the relationship between diet and behaviour and mental health. Despite this, there is some evidence of a relationship between breastfeeding and cognitive development, which may be genetically mediated and between hyperactivity and diet. In this podcast, Dr Margaret Murphy talks to Dr Simon Moore about the present study which uses a longitudinal design to explore the relationship between confectionary consumption in childhood and adult aggression. More...
1/15/2010 | Download
In this podcast, Professor Simon Gowers gives an overview of the different psychological therapies available for children and adolescents with eating disorders, discussing in some detail family therapy, interpersonal therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy. More...
9/7/2009 | Download
Professor Shôn Lewis discusses the latest on prodromal psychosis. More...
8/27/2009 | Download
In this telephone interview, Dr David Klonsky discusses self-harm; non-suicidal self-injury, outlining what we mean by self-harm, its prevalence and discussing ways of making an assessment and assessing severity. More...
6/9/2009 | Download
In this podcast, Professor Michael King describes the first risk algorithm for major depression that he and colleagues have recently developed, modelled along the lines of risk algorithms for cardiac disease and other illnesses. More...
5/15/2009 | Download
In this telephone interview, Dr Rose McCabe discusses the importance of communication for the therapeutic relationship, the role of communication among non-specific effects and she describes how we can go about improving communication in the therapeutic setting as a means to improving patient outcome. More...
3/27/2009 | Download
Dr Amy Iversen talks on the topical subject of mentoring, highlighting the value it can bring to both mentee and mentor. Speaking from personal experience, she advises on the issues to bear in mind when setting up a mentoring programme; highlights qualities which make for a good mentor; and describes typical problems to occur. Discussing evidence to support mentoring she also emphasises the need for further research if we are to take mentoring forward in medicine. More...
3/23/2009 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Daniel Freeman gives an introduction to the cognitive behavioural approach for dealing with paranoid thoughts. More...
2/11/2009 | Download
In this telephone interview, Dr Matthew Nock discusses the clinical assessment of suicide ideation and behaviour, and raises some of the problems faced by clinicians in this challenging field. He discusses in detail the development of a test known as the implicit association test which may be used in the future to help measure suicide risk without the need to rely on a patient’s self report. Talking about the common mistakes made by clinicians during clinical interview he also flags the importance of understanding a patient’s motivation and the need for clinicians to continue to develop predictive skills in assessing what is otherwise considered relatively unpredictable behaviour. More...
1/12/2009 | Download
In this podcast Martin Bohus gives an overview of Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), explaining the condition in terms of its features and symptoms, and describing a number of psychological treatments available including that of his own specialty, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy. He also addresses the limited evidence for medical treatments. He discusses theories of aetiology including links with genetics and childhood physical traumatisation. More...
12/10/2008 | Download
Vikram Patel gives an illuminating account of the practice of psychiatry in extreme low resource environments. He talks about the steps necessary to establish effective mental health care, describing first the assessment of needs, the importance of measuring the types of illness, prevalence and impact on daily life and the importance of efficient resourcing when planning. Whilst talking about the problems associated with institutions that still exist in some parts, he also talks about the beneficial work being carried out by other mental health care organisations. He is encouraging of the contribution that psychiatrists from more developed areas can make by working in these low resource environments. More...
10/29/2008 | Download
In this podcast, Dr Gerald Rosen talks about malingering and the motivations that can lead to simulated psychiatric disorder. He explains how to deal with a suspected case and how to achieve the best outcome whilst maintaining the therapeutic relationship, providing case examples and advice from his own wealth of clinical experience. More...
9/30/2008 | Download
Jean Théberge talks about the glutamatergic hypothesis of schizophrenia and discusses in some detail his study on longitudinal grey-matter and glutamatergic losses in first-episode schizophrenia. More...
8/31/2008 | Download
Approximately 2-5% of children suffer from ADHD and in this podcast, Dr Katia Rubia begins by answering the question What is ADHD?, addressing the triad of symptoms – age inappropriate inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness – and raising some diagnostic and cultural issues. She then goes on to discuss in detail brain development and the neurobiological implications. More...
8/20/2008 | Download
Robert Schug, based at the University of Southern California, talks about the neuropsychology of schizophrenia. In particular he discusses the approach in relation to those schizophrenics who go on to develop personality disorder problems of the antisocial type. More...
7/18/2008 | Download
In this podcast Dr Gareth Owen gives an overview of phenomenology in psychiatry, discussing some of the historical background to the development of the discipline, some of the problems and how it relates in comparison with other disciplines such as a biological or psychological approach to a psychiatric disorder. He also touches on how we can bring a phenomenological understanding into our daily practice. More...
6/4/2008 | Download
Approximately one in ten children suffer from anxiety disorders, and in this podcast Professor Ronald Rapee gives a broad overview of the different kinds of anxiety disorders common in children. He also discusses how anxiety disorders in children compare with those in adults, and highlights the nature of findings from epidemiological studies. He talks about some of the steps in diagnosis, and the aetiology behind anxiety disorders, including genetic and behavioural factors. Treatment is also touched on as well as some of the pitfalls to beware of when diagnosing and treating anxiety in children. More...
5/29/2008 | Download
In this podcast, Professor Jim van Os discusses the importance of gene-environment interactions in the understanding of the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. He talks about the influence of environmental factors as the causes of psychiatric disorders as well as the genetic basis for psychiatric disorder, and discusses significant laboratory research findings as evidence for their interactions. More...
5/15/2008 | Download
Professor Gerald Russell explores the issues surrounding the diagnosis and management of Eating Disorders. Outlining the different kinds of eating disorders that occur he also highlights the limitations of current classifications. He explores how psychiatrists make diagnoses and the factors that may make a diagnosis difficult. He goes on to discuss the important steps to take when planning the treatment and effective management of Eating Disorders. More...
4/1/2008 | Download
Mr Robert Young explores the issue of deliberate self-harm including suicide and attempted suicide. He discusses the epidemiology and risk factors involved and some of the psychiatric theories behind self-harm. He also talks about the kind of evidence base and psychiatric research available and identifies the reseach needs that would benefit the field, particularly with respect to psychiatric treatments, interventions and towards tackling the causes of self-harm. More...
3/25/2008 | Download
Professor Hamid Ghodse discusses the history of legally available amphetamine-type drugs and the staggering rise in their use, showing how mental health professionals need to be aware of the societal trends and professional attitudes that can lead to over-prescription and its damaging effects. More...
3/1/2008 | Download
In this telephone interview, Dr Stephen Elsom talks from Australia on the topical issue of seclusion as an intervention for containing uncontrolled, disturbed behaviour of psychiatric patients. He discusses the research evidence regarding the use of seclusion and current thinking surrounding this practice. He also talks about methods that can be helpful to reduce the rate of seclusion used as an intervention. More...
1/8/2008 | Download
Dr Gerard Leavey explores some of the myths and truths surrounding the relationship between psychiatry and the clergy, looking at ways in which they can work together more effectively. More...
12/17/2007 | Download
Dr Niall Crumlish talks about his experience of cross-cultural research in Malawi, providing valuable advice to anyone considering how to go about planning and conducting such research. He discusses the implications and practicalities of working in an area where psychiatric health is under-studied, some of the limitations, as well as the many rewards. More...
12/12/2007 | Download
Dr Steven Marwaha discusses some of the issues surrounding the topic of employment and schizophrenia, including different kinds of employment services and support available to those with schizophrenia, and also rates and correlates of employment for people with the illness. More...
12/11/2007 | Download
Dr Lisa Page discusses the provision of public health services in the UK and the implications of environmental hazards and incidents on psychiatry and psychogenic illness. More...
11/27/2007 | Download
Professor Peter Woodruff discusses the latest research findings and neuroimaging techniques which uncover the underlying neurobiological processes behind auditory hallucinations. More...
7/27/2007 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.75 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
Dr Helen Minnis discusses the issue of attachment in psychiatry and the importance of attunement in the caregiving relationship, taking a look at the current controversies over child care and giving guidance for psychiatrists on how to work with attachment difficulties. More...
7/25/2007 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.75 | CPD Domains: Academic
Dr Frank Holloway discusses his new book 'Enabling Recovery: The Principles and Practice of Rehabilitation Psychiatry', which focuses on the patient-centred approach and emphasises the importance of incorporating the medical model of psychiatry with a more socio-psychological model. More...
Minimum recommended time: 60 minutes | Credits: 1 | CPD Domains: Clinical,Professional
Professor Graham Thornicroft discusses the issue of stigma, looking at the current research and asking what can be done at local and national levels as well as by psychiatrists themselves to combat the stigmatisation of people with mental illness. More...
7/5/2007 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 45 minutes | Credits: 0.75 | CPD Domains: Clinical,Professional
Professor Matthew Hotopf discusses how to minimise bias in case-control studies and looks at solutions to the problems of recruiting, how many subjects to use and why it is important to report recruitment methods. More...
5/18/2007 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 30 minutes | Credits: .5 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
Professor Anthony David talks about the associations between insight and mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. More...
4/23/2007 | Download
Vanessa Pinfold discusses the importance of sharing service user information with carers, giving pointers on how to do this without breaking patient confidentiality. She emphasises the importance of professional judgement in decisions over what information to share or withhold and suggests strategies for improving current practices. More...
2/26/2007 | Download
Dr Paul Allen challenges current thinking on the aetiology of auditory verbal hallucinations, describing how current cognitive and physiological models may be insufficient to account for these internal experiences. More...
Professor John Gunn challenges some common notions of the relationship between mental illness and homicide, taking a detailed look at the possible contributing factors towards violent behaviour in people with schizophrenia. Some questions posed are: Who is most at risk of attack? What happens in court? What should consultants consider in the management of patients with schizophrenia who may become violent? More...
1/23/2007 | Download
Dr Leonie Boeing talks about her recent study and its findings, discussing some common problems experienced by adolescents with psychosis, management of their needs and current shortcomings in care provision. More...
Dr Quinton Deeley talks about the skills and abilities involved in empathy and which psychiatric disorders are most closely linked to it. More...
12/19/2006 | Download
Dr Mike Doyle discusses the main approaches to assessing risk for violence and critiques how clinicians communicate risk judgements. More...
12/22/2006 | Download
In this podcast, we have combined two recordings: the second recording follows on immediately from the first. More...
11/20/2006 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 60 minutes | Credits: 1 | CPD Domains: Academic,Clinical
In this podcast we have combined two recordings: the second recording follows on immediately from the first. More...
11/22/2006 | Download
Minimum recommended time: 60 minutes | Credits: 1 | CPD Domains: Clinical
This podcast takes a look at the recovery focus system and discusses the role of mental health professionals within the Recovery Model. More...
10/24/2006 | Download
In this podcast Professor Ming T. Tsuang talks to Dr Persaud about family constellation patterns for schizophrenia and how we can tease out the differences between environmental and genetic factors. More...
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