On the Mind with The Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Psychiatry

This episode explores bipolar disorder, a core psychiatric condition affecting millions globally. Join Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher and renowned mood disorders expert Dr. James Kocsis as they delve into the complexities of this condition, discuss its spectrum of symptoms, and share insights on effective management approaches.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Drs. Janna Gordon-Elliott and Virginia Mutch to explore the collaborative care model, which integrates behavioral health into primary care practices and other medical settings. This approach has proven to enhance access to mental health services, reduce healthcare costs, and improve patient outcomes across diverse populations. Their in-depth conversation delves into the history of collaborative care, its evidence-based benefits, and the challenges associated with its implementation and practice. Listen to learn more about the growing adoption of this model and its promising role in addressing mental health disparities.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. Yunyu Xiao to dive deep into the complex factors driving youth suicide. Dr. Xiao shares insights from her groundbreaking research, which highlights how social determinants of health are directly influencing troubling trends in suicide rates among adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through her analysis of large data sets, Dr. Xiao has uncovered distinct patterns of risk, offering a clearer understanding of the disparities fueling the rise in suicidal behaviors. Tune in to learn how her work can inform more effective public policy and guide the development of targeted interventions to help reverse the growing crisis of youth suicide.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Susan Evans about the benefits of practicing mindfulness. They explore its history and the science supporting the therapeutic benefits of mindfulness-based practices. Dr. Evans shares how mindfulness can be integrated into psychotherapy, emphasizing its role in enhancing emotional regulation, reducing self-critical judgment, and fostering self-awareness. Toward the end of the episode, listeners are invited to participate in a brief, guided meditation led by Dr. Evans, providing an opportunity to experience mindfulness in action. Join us for this enlightening discussion that uncovers the profound impact of mindfulness on mental health and well-being.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher engages in a comprehensive conversation with Dr. Leonardo Lopez about schizophrenia. Together, they explore the historical context of this significant psychiatric disorder, current standards of care, and innovative treatment options on the horizon. Dr. Lopez also discusses the shortcomings of public policy in addressing the needs of those affected by schizophrenia. Listeners will gain valuable insights and a contemporary understanding of this crucial mental health issue that impacts millions worldwide.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher talks with Dr. Jyoti Pathak about the critical role of mental health services research and the innovative use of technology in this field. Dr. Pathak describes how researchers use machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify and understand the factors contributing to disparities in mental healthcare delivery. He shares compelling examples from his work on postpartum depression and the stigma surrounding addiction, demonstrating how advanced tools uncover complex structural problems within our system. Tune in to learn how harnessing technology can lead to targeted solutions for improving access and equity in mental healthcare.

In this special election year episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher engages with Dr. Richard Friedman to explore the psychological toll of contemporary American politics. They discuss how polarization, uncertainty, and political violence contribute to rising levels of stress, anxiety, and depression across different segments of society. Dr. Friedman explains how to differentiate between normal emotional responses to the electoral process and clinically significant mental health issues. He also shares practical tips for managing stress during the election season and offers interpersonal strategies for bridging the political divide. Tune in for a timely conversation that addresses the intersection of mental health and politics.

In this episode of On the Mind, our host and Weill Cornell Medicine General Psychiatry Residency Director, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, meets with two second year residents, Drs. Maya Graves and Nathen Spitz, for an inside look at residency training. They share invaluable insights on the application process, crafting personal statements, and why psychiatry is a rewarding specialty. Hear directly from residents as they discuss the realities of work-life balance during residency, tips for choosing where to apply, and other essential advice for medical students considering a future in psychiatry.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Katharine Phillips about body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Dr. Phillips provides a comprehensive overview of BDD, describing how major distortions in self-perception lead to significant impairment and suffering. She explains why this diagnosis is often missed or misunderstood, explores its wide-ranging impact, and identifies effective, evidence-backed treatments designed to help those struggling with BDD. Katharine Phillips, M.D., is internationally known for her expertise in body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and related disorders. For over 30 years, Dr. Phillips has conducted ground-breaking scientific research on BDD and has provided expert evaluation and treatment with medication and therapy for people with these conditions. She is currently Professor of Psychiatry, DeWitt Wallace Senior Scholar, and Residency Research Director for the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Attending Psychiatrist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

In this episode, we explore a unique model for serving the mental health needs of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Weill Cornell Wellness Qlinic is a student-run mental health clinic providing free mental healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community in New York City. It serves as a model for education, affirming mental health care, and outreach to an underserved population. Join Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher as he discusses the Qlinic, its clinical programs and educational initiatives with two of the Wellness Qlinic co-founders Dr. Jessica Spellun and Constance Zhou, and the Qlinic’s Director of Research, Dr. Christopher Ceccolini. Featured Speakers: Christopher Ceccolini, Ph.D. (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, an attending psychologist at NewYork-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine affiliated hospital, Gracie Square Hospital, and a psychologist in private practice in Manhattan. He is one of the current faculty advisors and the Director of Research for the Weill Cornell Wellness Qlinic. Jessica Spellun, M.D. (she/her) is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and a psychiatrist in private practice. As a resident she helped to build the Weill Cornell Wellness Qlinic and later served as one of the faculty directors. Constance Zhou (they/them) is an MD-PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine interested in psychiatry. They are also the co-founder of the Weill Cornell Wellness Qlinic and served as the Clinical Executive Director of the Qlinic from 2019-2024.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with the Dr. Dennis Popeo, the Director of Neuromodulation at NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center, about electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Dr. Popeo gives an overview of ECT and explains the basic mechanisms that make the treatment so effective. We discuss the history of ECT treatments and how years of research and care have developed this into a safe, life changing treatment for patients with mental illnesses such as treatment resistant depression, schizophrenia, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher explores the complexities of women's mental health during hormonal transitions with Lauren Osborne, M.D. and Alison Hermann, M.D. The conversation focuses on mental health throughout the various stages of life and hormonal changes. Discover the underlying factors influencing women's mental well-being during these transformative stages, alongside ongoing research and emerging training opportunities for clinicians to specialize in women's psychiatry. Gain insights into evidence-based treatments and strategies tailored to support women through these hormonal changes, providing valuable perspectives for practitioners and individuals navigating these transitions.

To further our understanding of youth mental health, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. Francis Lee, who describes his groundbreaking research on the neurobiology of adolescent development. They discuss the processes underlying adolescent brain development, exploring why this critical period presents increased risk for anxiety disorders and depression, but also presents unique opportunities for effective treatments. Learn how impactful factors during critical periods of brain development effect resilience and psychological wellbeing, including social media use, early life adversity and more.

In this episode Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. Jonathan Avery to discuss alcohol use disorder and how stigma impacts our response to this condition. Learn how to identify problematic alcohol use in yourself or someone close to you and what to discuss with your doctor when looking for support. We reflect on how alcohol use disorders have no “one size fits all” solution. Effective treatments rely on a variety of methods that can be tailored to suit the individual needs of each patient. Jonathan Avery, M.D. is the Vice Chair for Addiction Psychiatry, the Stephen P. Tobin and Dr. Arnold M. Cooper Associate Professor in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and the Program Director for the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Avery’s primary academic focus has been to examine and help develop interventions to improve clinicians’ attitudes towards patients with substance use disorders. He is also focused on educating all physicians on how to treat individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders and mental illness.

In this episode, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. Conor Liston to describe recent neuroscientific breakthroughs that are transforming how we diagnose and treat common psychiatric conditions, like depression. Learn how research advances in brain imaging and neuromodulation investigated at Weill Cornell Medicine are leading to novel approaches for providing targeted and effective mental healthcare. Conor Liston, M.D, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychiatry and of Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Liston’s research aims to define mechanisms by which prefrontal cortical brain circuits support learning, memory and motivation, and to understand how these functions are disrupted in depression and other stress-related psychiatric disorders.

In part two of this two-part discussion on trauma, host, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, speaks with Dr. Jessica Hartman about treatments that can build resilience after a traumatic event or experience. We explore various options for treatment, including different forms of psychotherapy, medications, and new interventions that are showing significant promise for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Dr. Hartman also highlights steps outside of formal treatment that can be taken by individuals or their loved ones who want to help alleviate the effects of trauma. She also names several online resources for learning more information about trauma including : The National Child Traumatic Stress Network https://www.nctsn.org/ Learn more about SAMHSA US Dept of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Featured Speaker: Jessica Hartman, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and an Assistant Attending Psychologist at the NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health. As an assistant attending, Dr. Hartman works within the adolescent inpatient unit and the child outpatient department. Her clinical expertise is in trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and child and adolescent psychology. Learn more about Jessica Hartman, Ph.D

In part one of this two-part discussion, host, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher, speaks with Dr. Jessica Hartman about trauma. During this first episode, we define trauma, describe the range of long-lasting psychological effects that can emerge after a traumatic event, identify the importance of adverse child experiences, and explore trauma informed care. Our discussion covers the difference between individual trauma, collective trauma, and intergenerational trauma. Dr. Hartman describes the widespread impact of trauma on individuals and communities, identifying it as a social justice issue and describing societal changes that could help reduce its prevalence. Resources on Trauma: The National Child Traumatic Stress Network --- SAMHSA --- US Dept of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Featured Speaker: Jessica Hartman, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology in Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and an Assistant Attending Psychologist at the NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Behavioral Health. As an assistant attending, Dr. Hartman works within the adolescent inpatient unit and the child outpatient department. Her clinical expertise is in trauma, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and child and adolescent psychology. https://weillcornell.org/jessica-hartman-phd

n this episode, Daniel Knoepflmacher, M.D., speaks with Jo Anne Sirey, Ph.D., about depression in older adults. Listen for a discussion that identifies key aspects of late life depression and highlights available resources for treatment in New York. While describing treatment methods, Dr. Sirey explains the importance of community-based approaches featuring personalized elements that help address the diverse needs of a multicultural, urban population. She also describes the important challenges and opportunities that technology creates in the delivery of psychiatric care for older adults in the community. For more information on available resources, such as Do More Feel Better and Trio for Successful Aging, visit the Sirey Lab website at https://sireylab.weill.cornell.edu/ Featured Speaker: Jo Anne Sirey, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. She has an expertise in developing partnerships and conducting mental health interventions in community-based settings. Her research focus is on the development, implementation and impact of interventions that address psychological barriers and stigma to improve treatment engagement, treatment participation and adherence. Learn more about Jo Anne Sirey, Ph.D.

In this special edition episode, Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. George Makari to discuss his recent essay “What Covid Revealed About American Psychiatry.” In their wide-ranging discussion, Dr. Makari describes the longstanding fractures in our psychiatric healthcare system that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using history as context, he outlines the complex and dysfunctional system of mental health care in America; shedding light on the core problems and what needs to change to address them.

In this episode, we speak with Angela Wai Mon Chiu Ph.D. about youth anxiety. Join Dr. Knoepflmacher for an interview exploring the causes of anxiety within children and adolescents and evidence-based treatments and tactics that can be used to treat mild to severe anxiety. For more information on tactics and assessments discussed in the episode, visit: the NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Youth Mental Health or read Tools for Supporting Wellbeing in Children. Featured Speaker: Angela Wai Mon Chiu, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of psychology in clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. As a licensed clinical psychologist, she specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy as well as modular approaches to treatment for a wide array of presenting problems including social phobia, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, OCD, specific phobias, trauma, generalized anxiety disorder, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder. In addition to her clinical work, she has received several notable awards, including the National Research Service Award from the National Institute of Mental Health and a Dissertation Research Award from the American Psychological Association.