Episode 40 | The Effect of Opioid Use and Treatment on Cognition With Dr. Monica Rivera Mindt
We brought Monica Rivera Mindt, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, back on the podcast to discuss the cognitive effects of opioid use (both licit and illicit). We discuss the history of the opioid epidemic in the U.S., the neurobiology of opioids, and common treatments for opioid use disorder.
Episode 18 | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder – With Dr. Jeffrey Wozniak
Today we give an overview of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which includes a collection of disorders that occur when a fetus is exposed to alcohol. We discuss this topic with Jeffrey Wozniak, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist with extensive research and clinical experience in FASD.
Episode 10 | Caregiver Burden: Prevalence, Assessment, and Treatment – with Dr. Geoff Tremont
A tremendous amount of stress and anxiety is experienced by caregivers of older adults with dementia. Caregivers often endure both psychological and medical illnesses and there are significant barriers (e.g., caregiver responsibilities) preventing them from attending traditional psychotherapy. In this episode, we talk to Dr. Geoff Tremont, a board-certified neuropsychologist and the developer of a telephone-based intervention that has been shown to enhance the well-being of caregivers.
Episode 39 | Behavioral Interventions for Mild Cognitive Impairment – With Dr. Glenn Smith
Although clinical neuropsychological research tends to focus on assessment and differential diagnosis, a growing contingent of neuropsychologists are attempting to apply their knowledge of neurobiology and cognitive and emotional functioning to pursue interventional neuropsychology. To this end, we speak with Glenn Smith, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about the cognitive remediation program he has developed to address cognitive and emotional changes associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia, the Healthy Action to Benefit Independence of Thinking (HABIT) program. Dr. Smith discusses his view of clinical and research efforts to address MCI, as well as his experience in psychology leadership and supervision of both postdoctoral and predoctoral practicum students.
Episode 09 | Electrical Injuries: Cognitive and Emotional Sequelae – with Dr. Neil Pliskin
Electrical injuries often result in diffuse cognitive symptoms and mood changes. In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of this unique injury with Neil Pliskin, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, former president of APA Div. 40, who has done a significant amount of clinical work and research with this population.
Episodes 31-32 | Biomarkers of Accelerated Aging in Severe Mental Illness – With Dr. Lisa Eyler (Parts 1 and 2)
Episode 31:
Severe mental illness (SMI) refers to mental disorders that result in significant functional impairment (e.g., schizophrenia and bipolar disorder). In this episode, we bring you Part 1 of our conversation with Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., about inflammation in individuals with SMI, how inflammation is associated with accelerated aging and other health problems, and the clinical utility of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in this population. We also contrast the approaches of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC).
Episode 32:
We are bringing you the second part of our conversation with Lisa Eyler, Ph.D., on age-related changes in the functional connectivity of individuals with severe mental illness (SMI). Dr. Eyler also summarizes the literature on the biomarkers of SMI in accelerated aging and the clinical utility of these biomarkers independently and in combination with behavioral strategies. After the conversation, we provide our own commentary and discuss the use of biomarkers in clinical practice.
Episode 11 | The Human Microbiome and Mental Illness: The Gut-Brain Axis – With Dr. Tanya Nguyen
In our bodies, microbial genes outnumber human genes by about 100 to 1. The human microbiome (the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in us) has been linked to gastrointestinal diseases, immune functioning, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and more recently cognitive and psychiatric functioning. Today we speak with Tanya Nguyen, Ph.D., a neuropsychologist whose research is helping to clarify this link.
Episodes 03-04 | Neuroimaging and Neuropsychology, Friends or Foes? – With Dr. Steve Correia (Parts 1 and 2)
We interviewed Stephen Correia, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, a neuropsychologist with extensive research and clinical training in the use of imaging techniques. In this two-part episode, we cover clinical neuroimaging, with a focus on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
Episode 15 | Interventional Neuropsychology: Compensatory Cognitive Training – With Dr. Beth Twamley
Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) is a growing area of research and clinical practice for neuropsychologists in academic and rehabilitation settings. CCT leverages intact brain networks in order to teach skills that can improve someone’s ability to function independently in day-to-day life, despite the presence of other disrupted brain networks. CCT has wide-reaching applications and can be beneficial for many of the clinical populations neuropsychologists already work with, including individuals with traumatic brain injury, severe mental illness, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia. In this episode, we will talk to Elizabeth Twamley, Ph.D., about CCT: how it is applied, similarities to cognitive rehabilitation, who benefits most, where the field is going, and much more.
Episode 41 | Teleneuropsychology – With Dr. Munro Cullum
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting every corner of our world, and neuropsychology is certainly not immune from its effects. In particular, many neuropsychological clinics have temporarily shut down operations in response to the widespread call for social distancing. With this as the backdrop, we speak with Munro Cullum, Ph.D., ABPP-CN, about teleneuropsychology and telemedicine in general. We distinguish between pre-COVID-19 teleneuropsychological evaluations, conducted in clinics and other controlled environments, and the current push for home-to-home teleneuropsychology. We then dive into the details of teleneuropsychology, including topics such as research evidence for feasibility, reliability, and validity of this methodology, patient acceptability, environmental challenges, patient privacy and informed consent, and trainee clinical hours, among others. Throughout the interview, Dr. Cullum summarizes the current literature and provides advice, tips, and guidance for interested researchers and clinicians.