Quick Takes: A podcast by physicians, for physicians

CAMH, Dr. David Gratzer: Physician and Educator at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

Every year physicians and residents encounter a growing number of patients — and a shrinking amount of time to keep up-to-date on new practices or legislation surrounding the field of mental health and addiction. Now, with the help of Dr. David Gratzer, co-chief of the General Adult Psychiatry & Health Systems Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, you can receive your clinical education on-the-go as he and his guests take these current policies and practices and summarize them for you. As an educator, Dr. David Gratzer has been recognized by students and peers alike for his ability to take complex topics and present them in a concise and interesting way. He’s been doing this with a variety of articles related to psychiatry since 2012 in his popular blog, Reading of the Week. Now, in this new show, Dr. Gratzer brings his analytical skills on-air and, with the help of other experts, presents them in short, easily digestible, podcasts. Give him just a few minutes of your time for each episode and come away with strategies and insight on how each topic could affect your practice — and your patients.

  1. APR 8

    A skeptic’s view of psychiatry: An interview with Dr. Joel Paris

    “Over time, my perspective on psychiatry has changed in the direction of greater skepticism." What happens to your perspective after five decades in psychiatry—treating tens of thousands of patients, leading major institutions, and authoring dozens of books and papers? On this episode of Quick Takes, I find out as I sit down with Dr. Joel Paris, former editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, and self‑proclaimed skeptic. In this episode, Dr. Paris: critiques the DSM and ICD diagnostic systems challenges serotonin-based explanations for depression expresses skepticism toward both psychotherapy and biological psychiatry argues that adult ADHD, autism, and trauma are over‑diagnosed suggests that CBT is over‑marketed and shares several other controversial opinions THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    23 min

  2. FEB 18

    Building a better mental health care system

    “Good systems just work. They don't need to be navigated.” On this episode of Quick Takes, I spoke with Dr. Paul Kurdyak about how mental health care differs from other areas of the health system—especially when it comes to access, quality of care, and the need for a more structured and accountable approach. Key takeaways from this episode: our mental health care system lacks coherence and accessthere are pockets of excellence in mental health careimproving access requires structural changesa playbook to accomplish change already exists. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    30 min

  3. 10/01/2025

    The wellness industry with Dr. Jonathan Stea

    “The beating heart of the wellness industry is pseudoscience.” With a few clicks of the mouse, our patients can read what we read – including the latest journals. But they also can access a world of half-truths, misleading claims, and falsehoods. On this episode of Quick Takes, I speak with Dr. Jonathan Stea, a University of Calgary psychologist and a bestselling author, about his research on the wellness industry. In this episode you will learn about: the influence of the wellness industry in spreading misinformationthe difficulties of confronting pseudoscience within therapeutic practicesstrategies for helping patients critically evaluate and navigate misinformationthe impact of social media in amplifying misinformation THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    24 min

  4. 07/16/2025

    The semaglutide era? Considering medication-related weight gain

    “Imagine a world where you have all the effects of antipsychotics, but none of the side effects.”Celebrities use them; politicians discuss them; our patients ask about them. Are semaglutide and sister drugs game changers for those with mental health problems who struggle with obesity? To explore the opportunities and challenges of these new medications, on this episode of Quick Takes, I speak with Dr. Mahavir Agarwal (the medical head of CAMH’s Metabolic Clinic), Lisa Schaffer (executive director of Obesity Canada), and Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam (the scientific director of Obesity Canada and, of course, CAMH’s CMO). In this episode, you’ll learn: That 8 out of 10 patients taking antipsychotic medications will experience clinically significant weight gainHow treating obesity in these patients can also improve other chronic conditions to which they are more vulnerableThat some side effects of GLP-1 medications may limit access to treatments like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)And about the emerging research using GLP-1s for alcohol and nicotine dependence THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    32 min

  5. 05/28/2025

    An innovation in perinatal mental healthcare with Daisy Singla

    “It’s one of the largest psychotherapy trials in the world.”When we hear “innovations in mental healthcare,” we tend to think about apps or wearables. In today’s episode of Quick Takes – part of our series on innovation – I speak with Daisy Singla, a senior scientist at CAMH and our first womenmind™ scientist. Singla talks about her recent study that expanded access to psychotherapy for perinatal women, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety by drawing a page from work done in low-income countries. The key concept: training up laypeople to deliver therapy. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: How effective therapy delivered by non-specialists was for pregnant and postpartum participantsThe surprising impact the study had on trauma symptomsThe role task-sharing and telemedicine played in the studyAnd how a model used in Goa can scale up to help improve maternal mental healthcare in North America THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    15 min

  6. 03/26/2025

    Yoga and practice with Dr. Vanika Chawla

    “Does depression care include the downward dog?”Mindfulness, acupuncture, yoga. These were all once considered alternative treatments – favoured by some patients but lacking in evidence. Times have changed. Mindfulness, for instance, is a psychotherapy mentioned in the depression guidelines. What about yoga? In today’s Quick Takes episode, I speak with Dr. Vanika Chawla, a psychiatrist, a registered yoga teacher, and an assistant professor at Stanford University, about her experience incorporating yoga into her practice. Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode: Common misconceptions about yogaThe three key components of yoga-based interventionsThe optimal duration, and frequency of yoga interventions for different diagnosesRecent research findings on yoga’s effectiveness THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    20 min

  7. 01/22/2025

    Dr. Joss Reimer, CMA President, on living with depression

    “We all need help sometimes.”As doctors, we often shy away from discussing our health, especially our mental health — even with our own physicians. That’s unfortunate as doctors have a higher suicide rate than the general population, yet fears of vulnerability, judgment, and stigma keep many of us silent. In this episode of Quick Takes, Dr. Gratzer sat down with Dr. Joss Reimer, president of the Canadian Medical Association, who openly shares her own experiences with depression, as a doctor and as a patient. In this episode, you will learn: About the importance of reaching out and getting help for mental health—whether it's a diagnosed illness or normal stress.What it’s like to have your mental health be front-page news.How Dr. Reimer would like to change the health care system.And what may be the best ice cream shop in the Canada. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    25 min

  8. 11/27/2024

    Exploring the future of education with Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam

    “It took a pandemic to get us to realise that we could do so much online.”When it comes to medical education, much has changed over the years—including its name. What was once known as Continuing Medical Education (CME) is now referred to as Continuing Professional Development (CPD). But the changes go far beyond a rebranding. After all, the sheer volume of journal articles available today is staggering. How can you keep up? How can technology help? In this episode Dr. Gratzer sat down with Dr. Sanjeev Sockalingam, CAMH’s VP Education and CMO, to explore the evolving world of CPD. In this episode you will learn about: the impact of the pandemic on CPDthe globalization of CPDthe role of AI may play in content creation and evaluationand why hybrid conferences are likely here to stay. THANKS FOR LISTENING! Quick Takes is a production of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health. You can find links to the relevant content mentioned in the show and accessible transcripts of all the episodes we produce online at CAMH.ca and on the CAMH Global Learning Academy. Follow CAMH Education on X (formerly known as Twitter) @camhEdu Follow and subscribe to Reading of the Week where, every week, Dr. David Gratzer reviews research papers from the world of psychiatry.

    22 min
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About

Every year physicians and residents encounter a growing number of patients — and a shrinking amount of time to keep up-to-date on new practices or legislation surrounding the field of mental health and addiction. Now, with the help of Dr. David Gratzer, co-chief of the General Adult Psychiatry & Health Systems Division at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, you can receive your clinical education on-the-go as he and his guests take these current policies and practices and summarize them for you. As an educator, Dr. David Gratzer has been recognized by students and peers alike for his ability to take complex topics and present them in a concise and interesting way. He’s been doing this with a variety of articles related to psychiatry since 2012 in his popular blog, Reading of the Week. Now, in this new show, Dr. Gratzer brings his analytical skills on-air and, with the help of other experts, presents them in short, easily digestible, podcasts. Give him just a few minutes of your time for each episode and come away with strategies and insight on how each topic could affect your practice — and your patients.

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