The Transformed Minds Pod

thetransformedmindspod
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Biweekly

Transformed Minds is a podcast dedicated to reshaping how we understand and approach mental health and substance use. Through evidence-based discussions, real stories, and expert interviews, we create a space for learning, reflection, and transformation. Hosted by theprayingpsychiatrist, a physician, researcher, and advocate for community and global mental health, this platform bridges evidence-based medicine, clinical insight and lived experience. Whether you're a provider, trainer, policymaker, patient, or loved one—this podcast is for you. Let’s learn, heal and transform – together!

  1. Beyond SSRIs: Psilocybin in Treatment-Resistant Depression & What It Means for Substance Use Disorders

    Jun 9

    Beyond SSRIs: Psilocybin in Treatment-Resistant Depression & What It Means for Substance Use Disorders

    Can psilocybin help patients with treatment-resistant depression and what does the latest clinical evidence mean for people dealing with both depression and addiction? In this episode of The Transformed Minds (Host Rx), psychiatrist Dr. O breaks down a landmark 2022 NEJM phase II randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial examining psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Dr. O explains what qualifies as TRD, walks through the trial's three-arm dosing design (1 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg plus structured psychological support), and interprets the primary outcome, MADRS score change at three weeks. The 25 mg dose showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement, but the story gets more complex by week 12. This episode is especially valuable for clinicians, patients, and advocates navigating dual diagnosis care co-occurring depression and substance use disorders. Dr. O covers: - psilocybin-assisted therapy- treatment-resistant depression, - MADRS depression scale, - psychedelic safety- mental health equity- substance use disorder and depression Whether you're a mental health professional, someone living with TRD, or simply following the rapidly evolving conversation around psychedelic medicine, this episode gives you the evidence-based framework to think critically, not just hopefully about what psilocybin can and cannot do right now.

    31 min
  2. From Craving to Cognitive Flexibility: Psychedelic-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use

    May 26

    From Craving to Cognitive Flexibility: Psychedelic-Assisted Treatment for Alcohol Use

    Can psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy help reduce heavy drinking in alcohol use disorder? In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O analyzes the landmark 2022 JAMA Psychiatry randomized clinical trial examining psilocybin combined with psychotherapy for adults with alcohol dependence. Dr. O explains:• The study design and outcomes• How psilocybin may promote cognitive flexibility• Safety considerations • Ethical and policy challenges• What this means for the future of addiction treatment This episode also explores implementation barriers, reimbursement issues, disparities in access, and the importance of rigorous scientific oversight as psychedelic medicine evolves. Educational only, not medical advice. #Psilocybin #AlcoholUseDisorder #PsychedelicTherapy #AddictionPsychiatry #MentalHealthPodcast

    15 min
  3. Paying for Recovery: Contingency Management, Stimulant Use Disorder, & Survival w/Dr. Park

    May 12

    Paying for Recovery: Contingency Management, Stimulant Use Disorder, & Survival w/Dr. Park

    Stimulant overdose deaths are rising rapidly and one of the most effective treatments remains widely misunderstood. In this episode of Transform Minds Podcast, Dr. O sits down with addiction psychiatrist Dr. Dong Chan Park to explore contingency management (CM), an evidence-based treatment for stimulant use disorder that uses immediate rewards to reinforce recovery behaviors. Drawing on a 2025 American Journal of Psychiatry cohort study, this conversation examines how contingency management may significantly reduce all-cause mortality while addressing the ethical, clinical, and policy barriers limiting broader adoption. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: Why stimulant-involved overdose deaths continue to riseHow contingency management works in real-world addiction treatmentWhy CM is often criticized as “bribery”The evidence linking CM to lower mortalityTrauma-informed approaches to stimulant treatmentThe role of ADHD, housing instability, and relapse triggers in recoveryHow CBT, IOP, and multidisciplinary care support long-term outcomesFEATURED ARTICLES & RESOURCES: Coughlin LN et al. Contingency Management for Stimulant Use Disorder and Association With Mortality. Am J Psychiatry. 2025.https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20250053National Academies of Sciences:Medications and Behavioral Treatments for Substance Use DisordersSAMHSA:Treatment of Stimulant Use DisordersRecovery is possible. Evidence-based treatment saves lives. #ContingencyManagement #StimulantUseDisorder #AddictionPsychiatry #MentalHealthPodcast #AddictionRecovery

    36 min
  4. Youth Self-Harm, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk: What the Data Actually Show | Epi 6

    Apr 28

    Youth Self-Harm, Substance Use, and Suicide Risk: What the Data Actually Show | Epi 6

    In this episode, Dr. O examines how self-harm, substance use, and emotional dysregulation interact to increase risk in adolescents and young adults. Drawing on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2025, this discussion highlights how mental disorders, substance use, and self-harm are leading contributors to disability in ages 10–24. Key topics include: Substance use as a major risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors Emotional dysregulation and impulsivity Social media and behavioral risk patterns Clinical implications for screening and early intervention Featured research includes: Xu et al., Translational Psychiatry 2025 Jones et al., Substance Abuse 2023 López-Martínez et al., Behavioral Sciences 2025 RESOURCES:If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call emergency services (911 in the U.S.) right away. *U.S.: Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) OR Chat via 988lifeline.org *International: Visit findahelpline.com to find local resourcesYou are not alone. Help is available.

    28 min
  5. When Policy Lags Behind Science: Buprenorphine Dosing Reconsidered with Dr. Drits | Ep 5

    Apr 7

    When Policy Lags Behind Science: Buprenorphine Dosing Reconsidered with Dr. Drits | Ep 5

    Are dose caps on buprenorphine costing lives? In this episode of the Transform Mind Podcast, Dr. O and Dr. Drits dig into the evidence and the gaps around buprenorphine dosing for opioid use disorder In the fentanyl era, drawing on a 2023 narrative review by Grande and colleagues published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Higher doses are consistently linked to better treatment retention. Yet dose caps persist in clinical practice and insurance policy, even as the opioid supply has fundamentally shifted. Dr. O and Dr. Drits break down why, and what clinicians and patients can do about it.In this episode: → Why the "ceiling effect" applies to respiratory depression not to craving or withdrawal relief → What the evidence says about retention, fentanyl, and dosing → How to advocate for patients within institutional and insurance constraints → Common myths about diversion and high-dose buprenorphine → Shared decision-making in practice Learning Objectives By the end of this episode, listeners will be able to: Describe the evidence base regarding buprenorphine dose limits and clinical outcomes. Explain how buprenorphine pharmacology informs safety at higher doses. Identify policy and systemic factors that influence dosing practices. Apply evidence-based reasoning to clinical and systems-level decision-making in opioid use disorder care. Chapters: 00:00 High Dose Benefits 01:23 Podcast Intro Format 02:34 Why Dose Caps Matter 07:48 Guest Perspective Policy Lag 11:27 Dose Limits Today 14:44 Buprenorphine Pharmacology 18:07 Retention Saves Lives 20:31 Fentanyl Needs Higher Doses 22:25 Advocacy Under Limits 24:53 Training And Myths 28:38 Case Dosing Decisions 34:38 Shared Decision Making 37:34 Ceiling Effect Explained 39:24 Key Takeaways Reference: Grande LA et al. "High-dose buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder in the context of fentanyl exposure." Journal of Addiction Medicine, 2023. ⚠️ This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical decisions should be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. #BuprenorphineTreatment #OpioidUseDisorder #MOUD #FentanylCrisis #AddictionMedicine #HarmReduction #TransformMindPodcast

    42 min
  6. The Hidden Architecture: Rethinking Mental Health System Design | Ep 3

    Mar 24

    The Hidden Architecture: Rethinking Mental Health System Design | Ep 3

    Why does mental health care stay fragmented when the evidence for effective treatment already exists? In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O argues that persistent treatment gaps are a structural problem, not a knowledge problem. Drawing on a 2023 Lancet Psychiatry paper, Dr. O breaks down what's actually driving fragmentation: Insurance design and weak parity enforcementPrior authorization delays blocking time-sensitive careScope-of-practice restrictions and workforce shortagesEHR silos and reimbursement models that don't support collaborative careShe maps the problem across clinical, organizational, and policy levels, and makes the case for structural literacy as the foundation for reform. 00:00 Evidence Versus Architecture01:05 Podcast Welcome And Format02:19 Treatment Gaps Are System Design04:58 Why Care Stays Fragmented06:38 Insurance Shapes Clinical Care07:19 Why Pilots Fail To Scale08:14 Case Study OUD And Depression09:49 Clinician Reflection And Levers10:52 Warm Handoffs And Case Conferences13:45 Why Silos Persist In Practice15:18 What Integration Really Means15:54 Three Levels Of Architecture17:42 Advocacy And Closing MessageFeatured Studies- 2023 Article, The Lancet Psychiatry (ScienceDirect link provided)- Lagisetty PA et al., 2019. Racial disparities in buprenorphine treatment. JAMA Psychiatry.- Parity enforcement advocacy and policy statements from the American Medical Association Transformed Minds is hosted by Dr. O and covers addiction medicine, psychiatry, and the policy shaping mental health care delivery.

    19 min
  7. Alcohol Withdrawal in the Hospital: CIWA, Benzodiazepines & Phenobarbital Explained | S2 Ep.3

    Mar 10

    Alcohol Withdrawal in the Hospital: CIWA, Benzodiazepines & Phenobarbital Explained | S2 Ep.3

    In this episode of Transformed Minds Season 2, Dr. O sits down with addiction medicine specialist Dr. Desai, a CATCH Team Lead Physician (Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals), for a deep clinical dive into alcohol withdrawal management in the hospital setting. Whether you're a hospitalist, internist, nurse, resident, addiction medicine clinician, or medical student, this episode gives you a practical, bedside framework you can use immediately. What You'll Learn: A practical framework for risk-stratifying alcohol withdrawal at the bedsideWhen and how to use CIWA and what most clinicians get wrongHow to choose between benzodiazepine regimens based on patient profileWhen phenobarbital enters the picture and how to use it safelyHow an interdisciplinary consult model changes outcomes for hospitalized patients with alcohol use disorderChapters 00:00 Why Early Assessment Matters00:49 Welcome to Transformed Minds02:38 Meet Dr. Desai04:37 What Is the CATCH Team07:26 Alcohol Withdrawal Red Flags13:10 Bedside CIWA and Reassessment15:16 Symptom-Triggered Protocols18:10 High-Risk Withdrawal Timeline20:22 Front-Loading and Fixed Tapers25:58 Complicated Withdrawal and Phenobarbital36:54 Choosing the Right Benzo39:32 Key Takeaways and Wrap Up Subscribe to Transformed Minds for clinical education on psychiatric and addiction care, advocacy and tips.

    44 min
  8. Who Gets Treatment and Why? Evidence, Inequity, and Solutions in Addiction Care | S2 E2

    Feb 24

    Who Gets Treatment and Why? Evidence, Inequity, and Solutions in Addiction Care | S2 E2

    In this Host Rx episode, Dr. O examines a critical reality in addiction care: access gaps. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, reduce all-cause mortality by approximately 50%. The evidence is clear. Yet in the United States, who receives these medications often depends on race, income, insurance status, and geography. What This Episode Covers - Racial disparities in buprenorphine prescribing. - Geographic inequities and treatment deserts. - Medicaid expansion and insurance barriers. - Adolescent access gaps. - Telehealth reforms and post-COVID regulatory changes. - Structural determinants driving opioid mortality. Grounded in peer-reviewed research and national policy analysis, this episode is designed for clinicians, policymakers, advocates, public health professionals, researchers, and trainees in psychiatry and addiction medicine, as well as anyone who wants to understand why zip code should not determine survival. Featured Research - Lagisetty et al., 2019. Buprenorphine Treatment Divide. JAMA Psychiatry. - -Krawczyk et al., 2022. Policy Impact on Buprenorphine Access. JAMA Network Open. -Goedel et al., 2021. Structural Determinants of Treatment Access. American Journal of Psychiatry. -Samples et al., 2022. Telehealth and Buprenorphine Access. Health Affairs. -Williams et al., 2023 .Treatment Inequities and Policy Reform. Lancet Psychiatry. -Priest et al., 2022. Adolescent Treatment Access. Journal of Adolescent Health. -Clinical guidance: SAMHSA and CDC. Episode Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Transformed Minds 01:27 Why Access Matters 04:11 Research on Treatment Gaps 07:07 Clinician Pipeline and Policy 11:16 Frameworks and Care Models 12:31 Buprenorphine vs Methadone Systems 16:07 Geography, Youth, and Trauma 20:04 Case Study: Marcus 22:58 How Buprenorphine Works 25:50 Access Is the Treatment 27:35 Screen for Structural Barriers 30:55 Final Call to Advocate Because where you live should not determine whether you survive.

    32 min
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About

Transformed Minds is a podcast dedicated to reshaping how we understand and approach mental health and substance use. Through evidence-based discussions, real stories, and expert interviews, we create a space for learning, reflection, and transformation. Hosted by theprayingpsychiatrist, a physician, researcher, and advocate for community and global mental health, this platform bridges evidence-based medicine, clinical insight and lived experience. Whether you're a provider, trainer, policymaker, patient, or loved one—this podcast is for you. Let’s learn, heal and transform – together!

Information

  • Creator
    thetransformedmindspod
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © thetransformedmindspod
  • Show Website
    The Transformed Minds Pod