ExperiMentations

Psychoanalysis

The Power of Self-Contradiction

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on October 30, 2024

Psychoanalytic theories tell us we are multifaceted, with many different sides to our personalities. How can we leverage this to our best advantage?

Psychoanalytic theories tell us we are multifaceted, with many different sides to our personalities. How can we leverage this to our best advantage?

Neurodiversity

Updates on Neurodiversity in Couples

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on October 27, 2024

For couples, neurodiversity presents unique challenges and rewards. Recent work on neurodiversity in couples provides useful approaches to enjoy greater relationship satisfaction.

For couples, neurodiversity presents unique challenges and rewards. Recent work on neurodiversity in couples provides useful approaches to enjoy greater relationship satisfaction.

Psychiatry

Getting Insurance to Cover Mental Health

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on October 10, 2024

People often face many barriers in getting needed insurance coverage for mental health problems. There's now a new source of help.

People often face many barriers in getting needed insurance coverage for mental health problems. There's now a new source of help.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy

TMS Outperforms Medication in Study of Treatment-Resistant Depression

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on August 8, 2024

A multicenter trial shows that transcranial magnetic stimulation is significantly more effective than successive medication trials for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

A multicenter trial shows that transcranial magnetic stimulation is significantly more effective than successive medication trials for patients with treatment-resistant depression.

Decision-Making

Avoiding Narrative Fallacy to Optimize Decision-Making

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on August 6, 2024

When we tell ourselves a false, but convenient, story based on insufficient data, we lead ourselves astray. Learning to recognize narrative fallacy is a necessary first step.

When we tell ourselves a false, but convenient, story based on insufficient data, we lead ourselves astray. Learning to recognize narrative fallacy is a necessary first step.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy

Could Accelerated TMS for Depression Become Standard?

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on July 28, 2024

Accelerated TMS offers hope for rapid relief of depression. New research identifies an easier-to-implement treatment alongside the need for ongoing research.

Accelerated TMS offers hope for rapid relief of depression. New research identifies an easier-to-implement treatment alongside the need for ongoing research.

Artificial Intelligence

What if Artificial Intelligence Replaces Human Therapists?

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on July 11, 2024

The need for therapy is great, but there aren't enough therapists to go around. Is artificial intelligence the answer?

The need for therapy is great, but there aren't enough therapists to go around. Is artificial intelligence the answer?

Suicide

Understanding Suicide: 5 Profiles of Risk

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on July 1, 2024

Health issues, polysubstance abuse, life crises, and more.

Health issues, polysubstance abuse, life crises, and more.

Depression

In Sight: The Biological Diagnosis of Depression and Anxiety

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on June 19, 2024

New research identifies six biotypes of depression and anxiety, based on brain network activity and clinical features.

New research identifies six biotypes of depression and anxiety, based on brain network activity and clinical features.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Undoing Emotional Numbing May Be Key to Trauma Recovery

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on May 20, 2024

Emotional dysregulation in PTSD causes personal, professional, and relationship problems. How can we notice our emotions and make use of them in the face of unresolved trauma?

Emotional dysregulation in PTSD causes personal, professional, and relationship problems. How can we notice our emotions and make use of them in the face of unresolved trauma?

Authenticity

Dark Authenticity, Narcissism, Psychopathy, Machiavellianism

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on April 29, 2024

Dissecting dark authenticity along specific dark traid facets yields actionable information about how effectively to navigate moral and therapeutic dilemmas.

Dissecting dark authenticity along specific dark traid facets yields actionable information about how effectively to navigate moral and therapeutic dilemmas.

Authenticity

From Authenticity to Dark Authenticity

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on April 18, 2024

We tend to associate authenticity with goodness and morality. But dark personality traits can be truly authentic, turning conventional notions of authenticity inside-out.

We tend to associate authenticity with goodness and morality. But dark personality traits can be truly authentic, turning conventional notions of authenticity inside-out.

Relationships

What Being in a Situationship Is Really Like

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on March 25, 2024

No labels, and less tension, but less connection as well.

No labels, and less tension, but less connection as well.

Punishment

Why You Might Cut Off Your Nose to Spite Your Face

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on March 6, 2024

Spite often drives punishment. The problem, researchers find, is that it's not always worth the benefit; it often leads us into excessive self-sacrifice.

Spite often drives punishment. The problem, researchers find, is that it's not always worth the benefit; it often leads us into excessive self-sacrifice.

Optimism

Introducing Practical Optimism: A Model for Effective Change

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on February 26, 2024

How to live well, using science and clinical wisdom to implement a variety of tried-and-true practices.

How to live well, using science and clinical wisdom to implement a variety of tried-and-true practices.

Personality

Behold the "Brainprint" of Your Basic Mental Activity!

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on February 16, 2024

New research opens up potential avenues for understanding the rich and detailed landscape of the wandering mind. Could a "brainprint" be possible?

New research opens up potential avenues for understanding the rich and detailed landscape of the wandering mind. Could a "brainprint" be possible?

Self-Control

The Well-Lived Life: What Does It Take to Flourish?

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on February 13, 2024

What specific factors are associated with a life well-lived?

What specific factors are associated with a life well-lived?

Environment

Four Profiles Defining Teen Response to Climate Distress

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on February 6, 2024

Climate change, and climate anxiety are here to stay. How adolescents cope, and how to foster resilience and effective action while preserving well-being, are key considerations.

Climate change, and climate anxiety are here to stay. How adolescents cope, and how to foster resilience and effective action while preserving well-being, are key considerations.

Relationships

The 3 Core Elements of Romantic Love

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on February 4, 2024

What is love? New qualitative research identifies three main factors: positive responsiveness, authentic connection, and a sense of stability.

What is love? New qualitative research identifies three main factors: positive responsiveness, authentic connection, and a sense of stability.

Education

Listening and Learning to Navigate Tough Work and Social Groups

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 28, 2024

Asking "How are they right?" is often more useful than "How am I right?"

Asking "How are they right?" is often more useful than "How am I right?"