ExperiMentations

Neurodiversity

Neurofluidity: Playing With a Concept

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 19, 2025

For people who don't identify with neurotypicality or neurodivergence, what do we do? In keeping with today's day and age, devise a new category.

For people who don't identify with neurotypicality or neurodivergence, what do we do? In keeping with today's day and age, devise a new category.

Disaster Psychology

Lessons Learned From a California Wildfire Survivor

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 12, 2025

An interview with a person affected by the Palisades fire about living well in the face of ever-present risk.

An interview with a person affected by the Palisades fire about living well in the face of ever-present risk.

Personality

What Is the General Factor of Personality and How Does It Work?

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 5, 2025

More "personalient" individuals are happier across the lifespan, an effect that snowballs over time. But what does it mean, and take, to be more personalient?

More "personalient" individuals are happier across the lifespan, an effect that snowballs over time. But what does it mean, and take, to be more personalient?

Psychoanalysis

A Brief Review of Anna Freud's Concept of Altruistic Surrender

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on January 2, 2025

Giving until it hurts may seem virtuous, but it may be a manifestation of defense mechanisms erected in response to covert, overly harsh self-criticism.

Giving until it hurts may seem virtuous, but it may be a manifestation of defense mechanisms erected in response to covert, overly harsh self-criticism.

Depression

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Teenage Depression

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on December 25, 2024

TMS has been approved for treating clinical depression in adults since 2008. Recent effectiveness data with adolescents shows TMS is a useful option among adolescents.

TMS has been approved for treating clinical depression in adults since 2008. Recent effectiveness data with adolescents shows TMS is a useful option among adolescents.

Artificial Intelligence

Machine Learning Uncovers Drivers of Late-Life Generativity

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on December 24, 2024

A new study using machine learning identifies key factors associated with maximizing late-life generativity.

A new study using machine learning identifies key factors associated with maximizing late-life generativity.

Alcoholism

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Alcohol Cravings

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on December 22, 2024

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for alcohol use disorders is under investigation. Research to date suggests TMS could play a role in managing clinically-problematic alcohol use.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation for alcohol use disorders is under investigation. Research to date suggests TMS could play a role in managing clinically-problematic alcohol use.

Psychiatry

Seeing the Unseen: Caring for the World

Grant Hilary Brenner MD, DFAPA on December 21, 2024

A new book highlights global disparities in mental health care through the struggles of two fictional characters trying to access treatment in the "developing" world.

A new book highlights global disparities in mental health care through the struggles of two fictional characters trying to access treatment in the "developing" world.

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.