Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is: A neurobiological disorder that presents in childhood with the core symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulse control problems. The symptoms are present across multiple domains: social, domestic, academic, as well as cognitive and behavioral functioning. Pathogenesis: not very well understood. Deficits are in area of: - Frontal-subcortical areas dealing with executive function - May also involve working memory impairments and...

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based intervention for insomnia. Please enjoy this discussion with Dr. Michael Perlis.   Dr. Perlis is internationally known for his work in the area of Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM). He is a co-author of the first textbook in this field and he is the senior author of a published CBT-I treatment manual and a larger text summarizing all BSM treatments. The CBT-I manual (Cognitive Behavioral Treatment of Insomnia: A...

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based approach to insomnia. Here is Doctor Nissen's description of the CBT-I methodology. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, #neuroscience, psychiatry, and #nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new, evidence-based approaches to enhancing mental health, sharpening cognition, and optimizing performance. With topics such as #Alzheimer’s disease,...

Dr. Mansur is a staff psychiatrist at the University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mansur completed his medical degree at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo/Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP/EPM), Brazil. He received his Psychiatry residency training and PhD at UNIFESP/EPM; and Fellowship training in Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Mansur’s research has focused primarily on...

Stress relief, self-care, meditation, and calming techniques are in vogue, but are they always what we need? Today, I speak with Dr. Martha Stark, a graduate of Harvard Medical School and the Boston Psychoanalytic Institute, and an Adult and Child Psychiatrist and an Integrative Psychoanalyst in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts. We discuss how stress is often good and must be kept at proper levels to maximize results. Join our community at DrNissen.com Support us on Patreon:...

The age of the smartphone has created an unprecedented problem for society: limitless access to pornography. For the first time, young adults are coming to age after a lifetime of exposure to pornography, resulting in porn addiction, relationship problems, erectile dysfunction, and paraphilias (abnormal sexual behaviors). In this episode, we'll explore how porn acts like drugs, can create addiction, what helps, and what steps one can take for recovery. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you...

#Schizophrenia is a very misunderstood mental illness. It is not "split personality" (or dissociative identity disorder), but rather a chronic, long-standing (6+ month) pattern of delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior, etc. There are #genetic risks to developing the illness and #cannabis likely increases risk. According to the "Dunedin" study, Archives of General Psychiatry 2000, those who used cannabis at age 15 were 4x more likely to develop schizophrenia or schizophreniform...

Doctors treating depression see promise in #ketamine, a cheap drug already approved for anesthesia. Some say it is the only legal #psychedelic.   Steven L. Mandel, M.D., is an internationally recognized expert and pioneer in the use of ketamine infusion therapy to treat mental health disorders and chronic pain. Dr. Mandel has more than 40 years of experience utilizing ketamine as a board-certified anesthesiologist. He also earned his master’s degree in psychology. He is the founder and...

Owen Marcus is the cofounder of Evryman, one of the world's largest men's mental health organization. Owen dove into men’s work in 1995 because he wanted more from life. In 2005, he wanted more from men’s work, so he began developing what became Evryman’s unique approach. Owen is an author, blogger, speaker, coach and trainer for men’s leadership. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, #neuroscience, psychiatry, and #nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr....

Research into MDMA-assisted therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) shows impressive results. See my ABC News article on the trial results here Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master's thesis on...

The Big 5 Personality Traits: what are they? What is personality psychology?   The big five personality traits are five essential traits that have been described in psychological research. They can be remembered with the acronym OCEAN: openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, #neuroscience, psychiatry, and #nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new,...

Dr. Nicholas Norwitz, PhD, is a new shining star in nutrition science. This 25-year-old Ivy League Valedictorian obtained his PhD at Oxford University in just two years and is now pursing his MD at Harvard Medical School. His research expertise is ketosis and brain aging; however, he has published scientific papers on topics ranging from neuroscience to heart disease to gastrointestinal health to genetics to bone health to diabetes. Nick’s passion for Food as Medicine is founded in personal...

Dr. Nicholas Norwitz, PhD, is a new shining star in nutrition science. This 25-year-old Ivy League Valedictorian obtained his PhD at Oxford University in just two years and is now pursing his MD at Harvard Medical School. His research expertise is ketosis and brain aging; however, he has published scientific papers on topics ranging from neuroscience to heart disease to gastrointestinal health to genetics to bone health to diabetes. Nick’s passion for Food as Medicine is founded in personal...

Chuck Raison, MD, is the Mary Sue and Mike Shannon Distinguished Chair for Healthy Minds, Children & Families and Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, in the School of Human Ecology, and Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of #Medicine and Public #Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Raison also serves as Director of Clinical and Translational #Research for Usona Institute and as Director of Research on #Spiritual #Health for Emory #Healthcare in Atlanta,...

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (#CBT) is a powerful treatment for #depression and #anxiety. Whether we struggle with mental illness or are trying to support our loved ones, being skilled in #empathy can be a powerful tool for #emotionalintelligence/#EQ. Mike is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors and holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology degree. He is a Certified Level 5 Master TEAM CBT Therapist and Trainer and is the...

In this series on "How the Brain Works", we're unpacking the neurotransmitters. The media often throws around terms like "the happiness chemical" or "the memory chemical", and it's important to be informed about what #neurotransmitters really are and what you can do to make sure your #brain is working at its optimal capacity. Listen to this episode to learn more about #GABA, #glutamate, #acetylcholine, and #serotonin. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine,...

How common are sleep problems? What should we do if we can't sleep well? What are common causes and the evidence-based approaches for better sleep? Dr. Nissen reviews the research and answers some of the most common questions. Paper referenced: Cénat, Jude Mary, et al. "Prevalence of Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Insomnia, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Psychological Distress among Populations Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Psychiatry...

What is caffeine, its pharmacology, risks, effects? What is caused by caffeine intoxication and withdrawal? Here's a mini-episode so you can be an informed consumer of the world's most heavily used psychoactive drug. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, neuroscience, psychiatry, and nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new, evidence-based approaches to enhancing mental health, sharpening cognition, and optimizing...

What are #psychedelics and can they help with #mental illness? What could #LSD and #psilocybin (magic mushrooms) do to help with #depression? Katrin Preller received her M.Sc. (Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology) from University of Konstanz, Germany. She joined the University of Zurich where she investigated the neurobiological long-term effects of cocaine, MDMA, and heroin use. After completing her PhD, she investigated the effects of psychedelics on self-perception and social...

Andrew Hill, PhD is one of the top peak performance coaches in the country. He holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience from UCLA’s Department of Psychology and continues to do research on attention and cognition. Research methodology includes EEG, QEEG, and ERP.  He has been practicing neurofeedback since 2003. In addition to founding Peak Brain Institute, Dr. Hill is the host of the Head First Podcast with Dr. Hill and lectures at UCLA, teaching courses in psychology, neuroscience, and...

Today we discuss the different types of major risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease, the different kinds of dementia, the role of insulin and diabetes, inflammation, and toxins in worsening Alzheimer's, and new evidence about possible preventative approaches. Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, neuroscience, psychiatry, and nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new, evidence-based approaches to enhancing mental...

Michelin-starred chef David Bouley described Dr. Uma Naidoo as the world’s first “triple threat” in the food as medicine space. She is a Harvard trained psychiatrist, professional chef, and Nutrition Specialist. Her niche work is in nutritional psychiatry and she is regarded both nationally and internationally as a medical pioneer in this more newly recognized field. In her role as a Clinical Scientist, Dr. Naidoo founded and directs the first hospital-based clinical service in Nutritional...

Welcome, Brain Health Community!    Today, we’re talking about a pandemic. This pandemic is causing huge amounts of suffering around the world, ravishing the developing brains of children around the world, and leaving countless people injured for their entire lives. No, this is not COVID-19. This is pornography addiction.    I’m thrilled to be here with Mr. Ronald DeHaas - one of the most powerful leaders in the fight against pornography addiction in the world.  Ronald J. DeHaas founded...

I was asked by a patient: "Should I use e-cigs to stop smoking?" It's not a simple question. Here's my answer that explores the benefits and risks of e-cigs/vaping, the risk of EVALI, lung disease, and nicotine addiction (especially in youth) and special considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enjoy! Brain Health with Dr. Nissen brings you advancements in medicine, neuroscience, psychiatry, and nutrition to help you live a better life. Dr. Nissen’s expert interviews reveal new,...