In this episode, Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman is joined by pioneering psychedelics researchers, Drs. Rick Doblin and Steven Levine, to discuss the therapeutic applications of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, and ibogaine in treating mental health and addiction disorders, and the future path forward in legitimately harnessing their game changing potential.

Dr. Rick Doblin is the Founder and Executive Director of MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies), , a leading non-profit psychedelic drugs research and educational organization, with both domestic and international studies.

Dr. Steven Levine is the Vice President of Patient Access at COMPASS Pathways, a leading psychedelics research organization conducting international clinical trials with psilocybin therapy for treatment-resistant depression. A pioneer in the clinical use of IV ketamine for treatment resistant depression, Dr. Levine is also the founder of Actify Neurotherapies, one of the largest networks of ketamine treatment centers in the US.

Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman is joined by Dr. Scott A. Small, a physician specializing in aging and dementia and a professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University, where he directs the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. He has run a National Institutes of Health–funded laboratory for over twenty years and has published more than 140 studies on memory function and malfunction, research that has been covered by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and Time. His insight into Alzheimer’s disease recently led to the formation of Retromer Therapeutics, a new biotechnology company which he co-founded. Raised in Israel, he now lives in New York City.

In this episode, Dr. Small, author of the recently published book, Forgetting: The Benefits of Not Remembering, explains why forgetfulness is good for us—and, alongside memory, it is a required function for our minds to work best

Check out his book Forgetting on Amazon.

As the spotlight on mental health in sports continues to grow, thanks in large part to professional athletes like Naomi Osaka and Simone Biles speaking out publicly about their own mental health struggles, Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman sits down with retired tennis pro Patrick McEnroe to discuss how intense scrutiny, high-stakes pressure, and a “shut up and play” culture can contribute to mental health issues in athletes, and what measures are needed on a sports organization/tournament policy level to better safeguard athletes’ mental health.

The Goldwater Rule is Section 7 in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Principles of Medical Ethics, which states that it is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about public figures whom they have not examined in person. Joining Dr. Lieberman in this episode of Shrink Speak to talk about how the Goldwater Rule came to be is Senator Barry Goldwater’s Son, Former California Congressman Barry Goldwater Jr. Also joining the conversation is Dr. Paul Appelbaum, the Elizabeth K. Dollard Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine and Law, and Director, Division of Law, Ethics and Psychiatry at Columbia. Dr. Appelbaum is also Past President of the American Psychiatric Association.

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking an emotional and economic toll on America, add in social unrest over racial injustice, political turmoil, and now the recent passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and the controversy filling of her seat. These events have created a cascade and cycle of emotional responses that are roiling the American population and collectively producing a sense of loss.

Joining Dr. Lieberman in this episode to discuss how to process it all, is Andrew Solomon, Professor of Clinical Medical Psychology at Columbia University Medical Center. Andrew is  the winner of the National Book Award for The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression and also wrote Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the Search for Identity; he is an activist in LGBT rights, mental health, and the arts; and his TED talks have been viewed more than 20 million times.  Solomon is also the former President of PEN American Center. To learn more about Andrew please visit www.andrewsolomon.com

Also, joining Dr. Lieberman is Kay Jamison, Co-Director of the Mood Disorders Center at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Kay Jamison has won numerous awards and published over 100 academic articles. She has been named one of the "Best Doctors in the United States" and was chosen by Time as a "Hero of Medicine. She is also a best-selling author and her latest book, Robert Lowell: Setting the River on Fire was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist for Biography in 2018. 

Anxiety is a normal emotion and it is to be expected during this unprecedented crisis. Anxiety increases when we experience uncertainty, are in unpredictable situations and feel unable to control our circumstances. In this episode Dr. Lieberman speaks with one of the leading anxiety and mood disorders expert in the world, Anne Marie Albano, PhD. Dr. Lieberman and Dr. Albano discuss why it’s normal to feel anxiety during this time, and talk about support and resources available like; Columbia Psychiatry, American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America that can help you take control and structure your “new normal” during this pandemic.

If you or family member or friend is in need of immediate assistance please contact: Disaster Distress Helpline  National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Crisis Textline Veterans Crisis Line 

In addition to the doctors and nurses on the frontlines, the unsung heroes during this COVID-19 pandemic are also those pathology personnel who are developing, validating and then bringing up to scale a method of COVID-19 diagnostics that previously never existed. In a process that usually takes months to years is now taking days and weeks because of their dedication and working 24/7.

In this episode, Dr. Lieberman speaks with Dr. Eldad Hod, Medical Director of Columbia University Medical Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine and Columbia’s COVID-19 Clinical Laboratory. Dr. Hod is leading the efforts to implement serological testing to identify patients who have recovered from this disease and who may qualify as convalescent plasma donors.