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In this week's episode, I speak with Dr. Mark Ruffalo on Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), long-term psychotherapy, and the nuances of diagnosis in mental health. We discuss object relations in BPD, the concept of splitting, and how these dynamics shape therapeutic work. We also explore the role of psychoanalytic therapy, the fine line between pathology and normal behavior, and how diagnostic pluralism can improve patient care. Dr. Ruffalo also shares insights into the psychodynamic treatment of schizophrenia and the evolving landscape of mental health. Chapter markers added!

About Dr. Mark Ruffalo

Dr. Ruffalo is a psychotherapist in private practice in Florida, and serves as Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Central Florida and Adjunct Instructor of Psychiatry at Tufts University. He has broad clinical experience in the psychoanalytic treatment of a range of psychiatric conditions with particular interest in the psychotherapy of schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder. His current research interests include the object relations theory of borderline personality disorder; communication dilemmas, paradoxes, and double binds in personality pathology to name a few.

Website: https://www.drruffalo.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-l-ruffalo-71929063/

Twitter: https://x.com/marklruffalo?lang=en

Paper - A Clinical Guide to Navigating Diagnostic Pluralism: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39079000/

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In this episode of Behind the Stigma, we delve into the transformative world of lifestyle psychiatry with Dr. Nicholas Fabiano, a third-year psychiatry resident at the University of Ottawa.

We explore the role of exercise in managing mild to moderate depression, its potential as a therapeutic modality alongside traditional treatments, and the broader implications for mental health care.

We also discuss the challenges of publication bias in mental health research, the integration of AI in systematic reviews, and ethical considerations in advancing critical psychiatry. Dr. Fabiano shares insights from his groundbreaking research on exercise, mental health, and even its darker side as a form of self-harm.

About Nicholas Fabiano
Nicholas Fabiano is a third year psychiatry resident in the University of Ottawa, in Canada. His research interests encompass diagnostic imaging, meta-research, mental health (particularly the role of exercise and physical activity), suicide prevention, systematic reviews, and the intersection of psychiatry with broader health and social issues.
Twitter: https://x.com/NTFabiano
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ntfabiano/?originalSubdomain=ca
Website: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=Ph8ryrMAAAAJ

Papers:
- How to prescribe physical activity for depression.
- Is exercise a form of self-harm?
- Reporting bias in imaging diagnostic test accuracy studies: are studies with positive conclusions or titles submitted and published faster?

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In this week's episode of Behind the Stigma, we are joined by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Summer Fakhro with a discussion on Colonization and Mental Health.

We define Colonialism and explore the deep and lasting psychological effects of colonization on different communities. We discuss how historical trauma, displacement, and cultural erasure continue to shape the mental well-being of individuals today, particularly with the focus on oppression happening in Palestine.

From intergenerational trauma to the modern-day struggle for identity and healing, we delve into the psychological scars left by colonial systems, resilience stories and how to move toward de-colonization in Western therapeutic practices. Chapter Markers Added!

About Summer Fakhro
Dr. Fakhro is a Clinical Psychologist at The Lighthouse Arabia UAE. She completed her master’s and doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at UCL in the UK. She has 10 years of clinical experience working with people of all ages, and a particular expertise in understanding primary attachment relationships (parent-child) and broader family dynamics. Currently she is focused on better contextualizing her psychological practice to the history & culture of the region, and supporting clients through the current context of regional instability and trauma.
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Subscribe to the Behind the Stigma podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcast or Spotify. Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthestigmapodcast/