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PODCAST

Pearls and Prep

******* There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Be the second on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PearlsandPrep Pearls and Prep: Psychiatric Case Studies is the go-to podcast for psychiatric nurse practitioner students, psych residents, clinicians, and anyone fascinated by the human mind. Whether you’re prepping for boards, sharpening your diagnostic skills, or just curious about what psychiatry looks like behind the scenes,

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All Episodes

25:22

Vraylar vs Abilify: What’s the Actual Difference? D2,...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/10/06

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepVraylar vs Abilify: what’s the actual difference—and when would a psychiatric provider choose one over the other?In this episode of Pearls and Prep, NPZ breaks down cariprazine (Vraylar) vs aripiprazole (Abilify) in a practical, easy-to-remember comparison for psychiatric

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35:10

Panic Disorder vs PTSD: How to Tell the Difference

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/29

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepA patient has panic attacks, avoids driving, and recently witnessed a traumatic accident. PTSD seems obvious—but is it?In this psychiatric case study, we break down panic disorder vs PTSD and explore why these diagnoses can look remarkably similar in clinical practice

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21:34

Schizoid or Schizotypal? The Clinical Clues That Give...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/22

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepSchizoid or Schizotypal? They Look Alike—Until You Ask WHYSchizoid and schizotypal personality disorder sound alike—and both patients may appear socially isolated, detached, or eccentric—but the reason WHY they withdraw can be completely different.In this episode of Pearls

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24:30

Why I Have a Love-Hate Relationship with Latuda

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/15

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWhy I Have a Love-Hate Relationship with LatudaLatuda (lurasidone) is one of the most unique medications in psychiatry—but it's also one of the easiest to misunderstand.In this episode of Pearls & Prep, we break down exactly when Latuda shines, where it falls short,

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23:23

Inside the Ring 🥊: Effexor or Cymbalta? Here’s the...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/08

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWe’re diving deep into the showdown of the century: Cymbalta vs. Effexor! This isn’t just another med comparison; we’re talking about the nitty-gritty of which one might actually be a better fit for your patients based on their unique circumstances. Just like the classic

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22:41

How to Interview Psychiatric Patients With...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/04

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWant to feel more confident interviewing psychiatric patients? In this episode of Pearls and Prep, NPZ shares 4 psychiatric interview skills every new PMHNP needs to conduct smoother, more organized, and more human psychiatric evaluations.Learn how to use a structured

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30:34

Why LAIs Are the Real MVPs in Psychiatry

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/09/01

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepToday, we're diving into the world of long-acting injectable medications—LAIs for short. These bad boys are a game-changer in psychiatry, offering some serious perks. We’ll chat about how they bypass the messy first-pass metabolism of oral meds, making them more reliable

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16:38

Drug Tests Aren’t Always Right—Here’s Where Things Go...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/25

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Be the second on Patreon:👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepToday, we're diving into the wild world of false positive drug screens and how they can throw a wrench in a patient's treatment plan. We’ll share Jimmy's story, a (mock patient) guy whose life took a serious detour because of miscommunication and medication mishaps. He was on a roll—getting his life together, taking care of his

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28:56

ADHD or Bipolar? The Questions That Actually Reveal...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/11

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Be the second on Patreon:👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWe’re diving into a juicy case study today, featuring our mock patient, Debbie, and her whirlwind of symptoms that might have you guessing whether she’s dealing with ADHD or bipolar disorder. The big takeaway? These two can look a whole lot alike, and getting it wrong can lead to some serious consequences, like triggering a manic

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22:02

The Insomnia Trap: Stop Treating Every Sleepless...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/10

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWhat do you do when your psychiatric patient is depressed, anxious, traumatized—or struggling with ADHD—and also tells you they can’t sleep?This is one of the most common clinical dilemmas new psychiatric nurse practitioners and PMHNP students encounter. Your patient needs

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16:08

Effexor Explained: Why, When & Who?

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/08

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepEffexor Explained: Why, When & Who?Effexor (venlafaxine) is more than just another antidepressant—and knowing when and why to choose it can make you a much more thoughtful psychiatric prescriber.In this episode of Pearls & Prep, we break down Effexor and

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28:27

Are We Missing One of Psychiatry’s Easiest Wins?...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/04

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Be the second on Patreon:👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWe're diving deep into the world of Metformin today, folks! This little gem is often overlooked, but it’s a total game-changer for managing weight gain from antipsychotics. Seriously, we’re talking about a cheap, effective med that could save our patients from a whole lot of metabolic trouble. It’s wild that only about 2-3% of folks

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24:36

Prozac vs Zoloft: They Look the Same... But They're...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/08/03

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepProzac vs Zoloft: They Look the Same... But They're Not at AllProzac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) are both SSRIs, both first-line treatments for depression, and both commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders—but they are far from interchangeable.In this episode of

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23:45

Would You Diagnose PTSD, Depression, or Adjustment...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/31

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepEpisode DescriptionOne patient. Three possible DSM-5 diagnoses. Only one is correct.In this episode of Pearls & Prep, NPZ walks you through one of the most realistic—and challenging—psychiatric differential diagnoses you'll encounter in clinical practice. At first

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33:25

How I Choose Antipsychotics in Real Clinical...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/30

How I Choose Antipsychotics in Real Clinical Practice: 4 Pearls That Will Transform Your Bipolar PrescribingHow do experienced psychiatric providers actually choose between Seroquel, Abilify, Latuda, Vraylar, Risperdal, Zyprexa, and Geodon? In this episode, I share the exact clinical framework I use every day when prescribing second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for bipolar disorder. Rather than memorizing medication lists, you'll learn four practical prescribing pearls that simplify complex

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19:41

The 6 Reasons Experienced Clinicians Reach for...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/29

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepThe 6 Reasons Experienced Clinicians Reach for Wellbutrin First | Pearls & PrepThinking about prescribing Wellbutrin (bupropion)? In this episode of Pearls & Prep, NPZ sits down for one of his favorite types of conversations—the kind that goes beyond randomized

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19:22

Antipsychotic Switching: Key Concepts and Clinical...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/28

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.”Be the second on Patreon:👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepThe primary focus of this discourse is the critical examination of antipsychotic medication switching, emphasizing the imperative considerations that must govern such transitions. We delve into the rationale behind a patient's desire to switch their antipsychotic, particularly addressing issues of efficacy and adverse side effects

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24:33

The Grocery Store Trick That Will Change How You...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/26

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepThe Grocery Store Trick That Will Change How You Understand Every Psychiatric Medication (Stop Memorizing CYP Enzymes Forever)Every psychiatric medication can be understood by answering just two questions—and once you see them through the lens of a grocery store, you'll

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27:29

The Bipolar Medication Mistake That Keeps Patients...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/24

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepThe Polarity Index may be one of the most underutilized concepts in bipolar disorder—and once you understand it, choosing maintenance medications becomes dramatically easier. In this episode, I break down the Polarity Index into plain language and show you how to stop

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19:29

Why Abilify Isn't an Antidepressant (But Helps with...

Pearls and Prep ·

2026/07/23

There are two kinds of clinicians—the ones who follow algorithms, and the ones who understand the “why.” Patients know the difference. Know the WHY!Join our clinical library today on PATREON!👉 https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrepWhy is Abilify used for major depressive disorder (MDD) augmentation if it isn't actually an antidepressant?This is one of the most confusing concepts for psychiatric nurse practitioner students, physician assistants, psychiatry residents, medical students, and even new

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125 results

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