Ronald W. Pies, MD

How can we better define, clarify, and expand the Goldwater Rule for ethical and effective use in today's society?

But we can help our patients cope with the polarities of hope and despair.

I didn’t find out until I wrote this poem…

Has this slogan crowded out the importance of life with dignity?

In cases of assisted suicide, do patients really have rational autonomy?

Deep-seated denial of science and a mistrust of scientific experts... how far do the limits of reason stretch?

Three forces have converged to generate the perfect storm of civic irresponsibility.

Paying attention to what is not said is near the core of our profession.

The philosopher Plato kicked poets out of his republic because they elevated passion over reason. Do they belong in a psychiatrist's office instead?

The summer began with such promise. Where did it go? And what hope can we see in the future?

Writing: the core of one doctor's identity.

A new book argues it’s time for psychiatrists to let the public know that mental illness is common, real, serious, and treatable.

How is “disease” defined? A popular criticism of psychiatry gets debunked.

How can you reason with someone who is determined to believe misinformation? One doctor shares his reflections.

Should psychiatrists help patients end their own lives, even if it is technically legal?

Frankness, honesty, and humor make this doctor’s poetry collection special.

Ronald W Pies, MD, considers the evidence from pathology textbooks—and answers the critics.

A DSM-5 diagnosis requires a biopsychosocial case formulation—not just a symptom checklist.

When, where, and how to use poetry in a clinical setting.

What role does denial play in the collective American psyche?

Is there a way to find balance in discussing the chemical imbalance theory of depression?

The anatomy of unhappiness is more complex than DSM-5’s categories.

A controversial report from the British Psychological Society draws a pair of sharp rejoinders.

Dr Pies offers an analysis of psychiatry’s place on the spectrum of science using “causality” and “meaning” as lenses.

The risk of “false positive” screening in primary care settings is reduced by a thorough clinical evaluation.

There are epidemiological and clinical reasons why we should drop that term.

Avicenna may have been among the first physicians to document that anger is often a transitional state from melancholic depression to mania—implicitly recognizing the “switch” phenomenon.

Clinicians may need to consider what happens to religiously oriented people when things go badly, despite their faith and prayer.

Given that face masks help prevent asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 and may also reduce the chances of anyone contracting the virus, wouldn’t any decent, responsible citizen put up with such a minor inconvenience? Apparently not.

Although it may seem a bit of a luxury to begin an examination of countertransference at a time when life itself hangs in the balance, clinicians may be working with patients whose political views make it very difficult to address their emotional needs.