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******* 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, this show delivers clinical gold in every episode. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: Each episode walks you through real-world psychiatric case studies — from initial chart review to final treatment plan — using a structured, digestible, and evidence-based approach. You'll get: 🩺 Psychiatric differential diagnosis deep-dives 💊 Psychopharmacology breakdowns with receptor targets, MOA, half-lives, and pearls for side effect management 📖 DSM-5-TR criteria reviews, clearly explained and clinically applied ⚖️ Rule-outs and red flags, with rationale 🧠 Cognitive frameworks for organizing your clinical thinking 📚 Citations and recent research from PubMed and clinical trials 😄 Engaging, story-based cases with humor, humility, and real-life complexity Each case is crafted to model what clinical decision-making looks like in the real world: nuanced, flexible, and guided by both science and soul. You’ll hear about everything from bipolar depression and PTSD to OCD, ADHD, panic disorder, substance use, and treatment-resistant depression — all through the lens of compassionate, competent care. 🧠 Why This Podcast? There are lots of psych podcasts, but Pearls and Prep is different. It’s not just lectures or interviews — it’s clinical rehearsal meets storytelling. Each episode is a teaching round in audio form, designed to help you think like a psych NP or psychiatrist. The cases are quirky, realistic, and designed to leave you with: 💡 High-yield memory hooks 📊 Clinical decision-making tools 📌 Ready-to-use documentation phrases 🧾 Smart screening questions 🧪 Lab interpretation tips for psychiatry ⚕️ First-line treatment recommendations based on guidelines and nuance Perfect for students prepping for ANCC or AANP boards, for seasoned clinicians wanting to refresh their diagnostic edge, or for preceptors looking to sharpen their teaching game. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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Strattera (Atomoxetine) vs Wellbutrin (Bupropion): Non-Stimulant Uses | PMHNP Boards

2026/10/17

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Atomoxetine (Strattera) and bupropion (Wellbutrin) both influence norepinephrine, ease attention difficulties, and carry no controlled-substance burden — yet they serve very different clinical purposes. This episode uses real-world psychopharmacology reasoning to compare them, so you grasp the why behind each choice rather than memorizing a list. Focused PMHNP boards prep that builds the clinical confidence to select the right non-stimulant option for the right patient. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Saphris (Asenapine): Bipolar Mania & Schizophrenia Prescribing | PMHNP Boards

2026/10/13

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Asenapine (Saphris) remains one of the most overlooked second-generation antipsychotics in psychopharmacology. This episode maps exactly where it fits — bipolar I disorder, acute mania, mixed episodes, and schizophrenia — and explains why Saphris is dosed sublingually and what makes its receptor profile distinctive. You will leave understanding the why behind this SGA's niche, with sharper clinical confidence for PMHNP boards and real-world prescribing. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) vs Trintellix (Vortioxetine) After SSRI Failure | PMHNP Boards

2026/10/11

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] When depression lifts on an SSRI but joy, motivation, and emotional range stay flat, is it residual depression or SSRI-induced emotional blunting? This episode compares bupropion (Wellbutrin) and vortioxetine (Trintellix) for exactly that stuck moment in practice. You will learn the psychopharmacology reasoning that separates the two, sharpening your differential diagnosis skills and building clinical confidence for PMHNP boards — so you understand the why before you switch. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Vraylar (Cariprazine) vs Abilify (Aripiprazole): D2, D3 Differences | PMHNP Boards

2026/10/06

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Cariprazine (Vraylar) versus aripiprazole (Abilify): a practical, memorable comparison of two second-generation antipsychotics built around their D2 and D3 receptor differences. This episode covers the FDA indications for each SGA and the clinical reasoning behind choosing one over the other — the why that textbooks skip. Ideal PMHNP boards prep in psychopharmacology, giving new prescribers the clinical confidence to match the right antipsychotic to the right patient. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Panic Disorder vs PTSD: Differential Diagnosis Case Study | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/29

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] A patient has panic attacks, avoids driving, and recently witnessed a traumatic accident — PTSD seems obvious, but is it? This DSM-5-TR case study dissects panic disorder versus PTSD, teaching you to distinguish trauma-related avoidance from fear of another panic attack. You will work through the differential diagnosis the way experienced clinicians do, understanding the why behind each criterion. Essential PMHNP boards prep that builds genuine clinical confidence for one of psychiatry's trickiest distinctions. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Schizoid vs Schizotypal Personality Disorder: Clinical Clues | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/22

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders can look identical — isolated, detached, eccentric patients — but the reason they withdraw is completely different. Using practical outpatient examples, this episode breaks down the DSM-5-TR distinction through real clinical reasoning, so you grasp the why behind each diagnosis rather than memorizing criteria. A high-yield differential diagnosis lesson for PMHNP boards that builds the clinical confidence to tell these two apart in practice. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Latuda (Lurasidone): When It Shines & When It Falls Short | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/15

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Lurasidone (Latuda) is among the most distinctive — and most misunderstood — second-generation antipsychotics in psychopharmacology. This episode breaks down exactly when Latuda shines, where it falls short, and how experienced clinicians reason through prescribing it in real practice. You will move beyond surface-level facts to the why behind each decision, building clinical confidence with this SGA. Focused PMHNP boards prep that turns a confusing medication into a clear, prescribable option. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Effexor (Venlafaxine) vs Cymbalta (Duloxetine): SNRI Differences | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/08

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Venlafaxine versus duloxetine is not just another medication comparison — it is about which SNRI fits your patient's unique circumstances. This episode works through the psychopharmacology details that separate Effexor from Cymbalta, teaching you to choose based on clinical context rather than habit. You will gain the why behind SNRI selection and the clinical confidence to individualize treatment — exactly the reasoning PMHNP boards and real practice demand. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Psychiatric Interview Skills: 4 Techniques for New PMHNPs | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/04

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Four psychiatric interview techniques every new PMHNP needs for evaluations that are smoother, more organized, and more human. Learn to run a structured psychiatric intake, build genuine therapeutic rapport, recognize the clinical clues that matter, and ask sharper questions. This episode gives you the why behind expert interviewing — not scripts, but reasoning — building the clinical confidence to walk into any evaluation prepared. Foundational PMHNP boards and early-career preparation. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Long-Acting Injectables (LAIs) in Psychiatry: Benefits Explained | PMHNP Boards

2026/09/01

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Long-acting injectables bypass first-pass metabolism and day-to-day GI absorption variability, making them more reliable and predictable — with steadier plasma levels, smoother exposure, and no daily pill burden. This episode explains the psychopharmacology behind why LAIs work so well and when to consider them, giving you the why that transforms adherence conversations. You will build clinical confidence around one of psychiatry's most underused tools. Essential PMHNP boards prep on a true practice game-changer. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

False Positive Drug Screens: What Psychiatric Providers Must Know | PMHNP Boards

2026/08/25

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] A false positive drug screen can derail a patient's entire treatment plan. Through mock patient Jimmy's story, this episode shows how a positive benzodiazepine screen upended the life of someone who was never taking benzodiazepines — and pinpoints exactly where the miscommunication happened. You will learn the clinical reasoning that prevents these errors, understanding the why behind confirmatory testing. High-yield PMHNP boards prep that builds the clinical confidence to protect patients from a lab result gone wrong. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

ADHD vs Bipolar Disorder: Key Questions for Differential Diagnosis | PMHNP Boards

2026/08/11

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Through mock patient Debbie's whirlwind of symptoms, this case study reveals how ADHD and bipolar disorder can mimic each other — and why getting it wrong can trigger a manic episode. Learn the specific questions that actually separate the two, grounded in DSM-5-TR differential diagnosis reasoning. This episode teaches the why behind each diagnostic clue, building the clinical confidence to navigate one of psychiatry's highest-stakes distinctions. Critical PMHNP boards prep for every prescriber. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Insomnia in Psychiatric Patients: Depression, Anxiety, ADHD & Trauma | PMHNP Boards

2026/08/10

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] What do you do when your depressed, anxious, traumatized, or ADHD patient cannot sleep — especially when an SSRI or SNRI may feel activating at first? This episode tackles one of the most common dilemmas new PMHNPs face, explaining why every sleepless patient needs a different approach. You will learn the psychopharmacology and differential diagnosis reasoning behind each strategy — the why, not just the what — building clinical confidence for PMHNP boards and real practice alike. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Effexor (Venlafaxine): When & Why to Choose This SNRI | PMHNP Boards

2026/08/08

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Venlafaxine (Effexor) is far more than just another antidepressant — knowing when and why to choose this SNRI is what separates thoughtful prescribers from algorithm followers. This episode breaks down where Effexor fits in psychopharmacology, including after inadequate response to first-line treatment, with the clinical reasoning behind each decision. You will gain the why that drives confident prescribing and stronger PMHNP boards preparation. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Metformin for Antipsychotic Weight Gain: An Easy Win | PMHNP Boards

2026/08/04

💎 Go beyond the episode — study guides, psychopharm deep dives & practice questions: https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep 🎁 Join as a free member to access 50 Pearls from Pearls & Prep — 50 super high-yield pearls to sharpen your practice. 📚 The 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips For Your 1st Eval E-Book is $39.99 in the shop — or get it FREE as a Boss Pearl member: https://www.patreon.com/c/pearlsandprep/shop ⭐ Enjoying the show? Please rate and review Pearls and Prep on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps! 🌐 PearlsandPrep.com — scan this episode's Street Takes card, read the deep-dive articles, and unlock the full clinical library: https://pearlsandprep.com ✉️ Questions or a case you want covered? Write to NP Z: [email protected] Metformin is a cheap, effective answer to antipsychotic-induced weight gain and metabolic harm — yet only about two to three percent of eligible patients ever receive it. This episode makes the case for one of psychiatry's most overlooked wins, explaining the why behind metabolic monitoring and intervention with second-generation antipsychotics. You will build the clinical confidence to act on metabolic risk instead of watching it happen. High-yield PMHNP boards prep with immediate real-world impact. 🎧 Pearls & Prep — new episodes every Tuesday. Hosted by NP Z, Duke-trained Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. ⚖️ Disclaimer: Pearls and Prep is an educational podcast and is not medical advice. All views expressed are exclusively those of NP Z and do not represent — and are not endorsed by — any other entity or organization. These perspectives are offered solely to build conceptual appreciation of psychiatric topics; they are not a substitute for clinical judgment, current clinical guidelines, or primary references. Always use appropriate resources and your own clinical judgment when making decisions about individual patients. Nothing in this episode creates a clinician–patient relationship. This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

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Valentine Counseling 2026/08/24

Great Information!

I’m two episodes in, and love this podcast! Great organization of information- easy to follow and easy to remember! Looking forward to learning more!

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MAV_66 2026/01/05

Pearls and Prep

A fun and informative podcast making psychiatry fun, exciting and informative. I’d like to hear more about Clozapine!

★★★★★

Dtys262 2025/10/20

Excellent

these are laid back and super informative. super helpful

★★★★★

murse1988 2025/08/26

Great, educational podcast

Wow, this quickly became my favorite podcast as a psychiatric nurse practitioner student. The content is high quality, engaging, and much more relevan...

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