Pearls and Prep

About 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, 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

Publisher

NP Z

Category

education · health & fitness · health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

7 Jan 2025

Latest episode

6 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

126 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Vraylar vs Abilify: What’s the Actual Difference? D2, D3 & Beyond

   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/PearlsandPrep (https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep) Vraylar 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 nurse practitioner students, new grad PMHNPs, and mental health clinicians. We cover the FDA indications that separate these medications, including schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, major depressive disorder augmentation, bipolar depression, irritability associated with autism, and Tourette’s disorder. Then we go deeper into the psychopharmacology: D2 vs D3 partial agonism, why Vraylar’s D3 activity matters when thinking about motivation and negative symptoms, and how serotonin receptors fit into the picture. You’ll also learn why bipolar depression is such an important distinction between these medications, why Abilify’s long-acting injectable formulations can completely change the decision for a patient struggling with adherence, and how akathisia may show up simply as a patient telling you, “This medication is making me incredibly anxious.” And then there’s the real-world issue that can override everything else: access and cost. By the end, you’ll have a much clearer framework for thinking through Vraylar vs Abilify—not just memorizing two medication profiles, but understanding how FDA indications, receptors, side effects, adherence, cost, and the patient sitting in front of you all influence the decision. 🎧 Topics include: Vraylar vs Abilify, cariprazine vs aripiprazole, bipolar I depression, bipolar mania, schizophrenia, negative symptoms, D2 and D3 receptors, partial dopamine agonists, MDD augmentation, akathisia, antipsychotic side effects, LAI antipsychotics, autism irritability, and psychopharmacology for PMHNP students. Want the full teaching library + my 100 Psychiatric Interview Tips eBook? Join Boss Pearl at Patreon.com/PearlsAndPrep. Educational content only. This podcast does not provide individualized medical advice. 35 Vraylar vs Abilify: What’s the Actual Difference? D2, D3 & Beyond Pearls and Prep pearlsandprep@mail.com https://patreon.com/PearlsandPrep?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

2. 

   29 Sept 2026

   Panic Disorder vs PTSD: How to Tell the Difference

   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/PearlsandPrep (https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep) A 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. You’ll learn how to distinguish trauma-related avoidance from fear of another panic attack, identify what the patient’s intrusive experiences are actually about, and uncover the “center of gravity” of the patient’s distress. Perfect for PMHNP students, psychiatric nurse practitioners, psychiatry students, and mental health clinicians, this episode offers practical interviewing pearls for navigating ambiguous presentations without being led astray by a dramatic trauma history. Pearls covered: panic disorder, panic attacks, PTSD, trauma, avoidance, intrusive symptoms, differential diagnosis, DSM-5-TR reasoning, psychiatric assessment, and high-yield clinical interviewing. 34 Panic Disorder vs PTSD: How to Tell the Difference Pearls and Prep pearlsandprep@mail.com https://patreon.com/PearlsandPrep?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

3. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Schizoid or Schizotypal? The Clinical Clues That Give It Away

   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/PearlsandPrep (https://www.patreon.com/PearlsandPrep) Schizoid or Schizotypal? They Look Alike—Until You Ask WHY Schizoid 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 and Prep, NPZ breaks down schizoid vs schizotypal personality disorder using practical outpatient clues: what these patients may actually say in your office, why they avoid relationships, how their social histories differ, and what to listen for when exploring suspiciousness, ideas of reference, magical thinking, unusual beliefs, and restricted affect. We also tackle the differentials that can trip clinicians up: schizophrenia and psychosis, autism spectrum disorder, depression, social anxiety, and avoidant personality disorder. The big pearl: don't just notice that your patient is isolated—figure out WHY they're isolated. That distinction can completely change your diagnostic formulation. 🎧 Your preceptor in your pocket: practical psychiatric pearls that prep you to practice. 33 Schizoid or Schizotypal? The Clinical Clues That Give It Away Pearls and Prep pearlsandprep@mail.com https://patreon.com/PearlsandPrep?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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