December 2025

PSYCHIATRY

NAVIGATING FOUR OR MORE CO-OCCURRING PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS

Featuring: Edgar Woznica, MD

Episode Summary

In this episode of Better Edge, Edgar Woznica, MD, explores the clinical challenges of diagnosing and treating patients with four or more co-occurring psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders. He shares strategies for distinguishing primary versus substance-induced symptoms, emphasizes the importance of collaborative care and offers guidance for teaching diagnostic clarity to trainees. The episode also highlights the value of embracing diagnostic uncertainty and measuring success through functional outcomes.

Clinical impact: This conversation provides practical tools for managing diagnostic complexity and reinforces the importance of integrated, patient-centered care in high-acuity psychiatric cases.
Edgar Woznica, MD, Instructor of Addiction Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern Medicine

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