Mdedge Psychcast

Lorenzo Norris, MD, interviews Mary D. Moller, DNP, MSN, about taking advantage of the polyvagal theory of anxiety and social engagement during psychotherapy. Dr. Moller is associate professor of nursing at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Wash., where she coordinates the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner doctorate nursing practice program. She also is in practice at Northwest Integrated Health. Dr. Moller has no conflicts of interest. Later, Renee Kohanski, MD, discusses the sacred relationship that exists between doctors and patients. Take-home points The polyvagal (PV) theory relates autonomic nervous system functions to human behavior and response to trauma. The PV theory presents the autonomic nervous system as a combination of the dorsal and ventral vagus nerve, which together regulate the autonomic state in response to the environment and influence behavior. The unmyelinated dorsal vagus nerve controls the “freeze response,” while the myelinated ventral vagus nerve modulates social co