Complex psychiatric presentations involving multiple comorbidities, treatment-resistant conditions, and medication management challenges – especially in women and individuals with dual diagnoses – can require more than standard psychiatric approaches to achieve optimal outcomes. Leslie Lundt has spent over 40 years mastering the intricate science of psychopharmacology and addiction psychiatry, becoming an internationally recognised expert who translates cutting-edge neurobiological research into practical treatment strategies that transform lives.
As Executive Medical Director at Neurocrine Biosciences and former Medical Director at Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, Dr. Lundt brings unique expertise that bridges pharmaceutical innovation, public sector leadership, and clinical excellence. Her board certifications in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Addiction Psychiatry, combined with her roles as former Chief Resident at California Pacific Medical Center and Key Opinion Leader for major pharmaceutical companies (Cephalon, Teva Neuroscience, Merck), demonstrate her exceptional understanding of both the science and practice of psychiatric medicine. Her bestselling “Think Like a Psychiatrist” book series has educated thousands of clinicians worldwide, while her role as former editor of “Cases that Test Your Skills” in Current Psychiatry reflects her commitment to advancing clinical reasoning in complex cases.
Dr. Lundt’s expertise spans psychiatry, addiction medicine, psychopharmacology, sleep medicine, women’s mental health, bipolar disorders, and neuropsychiatry. Her approach integrates evidence-based pharmacological interventions with comprehensive understanding of addiction, sleep disorders, and the unique challenges facing women with psychiatric conditions. She specialises in treatment-resistant cases, complex medication regimens, dual diagnosis presentations, and situations where standard protocols haven’t achieved desired outcomes. Her extensive experience as Principal Investigator in clinical research trials gives her deep insight into emerging treatments and their real-world applications.
What sets her training apart is pharmaceutical industry insight combined with clinical wisdom. Lundt doesn’t just teach medication management – she shows practitioners how to navigate the complex decision-making required for polypharmacy, how to optimise treatments based on individual patient factors, and how to stay current with rapidly evolving research. Her experience spanning private practice (15+ years), public sector leadership (5 years), and pharmaceutical industry executive roles gives her unparalleled perspective on the entire psychiatric treatment ecosystem.
For your practice, expect to gain advanced psychopharmacology techniques, tools for managing complex medication interactions, and frameworks for treating dual diagnosis and treatment-resistant presentations. Her approach particularly benefits psychiatrists wanting to enhance their prescribing expertise, clinicians working with complex cases, or practitioners interested in women’s mental health and addiction psychiatry.
Quick Win: Dr. Lundt’s “medication rationalisation” approach helps practitioners systematically evaluate and optimise complex medication regimens – which can help reduce polypharmacy, improve clinical outcomes and reduce side effects.
Qualifications
- M.D., Medicine, Rush Medical College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, 1980–1984
- B.A., Natural Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, 1976–1980
- Residency, Psychiatry, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, 1984–1988 (Chief Resident 1987–1988)
- Postdoctoral Training, Addiction Medicine, Haight Ashbury Clinic, San Francisco
- Board Certified: Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, and Addiction Psychiatry
- Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
- Leadership Fellow, California Health Care Foundation, 2013–2016
Authored Books
- Think Like a Psychiatrist: Understanding Psychiatric Medicines (bestselling introductory psychopharmacology text)
- Think Like a Psychiatrist: 40 Cases (co-author, case-based psychiatry text)
- “You Can Think Like a Psychiatrist” book series (popular introductory texts for psychopharmacology courses)
- iBook series on psychopharmacology (co-author, latest project)
Leadership & Executive Experience
- Executive Medical Director, Neurocrine Biosciences, Del Mar, CA, February 2017–present
- Medical Director, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, 2012–2017 (5 years, Psychiatric Health Facility)
- Medical Director Acute Psychiatric Services, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, 2016–2017
- Owner, Foothills Psychiatry, Boise, ID, 1992–2009 (17 years)
Pharmaceutical Industry & Research
- Key Opinion Leader (KOL), Merck, 2015–2017
- Key Opinion Leader (KOL), Teva Neuroscience, 2010–2015
- Key Opinion Leader (KOL), Cephalon, 2001–2011
- Principal Investigator, Multiple clinical research trials, ongoing
- Consultant, Idaho State Board of Medicine
Media & Editorial Experience
- Editor, “Cases that Test Your Skills,” Current Psychiatry, 2011–2017 (6 years)
- Radio Host, ReachMD, 2007–2012 (5 years)
- Regular contributor to Current Psychiatry magazine
- Media consultant for psychiatric topics
Clinical Specialties
- Advanced psychopharmacology and medication management
- Addiction psychiatry and dual diagnosis treatment
- Women’s mental health and psychiatric issues
- Sleep medicine and insomnia treatment
- Bipolar disorders and mood stabilisation
- Treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions
- Neuropsychiatry and complex medical-psychiatric presentations
Ready to master the art and science of psychopharmacology while developing expertise in complex psychiatric presentations? Discover how Dr. Lundt’s evidence-based, industry-informed methods can enhance your ability to optimise medication regimens and achieve breakthrough results with even the most challenging cases.