Kirsten Thompson, M.D.

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Kirsten Thompson, M.D. Kirsten Thompson, M.D. is a psychiatrist serving patients from throughout West Los Angeles from her She looks forward to meeting new patients.

Kirsten Thompson, MD is a board certified psychiatrist serving patients throughout West Los Angeles from her practice located in Brentwood, California. She helps patients with a variety of mental health conditions including but not limited to major depressive disorder, anxiety, postpartum depression, ADHD, bipolar disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and insomnia. Dr. Thompson also provides psycho-oncology care to cancer patients, survivors, and their families. Dr. Thompson is a graduate of Cornell University and was an asset manager associate at JPMorgan in New York before changing direction to become a physician. She attended a post-baccalaureate premedical program at Columbia University before earning her medical degree at the State University of New York, Downstate College of Medicine, in Brooklyn. She trained as a surgeon for two years at the University of Southern California before deciding to specialize in psychiatry and completing residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Thompson has had extensive training in psychopharmacological treatments, psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy, and interpersonal therapy. She also served as chief resident at the UCLA Women’s Life Center, where she was devoted to mental health care for peripartum and perimenopausal mood disorders. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Thompson is a Staff Associate Psychiatrist and Clinical Instructor at UCLA. Dr. Thompson is dedicated to helping her patients to achieve optimal health and to lead active and fulfilling lives. Call or request an appointment with Dr. Thompson today!

10/10/2026

The power of a stranger! Or an elevator full of them!

10/09/2026

Genetic testing: AND a critical detail on this study: PRIME Care was conducted in the VA, and about 75% of participants were men. That matters when applying its results to a different audience. One trial is not a guarantee about every patient or commercial panel. Also, not every gene on a panel has equally actionable evidence.

10/09/2026

10/08/2026

Omegas and fish oil for depression? Read the ingredients, see below for the specific and effective supplement doses. - Salmon alone? You’d need to eat 7-45 servings (depending on the salmon type and source) a week!… to get the proper omegas AND you’d first hit the limits for what is considered safe for mercury and contaminant limits before then. -For supplements, the formulation matters—and “1,000 mg of fish oil” doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting 1,000 mg of *EPA* -Research suggests the antidepressant benefit is concentrated in EPA-pure or EPA-predominant formulas, often containing at least 60% EPA. -Dose and duration: ISNPR recommends 1,000–2,000 mg of EPA daily for at least eight weeks as an addition to depression treatment. Check the EPA amount on the supplement label. -Perinatal depression: One meta-analysis found benefit with EPA:DHA ratios of at least 1.5:1, although findings across studies remain mixed. -Where it fits: Evidence is more encouraging for treating diagnosed depression, particularly alongside antidepressants. Some studies suggest benefit when used alone, but omega-3s aren’t an established replacement for standard depression care. There’s little evidence they prevent depression in people who aren’t depressed. -Save this for your next conversation with your clinician about supplements.

10/07/2026

7-OH and the derivatives- are dangerous. It’s use and withdrawal needs to be treated like its counterparts. Ask your kids about this, and look for it in gas station purchases or drinks that might be getting delivered to your home

10/06/2026

Animals + Mental Health in the research: Studies show mixed results, but when you look closer, there is some risk of anxiety but also significant potential improvement in mood and depression. Anxiety makes sense if it is stressful caring for another living thing, or it’s not a personality fit between you two, or the grief if you lose them. That said, they can bring tremendous joy, hope, a reason to wake up and go outside for a walk. I witness pets being a reason many humans stay alive on their darkest days.

10/05/2026

PMDD vs Premenstrual exacerbation. -Diagnosis is made with 2 months of data on your experience: • Date and bleeding days. • Daily ratings for the symptoms • How symptoms affect work, relationships or daily tasks. • Medication changes and other events that may help explain the pattern. -Record all days while the pattern is being clarified. Sources: ISPMD diagnostic consensus (2011) and management consensus (2013).

10/04/2026

Going down on your meds, and you start to feel discomfort- is it withdrawal symptoms, or the anxiety or depresion coming back? Before going on: Agree on a plan with your prescriber: • What will we monitor? • When will we review it? • What should prompt a call before the next reduction? Tapering is not a race to a calendar deadline. Guidance recommends adjusting the pace to the individual, including smaller reductions as the dose gets lower when appropriate. If severe symptoms or thoughts of emerge, seek urgent help rather than waiting for a routine review. General education. Not medical advice.

10/02/2026

I welcome AI optimizing and clarifying to insurance companies how this time expenditure on getting medications authorized is a horrible use of a physicians (or mother’s) time.

10/02/2026

Intoxication, consent, and the dangerous psychology of groupthink. As a Cornell alumna, former sorority member, and psychiatrist, the allegations involving seven former Chi Phi fraternity members have brought back memories of how quickly partying and group dynamics can turn college parties into dangerous situations. Three things deserve more attention: 1. Intoxication and consent: Alcohol and other subs can impair attention, memory, risk assessment, and the ability to make and communicate decisions. The legal threshold for incapacity varies, but an intoxicated person's apparent agreement should never be treated as automatic proof of consent. 2. Groupthink and the bystander effect: When responsibility is spread across a group, people may become less likely to intervene. Loyalty, fear of exclusion, and normalization of dangerous behavior can make this worse. 3. Institutional accountability: Prevention requires more than telling students to drink responsibly. It requires independent reporting pathways, effective bystander training, meaningful oversight, and appropriate responses to SA allegations. If you're unsure whether someone is capable of consenting, don't proceed. And if you see someone being exploited, intervene safely or get help.

Address

11980 San Vicente Boulevard, Suite 711
Los Angeles, CA
90049

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13108964616

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