Tyler A. Durns
( out of 144 reviews )

Tyler A. Durns, MD

Languages spoken: English

Tyler Durns, MD, Assistant Professor (Clinical), earned his medical degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He completed Adult Psychiatry residency at the University of Utah where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Durns subsequently completed his fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry with the University of California Davis Division of Psychiatry and the Law. He is board-certified in both Adult and Forensic Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Dr. Durns' clinical interests include treatment-resistant mood disorders, schizophrenia spectrum and related disorders, trauma and other related disorders, borderline personality disorder, existential and behavioral psychotherapies, and advanced psychopharmacology. His forensic interests include violence risk assessment, criminal responsibility, psychopathy, malingering, and medical malpractice. Dr. Durns is excited to continue mentoring trainees as a member of both the clinical adult inpatient and outpatient teams at the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute. He also founded and serves as the Program Director for the Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine.

Specialties

Board Certification

American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry)
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Sub: Forensic)

Patient Rating

4.9 /5
( out of 144 reviews )

The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers. The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

May 11, 2026
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Tyler was honestly fantastic. I don't say that lightly. I've seen a couple therapists in recent months, and with both of them I left feeling unheard and not genuinely cared for. Speaking with Tyler was the complete opposite experience. He was attentive, compassionate, and truly listened without ever making me feel rushed. I genuinely can't say enough positive things about him.

Mar 30, 2026
UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Dr. Durns is exceptional'highly knowledgeable, up to date on the latest treatments, and genuinely committed to finding the best solutions for his patients. He takes a thoughtful, individualized approach and isn't afraid to think creatively when it leads to better outcomes. I highly recommend him to anyone looking for a provider who truly goes above and beyond.

Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Board Certification and Academic Information

Academic Departments Psychiatry -Assistant Professor (Clinical)
Academic Divisions Adult Psychiatry
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Psychiatry)
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (Sub: Forensic)

Education history

Fellowship Forensic Psychiatry - University of California, Davis Fellow
Residency General Psychiatry - University of Utah School of Medicine Chief Resident
Residency General Psychiatry - University of Utah School of Medicine Assistant Chief Resident
Residency General Psychiatry (with emphasis in Neuropsychiatry) - University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
Professional Medical Medicine (with Distinction in Research Leadership and Innovation, and Commitment to Underserved People) - University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson M.D.
Undergraduate Molecular & Cellular Biology; Minors in Chemistry and Psychology - University of Arizona B.Sc. (Hons)

Selected Publications

Journal Article

  1. Lewis BR, Garland EL, Byrne K, Durns T, Hendrick J, Beck A, Thielking P (2023). HOPE: A Pilot Study of Psilocybin Enhanced Group Psychotherapy in Patients With Cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage, 66(3), 258-269.
  2. Durns T (2022). Pharaohs, Philosophers, and Freud - Tracing Bias in Modern Correlates of Hysteria. J Psychohist, 49(4), 298-312.
  3. Durns T, Gethin-Jones T, Monson E, ODonohoe J (2022). Response of US psychiatric programs to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on trainees. BMC Med Educ, 22(1), 229.
  4. Durns T (2021). Do no harm in due process - a historical analysis of social determinates of institutionalization in the USA. Hist Psychiatry, 32(4), 478-487.
  5. Durns TA, OConnell PH, Shvartsur A, Grey JS, Kious BM (2021). Effects of temporary psychiatric holds on length of stay and readmission risk among persons admitted for psychotic disorders. Int J Law Psychiatry, 76, 101695.
  6. Murzl CA, Durns TA, Mowrey LT, Tubbs AS, Boeve SA (2017). A Medical Student-Run Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic: One Institution's Experience. Acad Psychiatry, 41(5), 582-586.
  7. Spooner E, McLaughlin BM, Lepow T, Durns TA, Randall J, Upchurch C, Miller K, Campbell EM, Fares H (2013). Systematic screens for proteins that interact with the mucolipidosis type IV protein TRPML1. PLoS One, 8(2), e56780.
  8. Dang H, Klokk TI, Schaheen B, McLaughlin BM, Thomas AJ, Durns TA, Bitler BG, Sandvig K, Fares H (2011). Derlin-dependent retrograde transport from endosomes to the Golgi apparatus. Traffic, 12(10), 1417-31.

Review

  1. Durns T and Iannuzzi G (2026). Contextualizing Violence Risk Associated with Hallucinogens. [Review]. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ), 24(1), 17-26.
  2. OConnell PH, Durns T, Kious BM (2020). Risk of suicide after discharge from inpatient psychiatric care: a systematic review. [Review]. Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract, 25(4), 356-366.

Book

  1. Durns T, Scott C, Whitehead P, McDermott B (2025). A Clinical and Forensic Guide to Cults and Persuasive Leadership. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Book Chapter

  1. Durns T, Tolton D, Nguyen S, Neha J (2020). Indications for Psychotherapy in Older Adults. In Tampi RR, Yarns BC, Zdanys KF, Tampi DJ (Eds.), Psychotherapy in Later Life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Commentary

  1. Durns T (2026). Hallucinogens: High Risk or High Reward. Medscape Mental Health.
  2. Durns T (2017). Dave and the person in the room. Int J Psychiatry Med, 53(1-2), 103-107.

Book Review

  1. Durns T, Kious B (2023). Book Reviews: Andrew Scull, Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry's Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness. [Review of the book Desperate Remedies: Psychiatry's Turbulent Quest to Cure Mental Illness]. 34, 497-499.
  2. Durns T (2023). Book Review- Applied Criminal Psychology, A Guide to Forensic Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition. [Review of the book Applied Criminal Psychology, A Guide to Forensic Behavioral Sciences, 2nd Edition]. 51, 460-462.

Case Report

  1. Durns T, Rich B, Benson C, Mickey B, Weischedel K (2020). A Case of Biopharmaceutical-Induced Catatonia and the Implication of a Novel Mechanism. J ECT, 36(3), e29-e30.
  2. Grey JS, Durns T, Kious BM (2020). Pseudologia Fantastica: An Elaborate Tale of Combat-related PTSD. J Psychiatr Pract, 26(3), 241-245.

Letter

  1. Durns T (2026). From Fear to Framework: Toward Understanding of Violence and Mental Illness [Letter to the editor]. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ), 24(1), 1.

Other

  1. Durns T and Newman S (2025). Integrating Mental Health Expertise into Mass Violence Prevention. (Fall 2025).
  2. Durns T, Blum AW, Adhia SG (Spring 2021). fMRI in the Courtroom.

News & Podcasts

News

Podcasts