The submission guidelines and format descriptions below apply to the Annual Meeting and APA's fall meeting. Please follow the same guidelines and procedures when submitting to either meeting.
About the 2021 Annual Meeting
In consideration of the continued spread of COVID-19, the American Psychiatric Association's Board of Trustees determined that it would be unwise to hold a large in-person meeting in 2021 during these public health crises since the APA would not be able to ensure the safety of those participating. In reaching this decision now, the Board weighed multiple factors, including the health and safety of our members and staff, uncertainty about the future course of the pandemic, the availability of an effective vaccine, and the timing of contract deadlines. The Board has voted to hold the Annual Meeting and the Mental Health Services meeting (formerly known as Institute for Psychiatric Services) virtually. The Board and the APA Administration will work diligently to develop virtual meetings that will provide robust, meaningful experiences and high-quality educational programs for all participants while maintaining safety and public health.
2021 Meeting Theme
Finding Equity Through Advances in Mind and Brain in Unsettled Times
- General Sessions
How to Submit a General Session
Format Description
- This format includes the formats previously referred to as workshops, symposia, case conferences, forums and advances in psychiatry.
- 90-minute session
- Clinically oriented presentations (including research-/data-driven presentations) should encourage audience participation through discussion and Q&A between the presenters and audience.
- Minimum two speakers
- Maximum five speakers
Checklist for Submission
- General session title (maximum of 150 characters, with spaces)
- Title should be brief, unique and interesting
- Participant information*
- Completed profile
- Financial disclosure form
- Presenter release forms
- Please note that your submission will not be finalized and sent to grading until all presenters complete their financial disclosure and presenter release forms.
- Use the "Add Co-Presenter" button to add co-presenters to your submission.
- Educational objectives (maximum of 200 characters, with spaces, per objective)
- Three to five learning objectives
- Each objective will complete the statement "At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to:"
- Use active verbs like "understand," "demonstrate," and "provide" to begin each objective.
- Overall session abstract (maximum of 3,000 characters, with spaces)
- The abstract should be a concise description of your session and how you plan to engage with your audience.
- For research-focused presentations, a structured abstract is permitted.
- References
- List three or more peer-reviewed references published in the last 10 years to support your session content.
- References may be formatted according to your preferred style guide.
- Agenda
- The agenda should outline details about your lesson plan, teaching methods, and timing of your proposed session.
- Topic
- Select one to two topics that best describe the overall focus of your proposed session.
Download Examples
*All presenters must create a profile and complete the required forms prior to submitting a proposal for review by the Scientific Program Committee. All presenters must be available to present at the meeting and must register for the meeting prior to the date of their presentation.
- Posters
How to Submit a Poster
Format Description
- Posters present new research and case findings
- Only one presenter per poster
- Maximum four co-authors per poster (co-authors do not present)
- One co-author may be designated as the "lead author." Unless otherwise noted, the poster presenter is assumed to be the lead author.
Checklist for Submission
- Poster title (maximum of 150 characters, with spaces)
- Title should be brief, unique and interesting
- Presenter information*
- Completed profile
- Financial disclosure form
- Presenter release forms
- Please note that your submission will not be finalized and sent to grading until the poster presenter and all co-authors complete their financial disclosure and presenter release forms
- Use the "Add Co-Author" button to add co-authors to your submission.
- Co-authors
- Use the "Add Co-Author" button to add any co-authors to your submission
- Overall poster abstract (maximum of 3,000 characters, with spaces)
- The abstract should be a concise description of results, findings, and conclusions.
- References
- List three or more peer-reviewed references published in the last 10 years to support your session content.
- References may be formatted according to your preferred style guide.
- Topic
- Select one to two topics that best describe the overall focus of your proposed session.
- Note: residents and medical students are asked to review their proposal with a faculty mentor prior to submission.
Download Examples
*All presenters must create a profile and complete the required forms prior to submitting a proposal for review by the Scientific Program Committee. All presenters must be available to present at the meeting and must register for the meeting prior to the date of their presentation.
Policies and Guidelines for Poster Presentations