QTc Prolongation and Psychotropic Medications

Psychiatrists and other clinicians frequently prescribe psychotropic drugs that may prolong cardiac repolarization, thereby increasing the risk for torsades de pointes (TdP). The corrected QT interval (QTc) is the most widely used and accepted marker of TdP risk. This resource document was created in response to the paucity of strong evidence to guide clinicians in best practice prescription and monitoring of psychotropic medications that may increase risk of TdP.

Access to Firearms by People with Mental Disorders

Gun violence is a major public health problem in our country. Recent data indicate that 19,392 people used a gun to kill themselves in 2010, and 11,078 killed someone else with a firearm (1). In 2003, the homicide rate in the United States was seven times higher than the average of other high-income countries (2). Although concern is understandably heightened when mass tragedies occur, the daily occurrence of scores of murders and suicides due to the use of guns rarely gets the attention afforde

Bariatric Surgery and Psychiatric Care

The purpose of this resource document is to highlight the role of psychiatrists in the care of patients undergoing bariatric surgery. The document identifies key psychiatric components to pre-bariatric surgery assessment and aftercare, which underscore the need for integrated psychiatric services throughout patients’ bariatric surgery care.

Suicide in Communications and Media

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Research demonstrates that how media reports on suicide and suicide attempts may either increase contagion risk or decrease the risk of future suicide attempts, rendering the issue a matter of public health and safety.

Psychiatry and Military Service

The APA Resource Document on Psychiatry and Military Services was prepared as part of an APA Action Paper to improve the awareness of all APA members regarding military implications of psychiatric diagnoses and treatments. This resource document outlines the key considerations for civilian psychiatrists treating active-duty military personnel.

Psychotherapy notes provision of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) pri

The Final HIPPA Privacy Rule defines psychotherapy notes as an official record, created for use by the mentalhealth professional for treatment, @recorded in any medium…documenting or analyzing the contents of conversation during a private counseling session or a group, joint or family counseling session that are separated from the rest of the individual@s medical record...@ 45 C.F.R. § 164.501 (65 Fed. Reg. at 82805) (emphasis added). The Rule does not protect psychotherapy notes whe

Brain imaging and child and adolescent psychiatry with special emphasis on SPECT

Although knowledge is increasing regarding specific pathways and specific brain areas involved in mental disease states, at present the use of brain imaging to study psychiatric disorders is still considered a research tool. Continued study of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders using a variety of brain imaging methods, as well as refinements in imaging techniques, may result in evidence supporting the utility of these tools for clinical work in the future. Imaging research cannot yet be

Alternatives to managed care

Although knowledge is increasing regarding specific pathways and specific brain areas involved in mental disease states, at present the use of brain imaging to study psychiatric disorders is still considered a research tool. Continued study of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders using a variety of brain imaging methods, as well as refinements in imaging techniques, may result in evidence supporting the utility of these tools for clinical work in the future. Imaging research cannot yet be

Advocating for Anti-Racist Mental Health Policies with a Focus on Dismantling Anti-Black Racism

Racial injustices have long contributed to mental health disparities for minority and underserved populations. More than 50 years ago, Dr. Melvin Sabshin and colleagues documented the “structured pattern of racism” in psychiatry in a series of articles in the American Journal of Psychiatry. Insufficient progress has been made in eradicating institutionalized racism in psychiatry. Race-based disparities in psychiatric care and mental & behavioral health reflect this lack of progress and reproduce

Opposition to Cannabis as Medicine

The medical use of cannabis has received considerable attention as several states have voted to remove civil and criminal penalties for patients with qualifying conditions. Yet, on a national level, cannabis remains a schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the most restrictive schedule enforced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) (1). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), responsible for approving treatments after appropriate and rigorous study, has not approv

Neuroimaging

The application of neuroimaging technology in psychiatric research has revolutionized clinical neuroscience perspectives on the pathophysiology of the major psychiatric disorders. Research using a variety of types of neuroimaging techniques has shown that these conditions are associated with abnormalities of brain function, structure and receptor pharmacology. These data also corroborate the conclusions reached from genetic, endocrine, and clinical pharmacology research involving these disorders

Mental Health and Climate Change

Climate change is recognized as one of the top threats to global health in the 21st century. Mental Health impacts of climate change are significant sources of stress for individuals and communities. The social and mental health consequences of extreme and slow-moving weather events are well documented, ranging from minimal stress and distress symptoms to clinical disorder, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and suicidal thoughts (Arnberg et al., 2013; Fullerton et al., 2013;