Psychotherapy as an Essential Skill of Psychiatrists

Resource Document on Psychotherapy as an Essential Skill of Psychiatrists

The Internet in clinical psychiatry

The goal of this resource document is to address the major areas of the use of the internet in communication with patients and the public in the practice of psychiatry. The rate of change of technological capabilities and their implementation is so rapid that the workgroup believes that it would be inappropriate to promulgate fixed rules for constantly changing situations. Rather, we seek to provide some questions to be considered when implementing any new communication technology with patients

Use of medication in treating childhood and adolescent depression: Information for patients and families

This revision of the original 2005 Parents Medical Guide to the treatment of depression in children and adolescents is a joint project of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. It has been updated to include important research that has added to our knowledge about effective treatments for child and adolescent depression. Its goal is to help parents and families make informed decisions about getting the best care for a child with dep

Consensus statement on "Managing the risks of repetitive transcranial stimulation"

In response to the changing managed care environment, the APA Committee on Managed Care established a subcommittee to document the changes in managed care and to begin the process of thinking about alternative healthcare financing systems. The Committee undertook writing a resource document for APA members to identify and describe the changes that are occurring in the healthcare sector and to prepare them for changes that may occur so that psychiatry can be proactive in meeting these challenges

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

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.

Approaches to Youth in Mental Health Crisis

This document provides an overview of contemporary approaches to youth in mental health crises with practical, solution-oriented recommendations. It provides developmental considerations when dealing with youth in crisis, the continuum of existing response models and encourages readers to understand their role in advocacy through clinical vignettes. The resource document emphasizes de-escalation and rapid linkage to clinical evaluation services and supports the APA’s goal of ensuring young peopl

Guidelines for psychiatrists in consultative, supervisory or collaborative relationships with nonphysician clinicians

The practice of psychiatry and of other mental health disciplines frequently occurs in the framework of organized health delivery systems. Psychiatrists are working with other professionals and nonprofessionals in hospital settings, community mental health centers, health maintenance organizations, as well as in group practices, and in consultative work with schools, family agencies, court clinics, etc. Interprofessional relationships are an essential aspect of good patient care and should be en

Religious/spiritual commitments and psychiatric practice

Psychiatrists should maintain respect for their patients' commitments (values, beliefs and worldviews). a. It is useful for clinicians to obtain information on the religious/spiritual commitments of their patients so that they may properly attend to them in the course of assessment, formulation, and treatment. b. Empathy for the patient's sensibilities and particular commitments is essential. Conflicts, either within the patient or within the clinician-patient relationship should be handled with

Responding to Negative Online Reviews

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) Ethics Committee occasionally receives inquiries from members who are troubled by negative reviews about them or their practice posted online by patients or other individuals. This often creates a difficult dilemma for the psychiatrist who must respect the patient’s voice but also desires to preserve the integrity of the psychiatrist’s public image. This resource document is offered to provide guidance to psychiatrists regarding receipt of negative onli

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.

Physician Health Programs

This Resource Document aims to highlight some important safeguards and best practices for Physician Health Programs (PHPs) for physicians who seek help voluntarily from PHPs as well as those who are mandated participants. These suggestions are intended to help PHPs and their affiliates to align their practices and procedures with the goals of treatment and to minimize the risk of adverse outcomes, both for the public and for the physicians who participate in PHPs.