APA Blogs
25 Results
What is Borderline Personality Disorder?
Personality refers to peoples’ thoughts and views on how they relate to their world, and how they relate to others. All people have personality traits that make them unique, such as “shy” or “outgoing” or “humble” or “self-assured.” A personality disorder, however, is deeper and more severe and can cause problems in how a person thinks and feels, which can impact their perceptions and interactions with others. People with personality disorders may not realize that they are thinking or acting in unhealthy ways and tend to be unwilling to change.
Olympian Mindset: The Role of Sports Psychiatry
- By Brook Choulet, M.D.
The journey to becoming an Olympian is as much a mental endeavor as a physical one. Behind every gold medal and record-breaking performance lies preparation, mental clarity, resilience, physical training, and sacrifices. Athletes face internal and external pressures from family and coaches to their self-criticism and strides toward perfection. These factors can ultimately lead to detrimental effects on performance. However, through optimizing their mental health and overall well-being, athletes can harness the strength of their minds, leading to mental clarity, focus, and record-breaking performances.
An App for Therapy? Exploring Digital Therapeutics
In May 2024, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first app for the treatment of depression, Rejoyn. This new smartphone app is intended to help treat people who don’t fully respond to antidepressants and it is expected to be available for patients starting this summer. This is the latest in a series of FDA approvals of digital therapeutics for mental health conditions
Alcohol Use Disorder: Social Media, Technology, and Treatment
While most can enjoy alcohol occasionally without problems, alcohol use disorder is common and often untreated. An estimated 11% of all adults and 15% of young adults (aged 18-25) had alcohol use disorder in the past year. Several recent studies highlight some challenges related to alcohol content on social media along with some promising approaches to treatment.
Hispanic Heritage Month: How One Psychiatrist Explored Culturally Competent Care
One in five (22%) Hispanics/Latinos have a mental illness and one in 20 have a serious mental illness, according to the latest federal government data (SAMHSA 2023). Yet only 36% of Hispanics/Latinos received mental health services, compared to 52% of whites. During Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15), we can celebrate the achievements and contributions of Hispanics/Latinos while also acknowledging the equity work that still needs to be done to increase access to care and decrease stigma around mental health and substance use. Psychiatrists and other mental health professionals can help meet the moment by considering Hispanic/Latino communities’ varied needs, including language fluency and cultural competency.