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.

Interacting with Caregivers

In this document, we address ethical and legal issues related to involving caregivers in the treatment of patients and provide a comprehensive approach to the engagement of caregivers in the treatment process. This approach revolves around the development and implementation of a caregiver plan (CGP). It is important to note that the development of a formal CGP does not reflect current practice in the field. The discussion of a CGP in this document is for education: to describe a potentia

Position Statement on Promoting Health and Protecting Vulnerable Populations from Social Media and Online Harms

Position Statement on Promoting Health and Protecting Vulnerable Populations from Social Media and Online Harms

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

Marijuana as Medicine

The medical use of marijuana 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, marijuana 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, addit

Position Statement on Discrimination Against International Medical Graduates

Position Statement on Discrimination Against International Medical Graduates

Position Statement on Addressing Discriminatory Policies That Prevent Access to Housing and Employment

Position Statement on Addressing Discriminatory Policies That Prevent Access to Housing and Employment

Position Statement on Abortion, Family Planning, Legislative Intrusion, and Reproductive Decisions

Position Statement on Abortion, Family Planning, Legislative Intrusion, and Reproductive Decisions

Joint Position Statement of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry: Opioid Overdose Education and Distribution of Opioid Overdose Reversal Agents

Joint Position Statement of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry: Opioid Overdose Education and Distribution of Opioid Overdose Reversal Agents

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

Acute Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19 Infection

This resource document will describe acute neuropsychiatric sequelae of COVID-19 infection. Importantly, the literature on neuropsychiatric manifestations of COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly, and many of the largest and best studies were based on early waves and variants.

Ethical Considerations Regarding Internet Searches for Patient Information

The introduction of web search engines and their development in the 1990s dramatically changed the landscape of information gathering. With only a few clicks on a computer, cellphone or other device, an individual could access information on a wide range of topics in a matter of seconds, including personal information of others. To “Google” for information (i.e., to research something via Google or other search engines) has become routine in our daily endeavors. Search engines and social media s