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Latest Edition of Top Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Textbook Highlights the Changes and Challenges Posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic
With a National Mental Health Emergency declared for our nation's children in light of the pandemic, American Psychiatric Association Publishing has released the third edition of Dulcan's Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, a foundational resource for clinicians in the field. Edited by Mina K. Dulcan, M.D., the new edition includes the most up-to-date research and clinical advances, including expanded chapters on telehealth and working with primary care and subspecialty pediatrics in me
APA Praises House Passage of Mental Health Bills; Urges Senate to Follow Suit
The U.S. House of Representatives today passed a package of mental health-related legislation brought forth by the Energy and Commerce Committee. The package of bills, previously passed by the House in the 116th Congress, would help prevent suicide, expand diagnosis and treatment for substance use disorders, increase mental health screenings in the emergency room and overall, and support patients with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The American Psychiatric Association (APA
APA Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution for People with Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
As the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered across the country, the American Psychiatric Association called on state public health authorities today to include people with serious mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) to the equivalent of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Phase 1-C of their prioritization schedules. The recommendation coincides with APA’s recently released guidance document, The Role of the Psychiatrist in the Equitable Distribution of the COV
APA Pledges Continued Support for Affordable Care Act on its 10th Anniversary
Ten years ago today, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. In addition to its main objective of expanding health insurance coverage to 30 million Americans, the reform package also included a number of elements related to psychiatric care, which have ultimately increased access to treatment for people with serious mental illness and substance use disorder.
March Issues of American Psychiatric Association Journals Cover Genomics and Mental Illnesses and Associations Between Recent Public Health Crises with Traumatic Stress
The March issues of two of the American Psychiatric Association journals, The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services are available online.
How to Write Effective Letters of Medical Necessity
While significant progress has been made in recent years, there are still challenges to obtaining insurance coverage for mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Insurance companies may deny claims for a variety of reasons, including that the care is not “medically necessary.”
Exploring the Potential to Eliminate Traumatic Memories
Erasing or manipulating memories sounds like science fiction, but researchers are moving closer to the ability to target and erase traumatic memories. New advances in the neurobiology of fear memory are leading to potential new approaches to PTSD treatment, including the erasure of traumatic memories.
FDA Approves First Game-Based Therapy for ADHD
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month approved a video game-based therapy for treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This is the first game-based therapy, called a digital therapeutic device, approved by FDA for any type of condition.
Racial Disparities in ADHD
Two recent reports highlight racial disparities in the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnoses. A meta-analysis published online in JAMA Psychiatry in September found that Black individuals are at higher risk of ADHD diagnosis than the general population, a finding that “challenges generally accepted statements that Black individuals have a lower prevalence of ADHD compared with others,” the authors note.
Light, Sleep and Mental Health
Light, both natural and artificial, can affect our health and mental health in several different ways. Depending on the time of day, light exposure can promote or disrupt sleep. A persistently disrupted sleep cycle can contribute to a variety of health problems, including heart disease, obesity and mental health disorders. Research is also beginning to clarify non-circadian effects of light – light can have a direct impact on the sleep and mood centers in the brain.
What the Pandemic Is Teaching Us About How to Address Addiction
NIDA Director Nora Volkow, M.D., discusses recent findings she will be elaborating on at the 2023 APA Annual Meeting.
New APA Poll Finds Americans Rate Cigarettes as Most Unsafe, Addictive Substance Among Options Surveyed
In a new national poll, Americans widely agreed that cigarettes are unsafe (84%) and addictive (87%), and yet a fifth (21%) reported smoking every day. The vast majority of people believe alcohol, opioids, and vapes are addictive, and about two-thirds said alcohol and opioids are unsafe, while more than three-fourths said vaping is unsafe.