Clinical/Research News From APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting Day One

Welcome to Atlanta!

APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting began in Atlanta today. From now through May 18, you’ll be receiving daily highlights of the meeting through news articles and multimedia interviews. Whether you are here in Atlanta or at home, these reports will convey the excitement and outstanding scientific program being presented at this year’s meeting.

Dimensional Approach to Diagnosing NPD Leads to More Successful Treatment

A dimensional approach to understanding and diagnosing narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) as outlined in Section III of DSM-5—focusing the patient’s functioning with regard to identity, self-direction, empathy, and intimacy—marks a significant improvement over a strictly trait-based diagnostic system. Read More >

Early Intervention for Psychosis Works, But U.S. Lags Behind Some Other Countries

In a session at today’s Annual Meeting, Stephen Adelsheim, M.D., Lisa Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., and Kenneth Duckworth, M.D., gave a broad overview of early intervention programs for psychosis in the United States and described a growing evidence base for the effectiveness of early intervention. But Adelsheim noted that prevention and early intervention are far more entrenched in Europe and Australia. Read More >

Binder Recounts Her Year as APA President

In this video interview with Psychiatric News Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Borenstein, M.D., outgoing APA President Renée Binder, M.D., looks back on the past year and describes the gains made by psychiatry and APA through major initiatives. Watch video >

Psychiatrists Urged to Incorporate AA’s 12-Step Program Into Treatment

The 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program can be an integral part of substance use treatment in a psychiatric setting, according to Marc Galanter, M.D., director of the Division of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse at New York University School of Medicine. He pointed out that AA uses many of the psychosocial features that operate in any charismatic membership group. Read More >

Psychiatrist Gives Inside Look at Fort Hood Shooting

The U.S. Army psychiatrist who killed 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, on November 5, 2009, eventually revealed to members of a military sanity board the development of the thinking that led to the crime, according to Kaustubh Joshi, M.D., who chaired the group. Now that Hasan had been tried and a verdict rendered, Joshi said that he could finally discuss the case. Read More >

Stronger Bridge Needed Between Judiciary, MH Systems for Youth

An event was held today at Morehouse School of Medicine in conjunction with APA’s 2016 Annual Meeting in Atlanta that brought together community members, mental health professionals, and state and local judiciary leaders to discuss youth, the criminal justice system, and mental health services. Presenters hoped to have a positive impact on the community by addressing mental health issues in youth. Read More >