Highlights From APA Annual Meeting: Day Four

Day four of APA’s Annual Meeting included the release of an AJP study and commentary on esketamine, an inspiring lecture by the winner of this year’s Fryer Award, and a discussion on psychiatric assessment of patients seeking physician-assisted death in states where it is legal.

Through May 22, Psychiatric News will deliver an evening digest of important highlights from the meeting.

800 Psychiatrists and Guests Celebrate APA’s 175th Anniversary in Historic Venue

APA celebrated its place in history as the country's first medical association at a party that won't soon be forgotten.
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Intranasal Esketamine Found to Be Safe, Effective but Questions Remain

Findings from an AJP study released at the Annual Meeting Tuesday confirm that the controversial drug improves symptoms in treatment-resistant depression, but when should it be used and for how long?  Read More >

NIDA Director Outlines Institute’s Efforts to Improve Pain Management, OUD Treatment

Nora Volkow, M.D., described the agency’s efforts to diversify treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), integrate OUD care into a variety of settings, and incentivize pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs to treat pain.
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Measuring Capacity in Cases of Physician-Assisted Dying: Advice to Psychiatrists

Faced with a request for PAD, psychiatrists must go beyond the traditional consent criteria and develop a “decision-optimizing” relationship with the patient.
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Fryer Award Winner Urges Continued Advocacy for LGBTQ Community

Shannon Minter, Esq., commends mental health experts for their role in successes achieved through the modern LGBTQ rights movement and warns why today more than ever we need the courage and commitment of John Fryer to protect those gains. Read More >

Family-Centered Program Reduces Stigma, Speeds Recovery of Patients With Borderline Personality Disorder

Psychiatrists are increasingly realizing that a critical element of treatment for BPD is a family commitment to improving their interpersonal relationships. Read More >

Intimate Partner Homicide Least Studied, Most Common Form of Family Murder

Up to half of murdered women are killed by a past or present male intimate partner. In one of the Annual Meeting's most popular sessions, experts dove into the psychopathology and risk factors for these crimes. Read More >

Interventions That Promote Wisdom May Help Patients With Psychiatric Conditions

While the study of wisdom is still in its infancy, researchers believe understanding the biological and psychosocial variables associated with wisdom can inform treatments. Read More >

Experts Highlight Community-Based Solutions to Help Break Cycle of Gun Violence

Gun control measures may be an essential part of the solution, but communities can initiate locally driven, disruptive approaches today that have been proven to reduce gun violence. Read More >