Couch in Crisis

Immoronic: a combination of immorality and moronic. Examples are not hard to find in modern American culture, and they transcend any one political party or ideology.

"Psychiatry has been frozen in time since the 80s, and hence the absence of progress since then is no surprise." So says, S. Nassir Ghaemi, MD, MPH, in the next installment of Conversations in Critical Psychiatry with Awais Aftab, MD.

In case you missed it, here are some of the most active tweets of the year.

Psychiatrists searched for many topics in 2019. Here is a handful.

We may have strong (psychological) bones, but they are still susceptible to stress fractures. Face the new year armed with these guidelines on combatting symptoms of burnout, written by an expert in the field.

Johan Verhulst, MD, left this world exactly as he lived-with grace, honor, integrity, humor, love, humility, intellect, and a continuing interest in our ongoing professional conversations.

Let’s face it. We don’t accept gifts from patients or colleagues that may compromise the therapeutic or professional relationship. But it is always nice to be remembered.

In short, Epstein’s story was media catnip. Unfortunately, lost in all the sensational coverage of this one man was the systematic mistreatment of people with serious mental illness in the criminal justice system.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) turned 55 years old last year. Most millennials and Gen Xers have had little idea what this legislation has meant for us, even though it may have given us each almost a year of productive life.

The current Tree of Medicine is rooted in its Hippocratic soil. There are moral absolutes that our profession should stand up for, in spite of legislative or popular pressure, say the authors.

According to the authors, physician aid in dying for persons with severe mental illness is gaining acceptance. More In this point/counterpoint.

How we respond to political issues in society is the quintessential ethical challenge mental health clinicians face today. Should psychiatrists set aside diagnosis of public figures amidst sweeping changes in the United States?

Physician-assisted suicide violates the norms of Hippocratic medical ethics. Involuntary hospitalization to prevent suicide affirms those norms, according to the authors.

"Go out into the real world; work in prisons, in run-down towns with high unemployment or with refugees or in remote areas. Go overseas or into underprivileged parts of your own country. And that is how you learn about real psychiatry," says Niall McLaren, MBBS, FRANZCP, in the next installment of Conversations in Critical Psychiatry.

This third in the series provides advice to families on how best to cope with the psychiatric problems of a family member.

In the spirit of honoring and guiding trainees, the authors provide advice to today’s psychiatric residents-the psychiatric leaders of tomorrow.

Recently DSM-IV Chair Allen Frances, MD wrote 50 pieces of advice to clinicians on how best to help their patients. It seems fitting, then, to provide an equal portion of advice for patients who seek help from those clinicians.

Is an ancient, conflict-loving personality archetype undermining our pro-social values?

Here it is-the 50 most important things Allen Frances, MD, has learned in over 50 years studying psychiatry.

The “deinstitionalization” movement was meant to correct a stream of neglected patients, a demoralized and disengaged staff, and disappearing doctors. That didn't happen.

Durkheim believed it was useless to prohibit newspapers from publishing stories of the ultimate act of self-harm. But he was wrong.

Just because something is legal does not make it ethical, in the opinion of this psychiatrist, who turned down an invitation to be a presenter on the topic of PAS.

A close analysis of the psychodynamics of Cain’s crime shows us something important about his mentality-not to be confused with mental illness.

Reframing is being tested as a potentially viable way to address intractable conflict where sacred values are at issue. In memory of Johan Verhulst, MD.

Nature provides both physical and psychological benefits. How does this healing through exposure to nature occur?

The world is a better place without a "tyrant of the day" taking over and cracking down with rigid rules. This and other life lessons after 40 years in psychiatry.

Psychiatrist Boris Vatel, MD and others respond to “Debunking the Two Chemical Imbalance Myths (Again),” by Ronald W. Pies, MD. Check out this lively exchange, with an addition from other readers.

It is a rare feat for a conceptual book on psychiatry to generate as much acclaim, influence, longevity, and readership within the profession as has The Perspectives of Psychiatry. Paul R. McHugh, MD is featured in this Conversations series.

The author reminds us of our responsibility to make each decision and choose each action wisely and thoughtfully in life.

Let us honor him by discussing his work and helping to bring it even further along. Carl Bell, MD, in memoriam.