Top 12 Psychiatric Times Blogs in 2014

A slideshow on some of this year's blogs at Psychiatric Times, written by leaders in the field of psychiatry (in alphabetical order, by author).The Psychiatrist, the Aliens, and “Going Native”By Greg Eghigian, PhDAfter years of working with troubled individuals claiming to have been abducted by extraterrestrials, Harvard University Professor John Mack published a book. What made Mack and the book so controversial was the fact that he had come to accept that his patients’ stories were an accurate description of real events.Military and Veteran Mental Health: Why Should Psychiatrists Care?Charles C. Engel, MD, MPHThe impact of the past several years of armed conflict is much greater than simply the number of veterans in our practices or communities.How to Fix the Broken Mental Health System: Call For SuggestionsBy Allen Frances, MDWith an introduction by Dr Frances, Psychiatric Times gathered responses from some of the leading experts in the field to answer this question: What can we do to fix our broken mental health system? Responses continue to trickle in from our readers in the active comments section.The Paradox of ParityBy Thomas R. Insel, MDWhen psychosocial treatments are delivered with high quality and fidelity, outcomes improve. That is the parity all of us should be fighting for. More in this commentary by NIMH Director Thomas Insel, MD.Healthy Beginnings for a New PsychiatristBy Jessica Jeffrey, MD, MPH, MBADuring the first year of her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, this psychiatrist received an invaluable lesson regarding the importance of “treating the whole patient”-in this case, a 16-year-old patient who is pregnant.Jails That Masquerade as Psychiatric HospitalsBy Douglas A. Kramer, MDIn the eyes of many, the current societal approach to the treatment of psychiatric disorders cannot possibly be considered humane.A Psychiatric Eulogy for Robin WilliamsBy H. Stephen Moffic, MDWhile we still have our good mornings-whether in Vietnam or elsewhere-we must forever say good night to Robin Williams and to thank him for all the good times.Psychiatry and Professionalism in the Digital AgeBy Holly Peek, MD, MPHAs the use of social media becomes necessary for the online presence of medical professionals, this topic will continue to be essential for the training of both current and future psychiatrists.Is Suicide Immoral?By Ronald W. Pies, MDThe ethical status of suicide is not a question psychiatrists can ignore. After all, our duty to preserve and protect life is founded on moral values, even if they are so deeply embedded in our medical ethos that we no longer sense their moral underpinnings.Pope Francis and People with Mental DisordersBy Lloyd Sederer, MDThe Pope's message resonated with what is becoming a prevailing ethos of good mental health care-a belief that everyone has promise, can recover and rebuild from life's misfortunes, and should be able to have what we all want.The Most Exciting Time in the History of PsychiatryBy Allan Tasman, MDAdvances in psychiatric research, spanning the entire spectrum of biological, psychological, and social aspects of mental processes and functions, have transformed the field of psychiatry. More in this inaugural piece by Psychiatric Times' Editor in Chief.The Maintenance of Certification Exam as FetishBy Edward Teach, MDThough not technically a blog that falls in this year’s timeline, this piece certainly hit home at the end of 2013, with a record number of comments that keep on coming. In the opinion of this psychiatrist, the point of the MOC test isn’t to measure competence, but to convey the impression that competence was measured.