Mental illness is a risk factor for incarceration. What does this mean for the practice of psychiatry? This means that we must refocus! We must realize that thousands of potential patients with mental illness are found in our jails and prisons – rather than in traditional places such as offices and hospitals.

The risk factors for incarceration include... »

The Sandusky/Penn State scandal has been all over the news for weeks and unrelenting in its complexity. After reading the grand jury report, I was taken aback by the enormity of the crisis, the obfuscations, euphemisms, and cover-ups by so many people in Pennsylvania.

The grand jury heard from eight alleged victims and many other witnesses. I realize that... »

Three recent patient killings at a maximum security mental hospital in Maryland raise questions about prevention. What can be done to protect patients and staff in such hospitals?

I was dismayed to learn about the three tragic murders that took place in at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center, a psychiatric state facility in Jessup, Md. The murders... »

A fascinating survey from Japan opens an important subject in psychiatry. In a large study of 2,020 patients, Dr. Norifusa Sawada and colleagues reported that patients who had received treatment for depression within the past year, a full 70.2% had lied at least once during the treatment.

I did not find this statistic to be shocking. Although we... »

Bullying and domestic violence have largely been considered in practice and in the literature as "unconnected phenomena," according to sociologists Kenneth Corvo, Ph.D., and Ellen deLara, Ph.D. (Aggress. Violent Behav. 2010;15:181-90). However, as a clinician, I see a clear continuum between the two.

In my experience, boys who are big and... »

Picture this scene: Hundreds of high school students are sitting on either side of an aisle in a large room. At one point, a boy is marched down the aisle and is told to bend over a small table. A school official then proceeds to hit the boy with a stick. The boy cries out with each hard swat. The camera pans the audience and captures the boy’s fellow... »

The rising rate of suicide among active duty U.S. military members is a human tragedy that should be of great concern to those of us in psychiatry.

In 2009, the rates of suicide per 100,000 active duty members in the four branches of the military were Marines, 24; Army 21.7, Navy, 13.3, and Air Force 12.5. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control... »