Program areas at APA
Cme and life long learning - the Association's educational programs ultimately improve patient care by helping to meet the needs of psychiatrists, residents and medical students. The programs provide psychiatrists with opportunities for maintenance of certification requirements, for lifelong learning, and continuing medical education. The apa annual meeting is an annual educational forum for mental health professionals including five days of lectures, symposia, intensive courses, presentations of scientific papers and research, and other educational activities related to patient care.
Research and training- the apa provides ongoing research and training in new areas of interest within the field. Apa works with government and other organizations to develop and implement training for psychiatrists. As part of the research and training, the apa is focusing on development of online research and clinical diagnostic tools for use by physicians.
Publications - the apa is the leading publisher of books, journals, and electronic products for the Psychiatric community. It publishes over 30 textbooks and monographs, journals, cme programs, and a news publication on digital and print platforms. All periodicals and selected books are featured on the electronic platform "psychiatryonline". This online resource offers e-books, journals, news, and semantically linked content searchable by topic. A main component of the print, e-book, and online publications program is the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (dsm), the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the united states that contains a listing of diagnostic criteria for every Psychiatric disorder recognized by the u.s. health care system. The current edition, dsm-5, is used by professionals in a wide array of contexts, including psychiatrists and other physicians, psychologists, social workers, nurses, occupational and rehabilitation therapists, and counselors, as well as by clinicians and researchers of many different orientations (e.g., biological, psychodynamic, cognitive, behavioral, interpersonal, family/systems). It is used in both clinical settings as well as with community populations. In addition to supplying detailed descriptions of diagnostic criteria, dsm is also a necessary tool for collecting and communicating accurate public health statistics about the diagnosis of Psychiatric disorders. The news publication, Psychiatric news, covers news, clinical advances, practice management information, and legislative highlights, with a spotlight on the apa efforts to achieve parity in mental health care. It represents the voice of apa and the Psychiatric community to promote quality care for individuals with mental disorders.apa publications provide a broad topic oriented analysis of current Psychiatric clinical practice and literature, as well as cme credit and moc activities for self-assessment and improved practice performance.
External affairs/advocacy - the apa strives to raise the voice of psychiatry through government relations, internal and external communications, and ensuring patient access to mental health services. The apa supports psychiatrists and their patients.
Membership relations - apa is a membership organization that focuses on providing psychiatrists and those in training with information, training, and other forums for developing relationships. Membership relations works with district branches to incorporate members and develop relationships within the members' local communities.