Landmark Papers in Psychiatry

Advances in the practice of psychiatry have occurred in "fits and starts" over the last several decades. These advances are evident to anyone long affiliated with the field and are best appreciated through direct experience of living through the times. These advances can also be gleaned from historical overviews in textbooks or the recollections of one's teachers and mentors. Returning to the original papers that have ushered in these changes is rarely done for various, mostly practical, reasons. Filtering through thousands of articles in psychiatry may prove daunting, access to the manuscripts may be limited (especially for papers not available electronically), and understanding their impact requires a broader context. Moreover, with so much active research currently occurring in various branches of psychiatry, current practitioners or trainees may find their attention focused on the present, and this is reinforced by electronic search algorithms, which return articles in reverse chronological order. Not surprisingly, citations for articles in virtually all fields decline precipitously for articles over five years old. As scholars and professionals, we are losing touch with our academic heritage. Yet navigating the future of psychiatry requires a firm understanding of its past.

This resource serves as a guide for anyone seeking to understand the evolution of psychiatry as a scientific discipline. It does so by summarizing over 100 landmark papers in psychiatry and placing their scientific contributions within a historical context. An introductory section sets the stage for the major theoretical constructs within the field, with chapters devoted to ontology and nosology. Subsequent sections examine major facets of the theory and practice of psychiatry, such as pathogenesis of psychiatric illness, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and somatic treatments. These sections are divided logically into chapters addressing important contributions to the understanding and treatment of specific disorders. A final section explores ethical considerations within each field. This framework echoes the complexity of psychiatry, which cannot be reduced to a single set of diagnoses or subspecialty categories.

Highlighting the research trajectory of psychiatry, this resource will appeal to academics, trainees, and practitioners who desire a comprehensive, easy-to-read, up-to-date collection of psychiatry's pivotal moments. By understanding the challenges, inspirations, and insights from the past, readers will be better poised to address new and ongoing challenges within the field.

Table of Contents

I. Foundational Topics
1: Diagnosis and conceptualization of mental illness, Awais Aftab and John G. Csernansky
2: Epidemiology, Elizabeth Ryznar and Harvey Whiteford
II. Pathogenesis
3: The neurochemical basis of psychiatric disorders, Elizabeth Ryznar and Herbert Y. Meltzer
4: Genetics, Edwin H. Cook Jr. and Marina Bayeva
5: Inflammatory mechanisms, the immune system and psychiatric illness, Ozan Toy, Emmalee Boyle, and Lynn E. DeLisi
6: Psychological and social factors, Shaun M. Eack
III. Pharmacotherapy
7: Schizophrenia, David. V. Braitman and Juan. R. Bustillo
8: Pharmacotherapy of mood disorders, Jair C. Soares, Marsal Sanches, and Rodrigo Machado-Vieira
9: Pharmacotherapy of anxiety and related disorders, Dan J. Stein
10: Child and adolescent psychiatry, Jenni E. Farrow, Francisco Romo-Nava, and Melissa Delbello
IV. Psychosocial interventions
11: Psychodynamic therapy, Kevin S. McCarthy and Richard F. Summers
12: Cognitive behavioral therapy, Keith S. Dobson
13: Third wave psychotherapies, Amanda A. Uliaszek, Nadia Al-Dajani, Amanda Ferguson, and Zindel V. Segal
14: Psychosocial rehabilitation, Mariam Ujeyl and Wulf Rössler
15: Social and community psychiatry, Neil Jordan
16: Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychology, Mark R. Dadds, Yixin Jiang, Valsamma Eapen, and Stephen Scott
VI. Somatic Treatments
17: Electroconvulsive therapy, Keith G. Rasmussen
18: Non-convulsive brain stimulation, Kevin A. Caulfield and Mark S. George
19: Subcallosal cingulate deep brain stimulation for treatment-resistant depression, Paul E. Holtzheimer and Helen Mayberg
VII. Special Considerations
20: Psychiatric ethics, Rachel E. Zettl and John Z. Sadler
21: Forensics, Stephen H. Dinwiddie
22: Suicide, Danuta Wasserman, Marcus Sokolowski, and Carli Vladimir
23: Research methodology, Robert D. Gibbons