Although there is a strong tendency to medicate children and adolescents for all types of behavioral problems, physicians must be prudent in also using nonpharmaceutical treatments.

There are many misconceptions about psychiatry as a science that contribute to the continued social stigmatization of mental illnesses.

Some psychiatrists feel that outpatient commitment has a legitimate role in treating mentally ill individuals, especially those who are not even aware of their disease.

Defense of the argument that psychiatrists have a responsibility to warn the proper authorities if there is reasonable concern that a patient poses a threat to the safety of others.

Defense of the position that patient-psychiatrist confidentiality should be absolute, otherwise patient trust is eroded is serious ways that affect the ability of all physicians to help their patients.

Refusals of psychotropic medication by detained criminal defendants raise conflicting dual loyalties for psychiatrists between the duty to treat a patient and the duty to protect society from that patient.

Due to insurance company regulations, current restrictions on access to mental health care prevent many from obtaining needed care.

Electroconvulsive therapy is not a good treatment option because numerous alternative, less harmful interventions are available for the treatment of depressed or severely depressed patients.

Electroconvulsive is an effective treatment option that should remain available for use, with proper ethical safeguards, for the treatment of severe clinical depression.

Training in the humanities helps to provide psychiatrists with an insight into the human condition, as represented in literature, film, and other media forms.