Pride: A Driving Force

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Pride is often what drives people to their successes in life. The feeling is associated with a job well done and has been considered an important part of preventing burnout, especially in difficult situations. Since March 2020, headlines around the world have conveyed the sense of pride frontline health care workers, although tired and weary, have felt as they tackled the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped motivate them day in and day out, despite the challenges, to bravely help so many who were affected by the virus.

Psychiatrists, too, have much to be proud about. The field was among the first to jump to telehealth visits, ensuring the mental and physical well-being their patients. Similarly, clinicians shed light on the need for interactions to combat loneliness associated with quarantining as well as the importance of self-care for all health care professionals, as evidenced by many articles on our website and in the pages of Psychiatric Times^TM.

In addition, psychiatry is stepping in to address the chronic pain epidemic. Almost half of the adult US population experienced pain on some days, and about one-fifth had pain most days or every day, according to a 2016 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The number is staggering, and research indicates pain has played a role in the country’s devastating opioid epidemic.

A long-running column in Psychiatric Times^TM has addressed pain to keep readers up to date. In this issue, Paul Noufi, MD, and Maryland Pao, MD, further explore the role of consultation-liaison psychiatry and how it can be used to benefit patients who have pain. With this important integrative approach, the authors conclude that, overall, the future looks bright.

Also within these pages, John J. Miller, MD, delves into a discussion on epigenetics. In his monthly editorial, Miller lays the foundation and history of the field and how it affects psychiatry. From there, Harold J. Bursztajn, MD, and colleagues explore the role of epigenetics in resilience and examine the transgenerational transmission of resilience following trauma in this month’s continuing education article. Psychiatry can take pride in these efforts to leverage genetics and epigenetics as a means to prevent and treat psychiatric disorders.

June is also LGBTQ Pride Month, which commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan, New York. Along with celebrations, the month presents an opportunity to address the wider social implications. Psychiatric Times^TM features the second part of our Special Report on sexual and gender minorities (SGM). The collection wraps up this month with an important discussion on the mental health implications of fertility options and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy for SGM youth.

Much more can be found in this issue, including thought-provoking commentaries and clinical insights from new and regular contributors. We hope you find these articles interesting, entertaining, and informative. As always, we take pride in providing the top-quality information you need to support you, your practice, and your patients. ❒