When it comes to a neuroanatomical understanding of psychiatric symptoms, OCD is considered the superstar of the field. A wealth of data has implicated the involvement of a specific neuroanatomical loop in OCD.

You're a cutting edge psychiatrist. Not only are you great with meds, but you have a passing knowledge of CBT (cognitive-behavior therapy) techniques for the treatment of OCD. Sorry. You're already behind the curve.

The symptoms of OCD have been known for a long time. Who can forget Lady Macbeth at the sink, scrubbing away at the imagined evidence of her guilt. But the term obsessive-compulsive disorder is a relatively recent one.

Where does it hurt? These are the “four little words” that Eli Lilly (in ubiquitous ads) is encouraging us to ask our depressed patients.

Here's a fairly typical scenario: An elderly woman comes to you as a referral from her PCP for the treatment of depression and anxiety. She hands you a well-worn 3-by-5 card with her meds listed in shaky handwriting.

When a patient tells you that she has fibromyalgia, what should you, a psychiatrist, do? Should the diagnosis alter your treatment in any way?

Although heroin-then known as diacetylmorphine-was first derived from morphine in England in 1874, it was the Bayer company in Germany that saw its commercial value as a cough remedy and pain reliever.

Roll up your sleeves; this is a no-nonsense article, in which we will lay out for you all the neuroimaging modalities currently available, with a little explanation on how each works, and a tidbit or two on how it can (or can't) be used in psychiatry.

If you haven't had patients asking you to order them a PET scan to diagnose Alzheimer's disease yet, brace yourself. It's only a matter of time.

Five of the last six covers of the American Journal of Psychiatry have been chock-full of brains.