Landmark Papers in Psychiatry: Seminal Papers With Experts Commentaries

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.

Elizabeth Ryznar, Psychiatry Resident, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,Aderonke B. Pederson, Chief Resident in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,Mark A. Reinecke, Chief of Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA,John G. Csernansky, Gilman Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, Dr. Elizabeth Ryznar is currently a fourth year psychiatry resident at the McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University in Chicago, where she also completed the Medical Education Clinical Scholars Program. She received her M.Sc. in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford and is fluent in Polish and Spanish. Her clinical and research interests include community psychiatry, childhood trauma, psychiatric diagnosis, and medical education. She has published several peer-reviewed articles and has presented at national meetings. Dr. Ryznar has been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a Leadership Fellow (2017-2019) and by the American College of Psychiatrists as a Laughlin Fellow (2018) and returning fellow (2019).

Dr. Aderonke B. Pederson is a 4th year psychiatry resident at the McGaw Medical center of Northwestern University, serving as chief resident. She graduated from University of Chicago as a double major in biological sciences and international studies. She completed her medical degree at Northwestern's University Feinberg school of medicine and was an American Psychiatric Association diversity leadership fellow in 2017-2018. She is a recipient of federal funding through the APA SAMHSA fellowship (2018-2019), completing research in minority mental health with a focus on mental health stigma among underserved black minority women in an urban setting. She has reviewed books and published peer-reviewed articles. She is also working on a global health certificate program at her institution with a focus in Nigeria (West Africa) and designed a seminar in West Africa on mental health stigma awareness among young adults.

Professor Mark A. Reinecke is Chief of Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.


Professor John G. Csernansky currently serves as the Gilman Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Previously, he served as the Gregory B. Couch Professor of Psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine. His research interests include the neuroimaging of neuropsychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, clinical trials of cognition-enhancing drugs, and the development of new animal models for neuropsychiatric disorders.