Commentary

Tardive dyskinesia is theme of awards competition for early career psychiatrists

Publish date: March 22, 2018
By
Stanley N. Caroff, MD

 

Important advances in neuroscience and clinical psychiatry have been achieved in recent years, but there are significant gaps in knowledge and much that we don’t understand about the brain and behavior. Further advances depend on cultivating and supporting a new generation of dedicated basic science and clinical investigators. While there is a compelling need to attract, recruit, and encourage talented individuals to pursue scholarly interests, competing life and career demands often prove daunting.

Dr. Stanley M. Caroff of Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center and the University of Pennsylvania, both in Philadelphia

Dr. Stanley N. Caroff

The 2018 Promising Scholars Award Program, jointly sponsored by Neurocrine Biosciences and the Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Information Service (NMSIS), provides a unique opportunity for early career psychiatrists to gain experience in scholarly activities and research. Residents, students, and fellows are invited to submit a manuscript on the topic, “Tardive Dyskinesia,” for first- and second-place awards in the amounts of $2,500 and $1,500, respectively. Two winners will be selected to receive the awards, which will be presented at the Institute for Psychiatric Services: The Mental Health Services Conference, to be held in October in Chicago.

The theme of the competition this year concerning tardive dyskinesia is timely and consistent with the mission of NMSIS to promote knowledge on neurologic side effects of antipsychotic drugs. Tardive dyskinesia can have a negative impact on the social, psychological, and physical well-being of patients; it remains a legacy of past treatment with antipsychotics; it is an increasing concern among an ever widening population of patients receiving even newer antipsychotics; and there are now two Food and Drug Administration–approved treatments for the disorder. Early career psychiatrists may have had limited instruction on tardive dyskinesia, which has not received prominent attention in curricular programs in recent years. Thus, in addition to supporting scholarly work and research experience, the 2018 Promising Scholars Award Program aims to promote knowledge and skills in managing patients with tardive dyskinesia.

Specific learning objectives are:

  • Participants will learn the steps necessary to prepare a scientific manuscript for publication.
  • Participants will review comments by expert referees and learn to incorporate and respond to the peer review process.
  • Participants will review the evidence related to the diagnosis and treatment of tardive dyskinesia.
  • Participants will be introduced to the spectrum of educational and networking opportunities at the Institute for Psychiatric Services conference.

In the past, this program was very popular and gained national recognition among psychiatric trainees. Numerous submitted papers were accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals after the competition was completed.

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