Nutrition has become important as an academic and a clinical aspect of Psychiatry. Medications and Psychotherapies have traditionally been the mainstay treatment of psychiatric conditions but the global burden of mental health continues to increase. Complementary and Alternate Medicine has claimed a foothold as an additional avenue of treatment. The role of food in physical health has been known for long, but the role diet plays in psychiatry is unexplored and underdeveloped. The presenters will explore the various ways in which diet affects the mind and brain. There is increasing literature demonstrating the correlation between nutritional deficiencies and mental illness. The presenters will also elucidate the presence and detriment of food access as it relates to mental health. Although deficiencies are one area of concern, the other end of the spectrum: comfort foods, junk foods and overconsumption as it applies to mental health will be explored. 

**This content was captured at the 2021 APA Annual Meeting and may reference information from various sources and terminology from previous editions of the DSM.

Learning Objectives

• Understand Nutritional Psychiatry as a significant clinical aspect of Psychiatry.
• Address the deficiency of nutritional advice as it applies to treatment of psychiatric conditions.
• Interpret the scientific findings of the role of gut-microbiota in mental health.
• Elucidate the presence and detriment of food access as it relates to mental health.
• Discuss the role psychiatrists should play in improving the quality of nutrition to help mental well-being.

Target Audience

Psychiatrists, Residents/Fellows

Estimated Time to Complete

Estimated Duration: 75 minutes
Begin Date: January 1, 2022
End Date: January 1, 2025

How to Earn Credit

Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™ or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course including the evaluation. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the completion date and hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

The APA designates this enduring CME activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Faculty and Planner Disclosures

Program Presenters

• Bhagwan Bahroo, M.D., Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of Health Scientists. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Jonathan Bui, M.D., Captain, United States Army. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Thanh Nguyen, M.D., Lieutenant, United States Navy. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Lino A. Gutierrez III, M.D., Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Matthew Hunter, D.O., Captain, United States Army. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Program Planners

• Jacqueline Maus Feldman, M.D., Chairperson, Scientific Program Committee, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Robert O. Cotes, M.D., Vice-Chairperson, Scientific Program Committee, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 
• Uchenna Okeye, M.D., Vice-Chairperson, Scientific Program Committee, Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 
• Katie Putnam, Membership Development Specialist, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
• Ally Brown, Associate Director, Online Learning, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.

Technical Requirements

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:

• The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
• Internet Explorer 11+

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player.

Optimal System Configuration:

• Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
• Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher

Minimum Requirements:

• Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content
• Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact learningcenter@psych.org for technical assistance