American psychiatry celebrates 150 years of caring

One can see that the history of the American Psychiatric Association is the history of psychiatry and vice-versa. The last 150 years have seen significant advances in the humane treatment of the mentally ill. Stigma has been reduced, and significant numbers of patients are now leading productive and useful lives. One hundred and fifty years of caring, while commemorating our heritage, also challenges us to prepare for our future in our neverending quest for a cure.