LAUSR

In recent years, the notion that psychiatry is having an identity crisis has gained some traction again. Articles that have pointed to an identity crisis include a perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine [1], an opinion piece in the New York Times [2], and an editorial in the Lancet [3]. In our own journal, Morreale [4] published a book review this past year wisely titled “How Long Will the Identity Crisis in Psychiatry Last?” The April 2021 issue of Academic Psychiatry offers several reflections on the nature of our identity as a profession and provides an opportunity to take seriously the question of whether, in fact, our identity is in crisis. We provide some historical context to the notion of psychiatry’s identity crisis and briefly summarize the perspectives offered in this issue. We argue that the concept of psychiatry’s identity is necessarily broad and complex, which provides a foundation for guiding our many responsibilities to our patients and the public at large.