The American Neuropsychiatric Association (ANPA), established in 1988, is an organization of professionals in neuropsychiatry and clinical neurosciences. Our mission is to apply neuroscience for the benefit of people. We work together in a collegial fashion to advance knowledge of brain-behavior relations, provide a forum for learning, and promote excellent, scientific and compassionate care.
The strength of the organization is our diversity of membership, which is comprised of professionals in neuropsychiatry, behavioral neurology, neuropsychology, neuroradiology, neuropathology, and neurosurgery as well as the basic neurosciences, who share clinical and/or academic interests in neuropsychiatry. The interdisciplinary nature of the membership encourages collaborations among educators, clinicians, researchers, students and trainees in research presentations, symposia, workshops and/or continuing education courses. Students, fellows and other trainees are encouraged to participate and are offered discount membership and conference fees. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences (JNP) is the official publication of the organization, and is a benefit of membership.
ANPA holds its annual scientific meeting in the early spring, and provides up to 30 CME / CE credits. Joint meetings with the International Neuropsychological Society, the British Neuropsychiatry Association, and the International Neuropsychiatry Congresses have added an international dimension to the ANPA conferences. Members are encouraged to submit their work for presentation at these annual meetings. Travel awards are available for promising young investigators. Annual meeting abstracts and proceedings are published in JNP.
In 1999 the designation of Fellow of the American Neuropsychiatric Association was established in recognition of special achievement in neuropsychiatry, behavioral neurology, neuropsychology or the clinical neurosciences.
In 2001 the ANPA Career Development Award Program was instituted. It recognizes advanced trainees in psychiatry, neurology, or neuropsychology whose accomplishments during training offer promise of a successful career in neuropsychiatry and the clinical neurosciences. The award will support costs associated with participation in two consecutive Annual Meetings, establish an informal mentoring relationship between the awardee and one ANPA Fellow and facilitate the awardee’s involvement in ANPA.
ANPA has been actively engaged in efforts toward creation of subspecialty certification for neuropsychiatry including developing a core curriculum and guidelines for training in neuropsychiatry. In March 2004, a joint application from ANPA and the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology (SBCN) was submitted to the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) for recognition of the Neurological Subspecialty Area (NSA) of Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry (http://www.ucns.org/). On June 30, 2004 Behavioral Neurology & Neuropsychiatry was approved as a single subspecialty.