Board Reviews Election Rules, Approves Gender-Identity Report

The Board voted to approve as a resource document the extensive report of the Task Force on Treatment of Gender Identity Disorder. Chaired by William Byne, M.D., Ph.D., the task force was charged to address issues that go beyond those in the purview of the DSM-5 work group that is focusing on gender identity disorder (GID). The task force was to consider treatment controversies regarding GID, especially in children; report on the extent and quality of research on GID; and recommend whether APA should develop evidence-based guidelines in this area. Separate sections of the task force report deal with children, adolescents, and adults. The task force concluded that "the current credible literature is adequate for the development of consensus-based treatment recommendations for all subgroups reviewed." In addition, the task force "concluded that for adults, sufficient evidence exists for the development of recommendations in the form of an APA practice guideline, with gaps in the research database filled in by clinical consensus."

The Board sent to the Assembly for its feedback nine proposals, each of which advocates removal of restrictions on APA election campaigning. Most have to do with amending guidelines that place strict limits on use of electronic media, such as e-mail and social networking, and other ways in which candidates and their supporters distribute and share material. The Assembly will address the proposed changes at its November meeting.

The Board approved amendments to APA's Bylaws allowing nominations by petition for the newly created position of minority/underrepresented group trustee.

Mary Helen Davis, M.D., chair of a Board of Trustees work group on maintenance of certification (MOC) issues, gave an update on the group's progress as it reviews requirements for MOC from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and the American Board of Medical Specialties. She noted that the group is expanding its work to include a review of maintenance of licensure (MOL) principles issued by the Federation of State Medical Boards. The work group is also recommending that the Board address "specific MOC/MOL concerns with the ABPN and with the AMA delegation" as part of the effort to keep APA members as informed as possible about certification and licensure procedures.