The principle
mission of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Institute is to enhance the recognition, understanding, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders.

To accomplish
this goal, the program has the following key objective: to increase the availability of regional and national clinical experts who have the enhanced skills to care for patients with mood and anxiety disorders. Toward that objective, the Institute builds upon the strength and depth of the clinical and research faculty of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Programs in the Outpatient Psychiatry Division of the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The Institute
offers advanced training to physicians, non-medical practitioners and others, via advisory and consultative relationships, seminar programs and fellowships. The program's rich continuing medical education program not only serves as an invaluable teaching tool, and is developing a national referral network that connects patients with the most advanced practitioners available in their communities.

Concomitant with
the mission of training practitioners is to influence the effectiveness of treatments available to patients. Model clinical programs will be established. In addition to an interest in advancing therapeutic research, the Institute will also help to develop educational materials for practitioners, patients, and families. The expertise of Institute faculty will also be available to policy makers involved in planning for the provision of care to patients with psychiatric disorders, including those in a clinical care payer capacity and those involved in writing legislation that influences the regulation of the standards and delivery of care