Editorial Process and Standards

Who Writes the Content

Every essay, book page, and educational piece on shariqrefai.com is authored by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, board-certified psychiatrist and founder of shrinkMD. The voice is intentional. The work is editorial. The author is named on every page.

Who Reviews the Content

Every essay is editorially reviewed by Dr. Refai before publication. Each carries a published date and a last-reviewed date. The phrasing used on essays is "Authored and editorially reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA," which is honest about the fact that the author and the reviewer are the same person.

Sources and Citations

Where essays cite specific clinical research, neuroscience findings, or treatment frameworks, sources are linked inline or listed in a References section at the end of the article. Preferred sources include peer-reviewed primary literature (PubMed-indexed papers), institutional sources (NIMH, NIH, APA, ABPN, WHO, CDC), and practice guidelines (APA, AAFP, USPSTF).

Where essays make experiential or observational claims, they're framed as editorial perspective grounded in years of clinical practice, not as cited research.

Annual Review

Every published essay is reviewed at least once per year for clinical accuracy and currency. If a meaningful change is made, the "last reviewed" date on the article is updated to reflect the review.

Correction Policy

Errors are flagged and corrected promptly. Material corrections are noted at the bottom of the affected article with the date of correction and a brief description of what changed. Minor copy or typography fixes are made silently.

If you've found an error, please report it through the contact form with "Other" selected as the inquiry type.

Advertising and Sponsorship Policy

shariqrefai.com doesn't run ads. It doesn't accept sponsored content. It doesn't take affiliate commissions on books or any external products. All third-party links are editorial.

Disclosure Policy

Dr. Refai is the founder of, and holds a material ownership interest in, shrinkMD. He's the founder of shrinQ, an independent self-guided digital mental wellness program. He's the creator of the Unstuck app. He's the author of three books published through shrinkMD Publishing. These relationships are disclosed at every relevant reference across the site.

Dr. Refai serves as the medical editor for four independent editorial publications, AnxietyResource.org, DepressionResource.org, AnxietyResearch.org, and PsychiatryRx.org. These publications are operated separately from shariqrefai.com.

Reader Feedback

Feedback, questions, and suggestions are welcome through the contact form. Reader feedback informs which topics get covered next and which existing essays get expanded.