First earned a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from
Princeton University in 1978. He then graduated from
University of Pittsburgh with a master's degree, also in Computer Science, and a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1983. He did his psychiatric residency at
Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center and a fellowship in
biometrics at the
New York State Psychiatric Institute. He is certified with the
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology. First frequently writes on diagnostic criteria, particularly diagnostic controversies. He has written on several of these controversies, including
depression,
eating disorders, and desire for
amputation or
paralysis, calling it
body integrity identity disorder. He has provided expert opinion and testimony on several high-profile cases, including the federal trial of the accused Al Qaeda terrorist
Zacarias Moussaoui. First co-authored ''Am I Okay?: A Layman's Guide to the Psychiatrist's Bible'' with psychiatrist
Allen Frances. ==Selected publications==