The WPA International Congress “Treatments in Psychiatry: A New Update” (Florence, April 1–4, 2009)
Authors: MARIO MAJ
Journal: World Psychiatry (2008)

The WPA International Congress “Treatments in Psychiatry: A New Update” will take place in Florence, Italy, from 1 to 4 April, 2009. It will be the follow-up to the 2004 WPA International Congress “Treatments in Psychiatry: An Update”, which was the second most attended psychiatric congress worldwide in that year, with almost 7,000 participants. This time, more than 8,000 participants are expected. The Congress aims to provide a high-quality, comprehensive overview of all evidence-based treatments currently available for all mental disorders. Many of the most renowned experts in the various treatment areas will be among the speakers. A first component of the Congress will be represented by the ESISM Top-Cited Scientist Lectures, which will be delivered by the scientists who attracted the highest total citations to their papers in indexed journals of psychiatry and psychology over the past 10 years (according to the Essential Science IndicatorsSM). The list of these lectures is the following: TL1. R.C. Kessler — The treatment gap in psychiatry TL2. K.S. Kendler — Psychiatric genetics: a current perspective TL3. M. Rutter — Environmentally mediated risks for psychopathology: research strategies and findings TL4. R.M. Murray — The causes of schizophrenia: neurodevelopment and other risk factors TL5. J. Biederman — Childhood antecedents of bipolar disorder: recognition and management TL6. S.V. Faraone — Diagnosis and treatment of adult ADHD TL7. H.S. Akiskal — Clinical management of bipolar disorder based on pathophysiologic understanding TL8. S.L. McElroy — Management of binge eating disorder associated with obesity TL9. P.E. Keck — What is a mood stabilizer? TL10. M.E. Thase — Long-term management of depression: the role of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapies. A second component will consist of a series of Update Lectures, which will provide a comprehensive update on some of the most significant aspects of current treatments in psychiatry. The list of these lectures is the following: UL1. R.J. Baldessarini — Disorders, syndromes, target symptoms: how do we choose medications? UL2. P. Fonagy — Psychotherapies: what works for whom? UL3. G. Thornicroft — Steps, challenges and mistakes to avoid in the development of community mental health care UL4. P.D. McGorry — Early intervention in psychiatry UL5. M.F. Green — Improving cognitive performance and real-world functioning in people with schizophrenia UL6. E. Vieta — Evidence-based comprehensive management of bipolar disorder UL7. K. Fulford — Evidence and values in psychiatric practice UL8. S.G. Resnick — Recovery and positive psychology: an update UL9. R. Drake — Management of patients with substance abuse and severe mental disorder UL10. M. Stone — Comprehensive management of borderline personality disorder in ordinary clinical practice UL11. W.W. Fleischhacker — Comparative efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia UL12. P.J. Weiden — The art and science of switching antipsychotic medications UL13. G.A. Fava — Combined and sequential treatment strategies in depression and anxiety disorders UL14. K.A. Halmi — Multimodal management of anorexia and bulimia nervosa. A further component will be represented by Update Symposia, focusing on specific treatment issues, with an active interaction between speakers and participants. The list of these symposia is the following: US1. The future of psychotherapies for psychoses (Chairperson: P. Bebbington) US2. Brain imaging in psychiatry: recent progress and clinical implications (Chairperson: L. Farde) US3. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of pharmacological treatments in psychiatry: evidence from pragmatic trials (Chairperson: J. Lieberman) US4. Endophenotypes in psychiatry (Chairperson: D. Weinberger) US5. Advances in the management of treatment-resistant psychotic disorders (Chairperson: H.-J. Möller) US6. Advances in the management of treatment-resistant depression (Chairperson: S. Kasper) US7. Advances in the management of treatment-resistant bipolar disorder (Chairperson: G.B. Cassano) US8. Patterns of collaboration between primary care and mental health services (Chairperson: V. Patel) US9. Genomics and proteomics in psychiatry: an update (Chairperson: N. Craddock) US10. Managing comorbidity of mental and physical illness (Chairperson: N. Sartorius) US11. The evolving science and practice of psychosocial rehabilitation (Chairperson: R. Warner) US12. ICD-11 and DSM-V: work in progress (Chairperson: M. Maj) US13. Violence, trauma and victimization (Chairperson: A. McFarlane) US14. Cognitive impairment: should it be part of the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia? (Chairperson: R. Keefe) US15. Management of medically unexplained somatic symptoms (Chairperson: O. Gureje) US16. Partnerships in mental health care (Chairperson: B. Saraceno) US17. Outcome in bipolar disorders: new findings and methodological challenges (Chairperson: M. Tohen) US18. Suicide prevention: integration of public health and clinical actions (Chairperson: Z. Rihmer) US19. Novel biological targets of pharmacological treatment in mental disorders (Chairperson: G. Racagni) US20. Prevention and early intervention strategies in community mental health settings (Chairperson: S. Saxena) US21. Anxiety disorders: from dimensions to targeted treatments (Chairperson: J. Zohar) US22. Cultural issues in mental health care (Chairperson: P. Ruiz) US23. The challenge of bipolar depression (Chairperson: J. Calabrese) US24. Current management of mental disorders in old age (Chairperson: C. Katona) US25. Prevention of substance abuse worldwide (Chairperson: M.E. Medina-Mora) US26. Treatment advances in child psychiatry (Chairperson: H. Remschmidt) US27. Gender-related issues in psychiatric treatments (Chairperson: D. Stewart) US28. Mental health care in low-resource countries (Chairperson: P. Deva). Moreover, the scientific programme will include Advanced Courses, Regular Symposia, Section and Zonal Symposia, Workshops, New Research Sessions, Poster Sessions, Satellite Symposia and other Sponsored Events. For further information, please contact the Scientific Secretariat (secretariat@wpa2009florence.org) or visit the website of the Congress (www.wpa2009florence.org).