WPA publications: opportunities to improve psychiatric research and inform clinical care and education
Authors: Michelle B. Riba
Journal: World Psychiatry (2013)

The WPA publications program has a long tradition of distributing and disseminating information regarding psychiatric research, evidence-based clinical care, and education and training to psychiatrists and other mental health clinicians throughout the world; promoting psychiatric services and research in low and middle income countries; and improving the capacity and capabilities of the publishing infrastructure of WPA. The WPA has a scientific publications operational committee and an executive committee to help guide its publications agenda. There is also a WPA assembly comprised of member societies and groups where the goals, objectives and performance of the scientific publications program are presented and reviewed on a triennial basis. Since 2002, a major contribution of the publications effort has been the official journal of the Association, World Psychiatry, edited by Professor Mario Maj, a highly recognized journal whose impact factor has been continuously increasing 1 and is now 8.974. The journal is translated from English into six languages (Spanish, Chinese, Russian, French, Arabic and Turkish), indexed in PubMed, and now published by Wiley-Blackwell, and serves to present and disseminate cutting-edge scientific work that is read across the world by clinicians, educators and researchers. In addition, the scientific publications group helps to organize and promote successful book series, such as Depression and Heart Disease 2, Depression and Diabetes 3 and Depression and Cancer 4. These books are highly useful and have been recently translated into Spanish. The very active Scientific Sections of the WPA are increasingly interested in developing their publications portfolios. Several of the Sections have their own newsletters or journals and are actively publishing books that address the various topics studied and researched by the Section members. The books often present an international focus, and include authors from many countries, working in a wide distribution of psychiatric sites and types of clinical and research settings. One of the more important areas of work is how to best disseminate information and research to low and middle income countries. The WPA, under the leadership of President Pedro Ruiz, has tried to provide books, at no cost to WPA members, with distribution at WPA and other psychiatric meetings. These programs have been viewed as very successful and helpful. President Elect Dinesh Bhugra is actively developing a platform for further writing and dissemination of work for low and middle income countries and ways to help inform those clinicians who live in remote or rural areas of the world. We are also much focused on helping to promote the next generation of psychiatric researchers and educators and continuously are looking for ways to promote dissemination and opportunities for publications for medical students, psychiatry residents and junior faculty. Symposia and workshop sessions are held at local, regional and international WPA meetings to help educate and train junior colleagues as to how to bring their work to scientific publication. Other opportunities for publications within the WPA include the WPA Depression Bulletin, edited by Driss Moussaoui, and small articles in the WPA Newsletter, as well as particular projects that evolve from some of the educational efforts and WPA meetings held throughout the world. Examples are the WPA guidances, educational modules and recommendations (e.g., 5-10), available on the WPA website (www.wpanet.org). In conclusion, the WPA scientific publications program is robust and looks to partnering with individuals and groups to provide information and materials that help support the vast needs and public health efforts of psychiatric research, clinical care and research throughout the world.