WPA Scientific Sections activities in the triennium 2014‐2017
Authors: Afzal Javed
Journal: World Psychiatry (2018)

The triennium 2014-2017 has seen a growing interest in the work of WPA's Scientific Sections. Whereas Sections continued with their contributions in the entire scientific field of mental health, they also emerged as important and integral components of WPA1. Their activities during this triennium supported WPA's remit and objectives for promotion and dissemination of scientific knowledge around the globe2. With a record number of 72 Sections in total, further interest for having more Sections to cover some other scientific disciplines continued. Although Sections do differ in the nature and extent of their activities, they have generally participated and organized sessions in WPA sponsored and co-sponsored meetings. The scientific programme of the WPA International Conference in South Africa (November 2016) included 28 symposia/workshops/round table sessions from WPA Sections. Similarly, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of Sections organizing individual meetings/sessions at WPA sponsored and co-sponsored meetings. It is reassuring to note that Sections have organized more than 275 individual sessions, 115 intersectional programmes and 110 sessions at Member Societies conferences during the triennium. This is indeed a record number. Likewise, over the last three years, the numbers of joint section activities have increased significantly. Organization of Intersection Forums has equally emerged as an innovative practice for promoting inter-sectional collaboration, and this initiative has strengthened and reinforced the need for exploring common interests among various Sections. Sections have continued with the publication of scientific reports, guidelines and their individual journals and bulletins3-5. At present, 14 Sections are publishing and supporting publication of journals to enhance the scientific knowledge in their respective fields6. Meetings of Section chairs organized at various WPA conferences during the triennium (mainly at WPA international meetings) have generated a great extent of interest among the Section officers for supporting a visible role in WPA work. Keeping in view the WPA Action Plan for 2011-2014, Sections initiated various academic and educational activities7. A number of Sections are at present involved in updating educational programmes and revising WPA website information with recent advances in their fields8, 9. Similarly, many Section members continued with their participation in the ICD-11 work and also submitted their publications to World Psychiatry10-12. We thank Prof. M. Maj for his leadership and guidance to the Section members in this regard. As per suggestions from Section chairs and having approval from the Executive Committee, special teaching sessions have also been planned at WPA co-sponsored meetings during the triennium. We requested different Section chairs/officers to give an updated account of preferred scientific topics from the expertise of the Section in these teaching programmes. This experience has proved a real success especially among the young psychiatrists. A new publication based on the Section's work, Advances in Psychiatry – Volume 4, is at the final stage of production. Thirty-six Sections have contributed to this book and we are expecting its release in the next few months. Although Sections’ work has always been acknowledged as having an important influence on the scientific performance of WPA, there have been some concerns about the low level of activity or limited reporting of activities by some of the Sections. A wide variation has been observed in the contribution of the Sections based on different measures of their functioning. Whereas Sections enjoy a great degree of independence within the framework of the statutes and by-laws of WPA, the WPA Operational Committee has recommended some revisions in the by-laws, reflecting the changing directions for Sections’ work. There have also been some initial discussions for clustering of Sections on the basis of common interests and activities. This will hopefully promote further collaboration and links among different Sections. There is a strong need for encouragement of Sections in their role of guiding and supporting WPA in their areas of expertise. Member Societies and Zone Representatives are expected to support and assist Sections in enrolment of new members and planning projects in the respective countries and regions. Afzal Javed WPA Secretary for Sections 2014-2017