On behalf of the Psychiatry Department at Hamad Medical Corporation I wish to extend a warm welcome to all our delegates and speakers at the 2015 ‘Qatar International Psychiatry Conference: The science of Psychiatry: new developments’.
As the title suggest, we are focussing on the science that underpins clinical practice with updates on the latest developments in the rapidly developing fields of Neuroscience, Genetics, Behavioural and Clinical Science and Therapeutics. This year we continue our proud tradition of providing a rich scientific menu that brings together scientists, researchers, clinical psychiatrists and other mental health professionals, from across the globe. We look forward to sharing their expertise across these subjects, vital to our understanding, and practice, of Psychiatry.
Our plenary speakers include: Professor Sir Robin Murray, who pioneered the ‘developmental model’ of schizophrenia over 30 years ago, will bring us up to date with how the latest social dimensions integrate into the biological model. His latest work also demonstrates that the prognosis for those who suffer from schizophrenia is better than we thought, bringing new hope to many.
Professor Nick Craddock, an international expert in psychiatric genetics will bring us up to date with how genes play a crucial role in moulding serious mental illness. As current Treasurer of the Royal College of Psychiatrists UK he has also made a major impact on advancing careers and training in academic Psychiatry, so is well placed to open the debate on whether or not DSM-V is helpful clinically. Continuing the theme of causation, Professor Sommer will talk about the novel area of inflammation and how that may contribute to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia.
Additionally, our experts, Professor Castle and Sommer both focus on how we can understand important distressing clinical symptoms: emotional blunting and hallucinations.
We will be brought up to date with new treatments for a range of disorders. Depression, that presents one of the most disabling illness worldwide, is often resistant to treatment. Professor Ghee will share his expertise in this area as well as bring a global perspective to mental healthcare. Professor Naser Loza will explore ideas around stigma, pertinent to Qatar as we develop psychiatry services here.
We welcome a true scientific pioneer, Professor Tony Barker, who will talk about transcranial magnetic stimulation, a technique that he invented which has had a major global impact in providing an alternative approach to treating people with depression.
Professor Summers brings a perspective of self-reflection and positive psychiatry into the therapeutic arena. Professor Castle will update us on the science to help us help patients stop smoking.
By bringing together experts from USA, Europe, Australia and the Middle East we endeavour to stimulate much discussion and ongoing collaboration across the globe, ultimately for the benefit of our patients.
I am most grateful for huge support from the Organising and Scientific Committees and Hamad Medical Corporation, including financial support from the Academic Health System that helped make this conference possible.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the conference.
With kind regards,
Professor Peter Woodruff, Chair of Psychiatry, Hamad Medical Corporation, on behalf of the Organizing and Scientific Committees.
