database

Advances in Psychiatry, Vol 2
edited by George N. Christodoulou
Publisher: Beta Medical Publishers (2002)
ISBN 2.902.050.04.6

This book consists of a report of activities of the sections of the World Psychiatric Association. These reports were put together on the occasion of the XII World Congress of Psychiatry held in Yokohama, Japan, in August 2002. The purpose was to provide the field at large with a summary of the most relevant and up-to-date advances in the different sectors of psychiatry during the last triennium.

Without question, this aim is quite ambitious, and in many ways the book needs to be recognized as a very laudable scientific effort on the part of the editor, Dr. Christodoulou. Unfortunately, not all of the reports in the 32 sections achieve the scientific rigor expected from a project of this magnitude and relevance. Some of the reports, however, are excellent and meet expectations quite well. This is the first time that such a project was entertained by the World Psychiatric Association. One hopes that future efforts of this type will lead to a continuous improvement of the quality of the section reports. Of potential benefit would be to structure the reports in such a way that the individual authors must, for example, use citations of investigational studies and/or reviews published during the last 3-year period, define and summarize the five most important advances that occurred during the last 3-year period, and focus only on what can be demonstrated by the evidence.

What I found most useful in this book is the opportunity that it offers the busy practitioner or clinician for a quick review of some of the most relevant issues in a large spectrum of areas in the field of psychiatry. I should add, however, that this book is of limited value to the sophisticated researcher or scholar. An additional benefit of this book is the recognition of an extensive group of collaborators representing all geographical areas and schools of thought throughout the world. This, in itself, is a major success. Moreover, it represents a wealth of intellectual resources that, if appropriately channeled, could lead to unlimited and outstanding scientific contributions in the areas of research, education, and clinical practice.

database

PREFACE

The Sections of the World Psychiatric Association (currently 64) are the “scientific backbone” of our Association. That this is so is documented by the richness, quality and diversity of activities of the Sections, from research, scientific meetings and congresses to educational programs, consensus statements and publications. It is further documented by the production of this volume of state-of-the-art papers by Section Leaders which follows the first volume produced in 2002.

Each of the papers comprising this volume is an update on the progress achieved in the area covered by each participating section during the last triennium. It is difficult to find such condensed information elsewhere, especially if one considers that these articles have been prepared by worldwide authorities in their field.It is my conviction that the volume will be invaluable as a reference book not only to the Sections and the WPA components but also to the psychiatric community at large.

I want to congratulate the Editor of this volume Professor George Christodoulou who has succeeded me in the leadership of the Sections for his initiative to create this important series of state-of-the-art volumes. As predicted by Juan Lopez-Ibor in his Introduction to the first volume, owing to Professor George Christodoulou’s drive, “Advances” have developed into a tradition in the WPA. I would also like to thank our Sections for their contributions which represent the state of the art of psychiatric development.

I am confident that the volume will contribute immensely to much needed dissemination of scientific information in our field and that it will be received enthusiastically.



Professor Ahmed Okasha
President of the World Psychiatric Association