Approved Minutes - World Psychiatric Association

World Psychiatric Association
Approved Minutes
of the
World Psychiatric Association
General Assembly
22 September 2008
Prague, Czech Republic

Minutes of the
World Psychiatric Association General Assembly
Prague, Czech Republic
22 September 2008
Extraordinary General Assembly
1. Opening by the President (Chairperson of the Assembly)
1.1 The Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) was opened by the Assembly
Chair, Prof. Juan Mezzich, President of the WPA at 09:30 hours on
September 22, 2008.
1.2 Apologies for absence were received from the following Council Members: P. Berner,
C. Stefanis, P. Pichot and F. Schulsinger.
2. Record of attendance, statement of quorum, and determination of voting
strength
The Accreditation Committee (AC) Chaired by Prof. Sam Tyano submitted its report to the
Extraordinary General Assembly concerning the registration of Member Societies, their dues
payments, and voting strength (see Appendix A). The total number of Member Societies
represented and fully accredited at the General Assembly was 102 out of 134 full Member
Societies. The level required for quorum was a third of Member Societies. Therefore, a quorum
was established.
3. Adoption of Assembly agenda and work procedures
The agenda as proposed by the EC and circulated previously to Member Societies was approved.
The agreed procedures for the work of the Assembly were those contained in the Manual of
Procedures, 4 th Ed., Chapter 3.
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

4. Discussion and approval of proposed amendments of Statutes and
By-Laws
Prof. Juan Mezzich introduced the proposed amendments to the Statutes and By-Laws within the
framework of a comprehensive proposal from the Executive Committee. The amendments were
approved by all delegates. The full text of new WPA Statutes and By-laws is enclosed as
Appendix B.
Highlights of the approved amendments of the WPA Statutes and By-Laws include:
• New structures for the Council and Board to improve their effectiveness.
• Changes to the composition of the Operational Committee on Sections to improve the
representation from Section Chairs.
• Procedures for the establishment or continuation of Institutional Programmes and evaluation
of their work.
5. Agreement on procedure for approving the minutes of the Extraordinary
General Assembly
The proposed procedure was approved.
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

Ordinary General Assembly
1. Opening by the President (Chairperson of the Assembly)
1.1 Opening remarks: The Ordinary General Assembly (GA) was opened by the Assembly
Chair, Prof. Juan Mezzich, (WPA President) at 10:30 hours on September 22, 2008.
Apologies for absence were received from the following Council
Members: P. Berner, C. Stefanis, P. Pichot and F. Schulsinger.
1.2 Record of attendance, statement of quorum, and determination of voting strength
The Accreditation Committee (AC) Chaired by Prof. Sam Tyano submitted its report to
the Extraordinary General Assembly concerning the registration of Member Societies,
their dues payments, and voting strength (see Appendix A). The total number of Member
Societies represented and fully accredited at the General Assembly was 102 out of 134
full Member Societies. The level required for quorum was a third of Member Societies.
Therefore, a quorum was established.
1.3 Adoption of Assembly agenda and work procedures
The agenda as proposed by the EC and circulated previously to Member Societies was
approved. The agreed procedures for the work of the Assembly are those contained in
the Manual of Procedures, 4 th Ed., Chapter 3.
1.4 Obituary of Past WPA Council and Board Members
There were no obituaries
.
2. Admission, name change and termination of Members
2.1 The General Assembly approved unanimously the admission of the following ad-hoc
Member Societies:
Country
Jamaica
Libya
Montenegro
Nepal
Saudi Arabia
Name of Society
Jamaica Psychiatric Association
Libyan Association of Psychiatry, Neurology and
Neurosurgery
Montenegrin Psychiatric Association
Psychiatrists’ Association of Nepal
Saudi Psychiatric Association
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

The General Assembly approved the following changes of names of Member Societies:
Country
Change of Name
Serbia From: Psychiatric Association of Serbia and Montenegro
To: Serbian Psychiatric Association
Serbia From: YUCO-Association of Psychiatric Institutions of Serbia
and Montenegro
To: Association of Psychiatric Institutions of Serbia - UPUS
The General Assembly approved unanimously the change of Zone of the following
Member Society
Country
Bolivian Society of
Psychiatry
Change of Zone
From: Zone 4 – Northern South America
To: Zone 5 – Southern South America
The General Assembly approved unanimously the admission of the following ad-hoc Affiliated
Associations:
Name of Association
ALFAPSY – Alternative Fédérative des Associations de Psychiatrie (France)
Institute of Australasian Psychiatrists (Australia)
Lithuanian Cultural Psychiatry Association (Lithuania)
Society of Preventive Psychiatry (Greece)
World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders (Canada)
The General Assembly approved unanimously the re-formation of an existing Affiliated
Association:
Name of Association
Society for the Settlement of Physically and Mentally Disabled (SSPMD) (Ghana)
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

3. Election of new members of the Executive Committee and of Zone
Representatives
3.1 It was reported that at the recent meeting of the Board of the WPA the report of the
Nominations Committee was approved.
The GA then agreed to proceed as recommended by the Nominations Committee and the
Board.
3.2 The GA appointed a voting Committee composed as follows:
Profs. Felice Lieh-Mak (Chair), Antoine Besse, Roger Montenegro, and Afzal Javed.
3.3 The newly elected members of the Executive Committee, as reported by the Voting
Committee Chair upon completion of the successful electronic voting procedures were
as follows:
President Elect:
Secretary – General
Secretary for Finances
Secretary for Meetings
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Prof. Pedro Ruiz (USA)
(P. Ruiz 808 votes; G. Christodoulou 196 votes; J. Cox 78 votes)
Prof. Levent Küey (Turkey)
(L. Küey 580 votes; J. Arboleda-Florez 260 votes; O. Gureje 242
votes)
Prof. Tsuyoshi Akiyama (Japan)
(T. Akiyama 634 votes; E. Belfort 281 votes; J. Trivedi 167 votes)
Prof. Tarek Okasha (Egypt)
(T. Okasha 550 votes; M. Botbol 296 votes; B. Singh 170 votes; S.
Abdel Azim 47 votes)
3.4 The newly elected Zonal Representatives were the following:
WPA ZONAL REPRESENTATIVES
Zone 1 Canada Raymond Tempier (Canada)
(R. Tempier 816 votes)
Zone 2 United States of America Michelle B. Riba (USA)
(M. Riba 897 votes)
Zone 3 Mexico, Central America and
the Caribbean
Mauricio Sanchez (Nicaragua)
(M. Sanchez 416 votes; S. Murillo 399 votes)
Zone 4 Northern South America Fabrizio Delgado (Ecuador)
(F. Delgado 443 votes; S. Sarabia 398 votes)
Zone 5 Southern South America Luis Risco (Chile)
(L. Risco 811 votes)
Zone 6 Western Europe Linda Gask (UK)
(L. Gask 542 votes; G. Apter 382 votes)
Zone 7 Northern Europe Henrik Wahlberg (Sweden)
(H. Wahlberg 843 votes)
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

Zone 8 Southern Europe Miguel Roca Bennasar (Spain)
(M. Roca Bennasar 520 votes; Z. Zemishlany 424
votes)
Zone 9 Central Europe Dusica Lecic-Tosevski (Serbia)
(D. Lecic-Tosevski 807 votes)
Zone 10 Eastern Europe Armen Soghoyan (Armenia)
(A. Soghoyan 630 votes; V. Krasnov 333 votes)
Zone 11 Northern Africa Driss Moussaoui (Morocco)
(D. Moussaoui 796 votes)
Zone 12 Middle East Charles Baddoura (Lebanon)
(C. Baddoura 810 votes)
Zone 13 Central and Western Africa Joseph Adeyemi (Nigeria)
(J. Adeyemi 825 votes)
Zone 14 Eastern and Southern Africa Solomon Rataemane (South Africa)
(S. Rataemane 649 votes; T. Rangaka 156 votes)
Zone 15 Central and Western Asia S. Ahmed Jalili (Iran)
(S. Ahmed Jalili 451 votes; H. Chaudhry 420
votes)
Zone 16 Southern Asia E. Mohandas (India)
(E. Mohandas 464 votes; R. Kallivayalil 442
votes)
Zone 17 Eastern Asia Naotaka Shinfuku (Japan)
(N. Shinfuku 849 votes)
Zone 18 Australasia and the South Pacific Julian Freidin (Australia)
(J. Freidin 606 votes; U. Ambihaipahar 316 votes)
When the election results were announced the GA warmly applauded the newly elected
Members of the Executive Committee and the Zonal Representatives.
4. Reports of the Executive Committee, Standing Committees and Task Forces
The reports of the Executive Committee members concerning their area of responsibilities, as
well as those for their respective Institutional Programs, Standing and Operational Committees,
Task Forces and other important activities were presented to the GA. The reports of the
Executive Committee as included in the General Assembly Folder are Appendix C.
4.1.1 The President of WPA, Prof. Juan Mezzich, gave a detailed overview of WPA work and
the status of World Psychiatry. This included a full review of the General Governance of
WPA, the implementation of the 4 th edition of the Manual of Procedures and the
enhancement of the electoral process using a new Electronic Voting Procedure and the
proposal for an independent Electoral Commission. During his extensive report he
highlighted the growth of WPA and the special Programs and Task Forces.
Prof. Juan Mezzich made specific reference to the report from the Ethics and Review
Committees which were available to delegates in the General Assembly folder.
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1 April 2009

He highlighted particularly the wide spread interest in the Institutional Program on
Psychiatry for the Person and the strengthening of the Institutional Program for Young
Psychiatrists.
At the conclusion of his report several delegates expressed their appreciation for his
committed work over a long period of service to World Psychiatric Association and in
particular his leadership of the Institutional Program on Psychiatry for the Person and the
major impact of the Young Psychiatrists Council.
The reports from the President, President-Elect, Secretary-General, Secretary for
Finances, Secretary for Education, Secretary for Meetings, Secretary for Publications
and Secretary for Sections were each presented from the podium; they were each
unanimously approved by the General Assembly.
The reports of the Ethics and the Review Committees as included in the General
Assembly folder were warmly approved and endorsed.
The reports of the Task Forces (included in the General Assembly folders) on Brain
Drain, Physician’s Health and Violence and Mental Health were each received by the
General Assembly.
5. Approval of the WPA Financial Account
The preliminary report from the Auditors was presented and approved (Appendix D)
6. Approval of the selection of auditors for the period 2005-2008
The Geneva firm Fiduciaire Revact S.A, as proposed by the Executive Committee
was approved by the GA.
7. Admission, name change and reinstatement of Sections
Admission of new Sections:
The following new Sections were admitted by the GA.
Sections
Section on Perinatal Psychiatry and Infant Mental Health
Chairs
Nicole Garret-Gloanec
7.2 Section Names changes were approved as follows:
From:
Section on Psychiatry of Mental Retardation
To:
Section on Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

The Secretary-General reported to the General Assembly on the proposed change of name of the
Section of Psycho- Oncology to the section of Psycho- Oncology and Palliative Care. He
indicated that although the proposal had not been submitted in time for its full consideration by
the EC and wider consultation, he had discussed this matter with the Secretary for Sections and
the Chair of the Psycho-Oncology Section. As this was not a controversial matter, and there were
no known objections, he sought the approval of the General Assembly to this change of name.
This was agreed.
8. Conferral of Honorary Membership and Honorary Fellowship
The GA by acclamation conferred Honorary Membership to the following colleagues for having
excelled in their service to WPA:
Michaela Amering
Florence Baingana
Cho Chung
Luis Enrique Rivero
Julian Freidin
Bill Fulford
Oye Gureje
Sheila Hollins
Ma Hong
Thomas Kallert
Fred Kigozi
Levent Kuey
Cristobal Martinez
Alberto Monchablon
Frank Njenga
Ihsan Salloum
Luis Salvador-Carulla
Hans-Otto Thomashoff
Jitendra Trivedi
Ferenc Tury
Ron Wintrob
Zeping Xiao
The GA by acclamation conferred Honorary Fellowship to the following for their particularly
distinguished contributions towards the fulfillment of WPA goals:
John Cox
Hamid Ghodse
Francois Ferrero
Sam Tyano
The GA endorsed a Presidential Commendation to Prof. Roger Montenegro.
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

9. Policy and other Action Items
9.1 WPA Action Plan 2008 – 2011
The WPA 2008-2011 Action Plan was presented by the President Elect. The Plan
includes ten institutional goals and several activities by which each goal will be pursued.
The institutional goals are the following:
1. To enhance the image of psychiatry worldwide among the general public, health
professionals and policy makers.
2. To partner with Member Societies in their efforts to improve the quality of mental
health care, education and research in their countries and regions, and in their attempts to
upgrade their own structure, governance and organizational capacity.
3. To promote the dissemination of information on recent clinical, service and research
developments in such a way that it can be assimilated by psychiatrists of all regions of
the world.
4. To promote the professional development of young psychiatrists worldwide.
5. To contribute to the integration of mental health care into primary care in low-income
countries.
6. To foster the participation of psychiatrists from all regions of the world in the
international dialogue on clinical, service and research issues.
7. To promote the highest ethical standards in psychiatric practice and advocate for the
rights of persons with mental disorders in all regions of the world.
8. To promote the establishment of networks of scientists conducting collaborative
research in the mental health field.
9. To increase the visibility and credibility of the Association at the international level.
10. To build up a long-term, solid and transparent partnership with potential donors.
The Plan was received enthusiastically by the Assembly. There were a number of
comments that followed, including the recommendation that activities aimed to
encourage the development of a person-centered practice in psychiatry and medicine
should be more explicitly identified. It was also recommended that the specific priority
to facilitate mental health work in developing countries would be emphasized. These
additions were approved by a clear majority by show of hands. The Action Plan with the
addition of these two items was then approved unanimously by the General Assembly.
Presentation of the voting results
After completion of item 9.1 the Assembly Chair invited the Chair of the voting
committee to present the election results. And suggested that there would be a short
break to congratulate the newly elected Officers. After the break the number of delegates
remaining in the hall was 44 (below the required quorum) and it was agreed that the
Assembly should continue but without any votes being taken.
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

9.2 Adjustments of the Madrid Declaration and Additional Specific Ethical Guidelines.
No adjustments were presented.
9.3 WPA Institutional Programs
A statement by the Executive Committee recommending that current Institutional
Programmes be re-discussed by the new Executive Committee was read.
9.4 Adoption of WPA Consensus and Position Statements
No such statements were presented.
9.5 Items submitted by Member Societies
A statement from the UK Royal College of Psychiatrists on Global Warming and Mental
Health was explained by Prof. Sheila Hollins, who wished this matter to be further
considered by the WPA.
10. Approval of procedures concerning the review and approval of the Minutes
of the General Assembly
The GA approved the proposed procedure.
11. Approval of the Secretary General’s summary of the proceedings and
conclusions at the General Assembly.
The President summarized some of the main decisions of the general assembly.
12. Presentation of the New Officers Elected.
The Assembly chair presented the officers elected, who received a round of applause.
13. Greetings by the new WPA President
Prof. Mario Maj summarized the WPA institutional goals for the triennium 2008-2011, as listed
in the Action Plan, and emphasized that the implementation of the Plan requires the active
collaboration of all WPA components.
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

14. Closure by the Chairperson of the Assembly
Prof. Juan E. Mezzich remarked on the success of the Assembly dealing with detailed reports
and major action items, noting also widespread satisfaction with the innovative, transparent, and
efficient electronic voting procedure used for the first time. He then closed the General
Assembly.
General Assembly Appendices –
A. List of Member Societies present and voting strength
B. Amended Statutes and By-Laws (full text)
C. Reports from all the EC Members
D. Preliminary Audit Report
E. WPA Action Plan 2008-2011 – as approved by the General Assembly (see
Item 9.1)
___________________
Prof. Levent Küey
WPA Secretary General
__________________
Prof. Mario Maj
WPA President
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Approved Minutes of the World Psychiatric Association General Assembly, Prague, Czech Republic, 22 September 2008
1 April 2009

Appendix A
World Psychiatric Association
General Assembly
22 September 2008
Member Society Voting Strength

Country and Name of
Represented Society
Number of
Votes 2008
AlGERIA, , Algerian Psychiatric Association 6
ARGENTINA, Argentinean Association of
Psychiatrists
ARGENTINA, Association of Argentinean
Psychiatrists
ARGENTINA, Foundation for Interdisciplinary
Investigation of Communication (FINTECO)
ARMENIA, Armenian Association of Psychiatrists
& Narcologists
AUSTRALIA, Royal Australian and New Zealand
College of Psychiatrists
AUSTRIA, Austrian Association for Psychiatry &
Psychotherapy
17
22
3
5
26
7
AZERBAIJAN, Azerbaijan Psychiatric Association
BARBADOS, Barbados Association of Psychiatrists
BELGIUM, Society of Flemish Neurologists and
Psychiatrists
5
1
14

BOLIVIA, Bolivian Society of Psychiatry 5
BRAZIL, Brazilian Association of Psychiatry 27
BRAZIL, Psychiatric Association of Rio de Janeiro
State
BRAZIL, Society of Psychiatry of Rio Grande do
Sul
BULGARIA, Bulgarian Psychiatric Association 9
CANADA, Canadian Psychiatric Association 24
CHILE, Society of Neurology, Psychiatry and
Neurosurgery
CHINA, Chinese Society of Psychiatry 9
CHINA, Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists 5
15
9
6
COLUMBIA, Columbian Association of Psychiatry
5
COSTA RICA, Costa Rican Psychiatric Association
CUBA, Cuban Society of Psychiatry 9
CYPRUS, Cyprus Psychiatric Association 3
2
CZECH REPUBLIC, Czech Psychiatric Association
16

DENMARK, Danish Psychiatric Association 18
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, Dominican Society of
Psychiatry
ECUADOR, Ecuadorian Association of Psychiatry 4
EGYPT, Egyptian Psychiatric Association 19
EL SALVADOR, Salvadorean Association of
Psychiatry
ESTONIA, Estonian Psychiatric Association 4
FINLAND, Finnish Psychiatric Association 18
FRANCE, French Association of Psychiatry 5
FRANCE, French, Association of Psychiatrists in
Private Practice
FRANCE, Medical Psychologic Society 14
FRANCE, Psychiatric Information Society 23
FRANCE, The Psychiatric Evolution 10
GERMANY, German Society of Psychiatry,
Psychotherapy and Neurology
GREECE, Hellenic Psychiatric Association 19
GREECE, Hellenic Society of Neurology &
Psychiatry
4
1
14
28
8
GUATEMALA, Guatemalan Psychiatric Association
2

HONDURAS, Honduran Society of Psychiatry 2
HUNGARY, Hungarian Psychiatric Association 8
INDIA, Indian Association of Social Psychiatry 10
INDIA, Indian Psychiatric Society 23
IRAN, Iranian Psychiatric Association 13
IRAQ, Iraqi Society of Psychiatrists 3
ISRAEL, Israeli Psychiatric Association 14
ITALY, Italian Association for Research in
Schizophrenia
ITALY, Italian Psychiatric Association 40
JAPAN, Japanese Society of Psychiatry &
Neurology
JORDAN, Jordan Association of Psychiatrists 2
KAZAKHSTAN, Kazakh Association of Psychiatrists
& Narcologists
KENYA, Kenya Psychiatric Association 3
KOREA, Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 19
LATVIA, Latvian Psychiatric Association 5
LEBANON, Lebanese Psychiatric Association 1
5
40
2

LIBYA, Libyan Association of Psychiatry and
Neurosurgery
LITHUANIA, Lithuanian Psychiatric Association 11
MACEDONIA, Psychiatric Association of
Macedonia (FYROM)
MALAYSIA, Malaysian Psychiatric Association 5
MEXICO, Mexican Psychiatric Association 20
MOLDOVA, League for Mental Health from
Republic of Moldova
MONTENEGRO, Psychiatry Association of
Montenegro
MOROCCO, Moroccan Society of Psychiatry 8
NEPAL - Psychiatrists' Association of Nepal 1
NETHERLANDS, Netherlands Psychiatric
Association
NICARAGUA, Nicaraguan Psychiatric Association
NIGERIA, Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria 3
NORWAY, Norwegian Psychiatric Association 18
PAKISTAN, Pakistan Psychiatric Society 3
PANAMA, Panamanian Society of Psychiatry 2
PAPUA NEW GUINEA, Papua New Guinea
Psychiatric Association
1
4
3
3
21
2
1

PARAGUAY, Paraguayan Society of Psychiatry
PERU, Peruvian Psychiatry Association
PHILIPPINES, Philippine Psychiatric Association
POLAND, Polish Psychiatric Association
PORTUGAL, Portuguese Society of Psychiatry and
Mental Health
ROMANIA, Romanian Psychiatric Association
RUSSIA, Independent Psychiatric Association of
Russia
RUSSIA, Russian Society of Psychiatrists
SAUDI ARABIA , Saudi Psychiatric Association
SERBIA, Association of Psychiatric Institutions of
Serbia (UPUS)
SERBIA, Psychiatric Association of Serbia
SINGAPORE, Singapore Psychiatric Association
SLOVAK REPUBLIC, Slovak Psychiatric Association
SPAIN, Spanish Association of Neuropsychiatry
SPAIN, Spanish Society of Psychiatry*
2
8
4
17
7
13
7
14
5
3
16
2
6
15
18

SRI LANKA, Sri Lanka College of Psychiatrists 2
SWEDEN, Swedish Psychiatric Association 22
SWITZERLAND, Swiss Society of Psychiatry 22
TAIWAN, Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry 21
THAILAND, Psychiatric Association of Thailand 8
TUNISIA, Tunisian Society of Psychiatry 3
TURKEY, Psychiatric Association of Turkey 20
TURKEY, Turkish Neuro-Psychiatric Association 9
UGANDA, Uganda Psychiatric Association 2
UKRAINE, Ukraine Scientific Society of
Neurologists, Psychiatrists & Narcologists
UNITED KINGDOM, The Royal College of
Psychiatrists
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, American
Psychiatric Association
URUGUAY, Society of Psychiatry of Uruguay 7
UZBEKISTAN, Association of Psychiatrists of
Uzbekistan
VENEZUELA, Venezuelan Society of Psychiatry 15
4
40
40
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APPENDIX B
AMENDMENTS TO THE WPA STATUTES
Section III, Item 18, paragraph 1 – The Board
The Board of the WPA comprises the WPA Zone Representatives and the members of the
Executive Committee (as ex-officio members without the right to vote). The members of the
Executive Committee will be invited to attend the meetings of the Board.
Section III, Item 19, paragraphs 2-4 – Board meetings
The WPA President will chair the meetings of the Board. In his or her absence it will be
chaired by the President-Elect and, in the absence of both, by a member of the Executive
Committee. The Zone Representatives will appoint among themselves the chairperson of each
meeting of the Board. A Zone Representative cannot chair two consecutive meetings of the
Board.
The WPA President Secretary General will draw the agenda of the Board meetings after
consultation with its members and the Executive Committee.
The quorum for the Board meetings will be half plus one of the members of the Executive
Committee, including the President or the President-Elect and one third of the Zone
Representatives. its members.
Section IV, Item 24, paragraph 1 – The President
The President chairs all meetings of the General Assembly, the Board, and the Executive
Committee, and the Advisory Council and is responsible for the implementation of the
decisions of these bodies.
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Section IV, Item 25 – The President-Elect (Vice-President)
In the absence of the President, or if the President is unable to carry out his or her functions,
the President-Elect (Vice-President) shall preside over the meetings of the Executive
Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Board, the Council and the General Assembly.
Section IV, Item 32 – Election of members of the Executive Committee
The members of the Executive Committee are elected by the General Assembly, in
accordance with the By-laws. No elected member of the Executive Committee may serve for
more than one 6-year term of office, either consecutive or non-consecutive, with the exception
that any member, or former member, of the Executive Committee may be elected to the
position of President-Elect (Vice-President).
Section IV, Item 34 – Institutional Programmes
Institutional Programmes aim at achieving broad WPA purposes as stated in the WPA Statutes.
Approval of the establishment or continuation of an Institutional Programme is granted by the
Executive Committee and ratified by the General Assembly. Proposals for the establishment of
an Institutional Programme should include a description of the rationale, the objectives, the
steps of the implementation and the expected outcome of the programme, as well as a budget
and the indication of sources of financial support. After an Institutional Programme is
established, an annual report on its progress should be submitted to the Executive Committee
for evaluation.
Section VI, Item 38 – Composition and tasks of the Advisory Council
The Advisory Council is composed of the previous Presidents of the WPA as life members,
and Secretaries General of the WPA and the members of the immediately preceding
Executive Committee after the end of the membership in the Executive Committee (the
2

Secretary General for a period of six years, the other members for a period of three years). (see
item 18 of the By-laws).
The members of the Executive Committee will be invited to attend the meetings of the Council.
The members of the Council will appoint among themselves the chairperson of each meeting of
the Council. A member of the Council cannot chair two consecutive meetings of the Council.
The Advisory Council offers comments and recommendations and advice to the Executive
Committee and the Board about any matters that are assigned to it for review. The Advisory
Council shall be kept informed about the work of the WPA and its advice will be sought on
matters that affect affecting the mission and strategy of WPA, and may propose items for the
agenda of the General Assembly. These include changes to the Statutes and By-Laws, main
themes of the scientific programs of World Congresses, and the Strategic and Financial
Triennial Plans. The Executive Committee sets the agenda for the meetings of the Advisory
Council. The members of the Advisory Council shall be invited to suggest items for inclusion
on the agenda of the Advisory Council.
The WPA President will draw the agenda of the meetings of the Council after consultation with
its members and the Executive Committee.
3

AMENDMENTS TO THE WPA BY-LAWS
Section III, Item 11(a) – The Board
Meetings of the Board: Subject to availability of funds, the Zone Representatives with the
members of the Executive Committee as the WPA Board will meet at least once between two
Ordinary General Assemblies and once on the occasion of those. Board teleconferences may
be held in addition or substitution of meetings between World Congresses.
The President of the WPA will chair the meetings of the WPA Board. The Zone
Representatives will appoint among themselves the chairperson of each meeting of the Board. A
Zone Representative cannot chair two consecutive meetings of the Board.
The WPA President Secretary General will draft the agenda for the meetings of the Board
after consultation with its members and the Executive Committee. The draft agenda and
relevant documents for Board meetings will be distributed to its members by the Secretary
General at least one month before the meeting takes place.
Section III, Item 12, paragraph 1 – The Zone Representatives
The President of the WPA chairs all meetings of the Zone Representatives.
Section III, Item 13, paragraph 1 – Election of the Zone Representatives
Zone Representatives are elected for an initial period of three years and they can stand
competitively for re-election for a second period of three years. They are not eligible for reelection
for a consecutive third period. It is advisable that the Representative of a Zone be not
from the same country of his/her immediate predecessor.
4

Section V, Item 16 – The Nomination Process
The Members of the Nomination Committee should be appointed at least one year before
the election takes place. The Nomination Committee ensures that nominations are valid and
the candidates are eligible. All valid nominations for eligible candidates for election will be
presented to the General Assembly. The Nomination Committee makes proposals
concerning all posts for which candidates are to be elected by the Assembly. It can also
make proposals concerning the voting procedures, and give its views on other relevant
matters.
Section VI, Item 18 – The Advisory Council
The Advisory Council shall be composed of the WPA Past Presidents as life members, and
the members of the immediately preceding Executive Committee (the Secretary General for a
period of six years, the other members for a period of three years). and Past Secretaries
General serving as life-long members, and the members of the immediately preceding
Executive Committee (who will remain on the Advisory Council for three years). The term
of members serving in the Advisory Council starts at the end of their membership in the
Executive Committee.
The members of the Executive Committee will be invited to attend the meetings of the Council.
The WPA President and Secretary General are ex-officio members of the Advisory Council
without the right to vote.
The members of the Council will appoint among themselves the chairperson of each meeting of
the Council. A member of the Council cannot chair two consecutive meetings of the Council.
The meetings of the Advisory Council are chaired by the WPA President.
The WPA President who sets the agenda for the Advisory Council meetings after consultation
with the Executive Committee and Advisory Council its members and the Executive
Committee.
5

Section VII, Item 23 – The Committee on Sections
The Committee on Sections will consist of five members, including the Secretary for
Sections, who will chair it. Members will be appointed by the President upon the
recommendation of the Executive Committee and the Secretary for Sections, for an initial
period of three years. At least two of the members of the Committee should be selected among
the Section Chairs. Then, at At the completion of this initial period, as a general guideline,
not more than three, and not less than two of the members of the Committee may be
reappointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and the
Secretary for Sections for a second term of three years.
Section VII, Item 33(a,b) – Section Officers
Any Section Member is eligible to be a member of the Section Committee and/or a Section
Officer except for members of the WPA Executive Committee. Board and Council. At least
two of the Section Officers must be qualified psychiatrists.
It is preferable that a A Section Member serves should serve no more than six consecutive
years in a particular post of the Committee and no more than nine consecutive years as a
member of the Section Committee.
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August 24, 2008
Agenda Item 4.1.1-1
Prof. Juan E. Mezzich
REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT:
OVERVIEW OF WPA WORK AND STATUS OF WORLD PSYCHIATRY
The institutional journey that psychiatrists of the world initiated in September 1957 to establish the
World Psychiatric Association took its most recent steps in the present triennium. The Strategic Plan
2005-2008 and the Presidential Theme, Institutional Consolidation and Global Impact: Towards a Psychiatry for
the Person, presented at the General Assembly in Cairo, framed our work. The documentation of the
fulfillment of the Strategic Plan through a consultation with key officers and through a General Survey
with Members Societies and Scientific Sections and other WPA Components constitute the main bases
for the present overview, which is organized into major areas of WPA work. Some brief reflections on
the status of world psychiatry complete the President's Report.
General Governance
A first in WPA’s record has been the WPA Governance Plans 2005-2008 (WPA, 2006). It encompasses
the Strategic Plan approved by the General Assembly in Cairo and the triennial workplans prepared by
each of the members of the Executive Committee, Zonal Representatives, and chairs of Standing
Committees and Institutional Programs. Yearly evaluations of the Plans fulfillment have been carried
out.
The appointment of Standing and Operational Committees was an exercise in participatory governance
involving a call for proposals sent to all our Member Societies. As a result, colleagues of very high
professional experience and stature, including more women and representatives of all four WPA
Regions than ever before, were appointed. Their work was consistently productive and appreciated.
1

The Fourth Edition of the Manual of Procedures (WPA, 2008) was completed and then immediately
posted on WPA Online. The Manual reflects amendments of the Statutes and By-Laws approved at the
latest General Assembly as well as laboriously gained operational experience, and constitutes a major
tool for enhancing institutional effectiveness and transparency.
The Standing Committee on Nominations, building on the recommendations of an ad-hoc taskforce,
elaborated enhanced operational guidelines. The Committee has also recommended the establishment
of an independent Electoral Commission and has worked out in conjunction with local technical firms
mechanisms for electronic voting. The Committee also conducted the process of nominations for
elections and the assessment and declaration of their validity. The Standing Committee to Review
Abuse of Psychiatry examined 12 complaints primarily involving wrong-doing against patients and
infringement of psychiatrists' rights, Its report and recommendations are enclosed as Item 4.1.1-8.
The Standing Committee on Planning has proposed a set of innovative amendments of the Statutes
and By-Laws as well as a substantial action plan for the next triennium to be considered by the General
Assembly. See separate report under 4.1.2. The Standing Committee on Ethics elaborated
recommendations for enhancing our guidelines on relations with the pharmaceutical industry and on
unmodified ECT, surveyed our Member Societies on pressing ethics issues, and worked closely with
several of them to promote ethics observance. It also cooperated with the World Medical Association
in the review of its Declaration of Helsinki on Medical Research Ethics. See separate extensive report
under Item 4.1.1-7. The Standing Committee to Review Abuse of Psychiatry examined 12 complaints
primarily involving wrong-doing against patients and infringement of psychiatrists' rights. Its report
and recommendations are enclosed as Item 4.1.1-8.
The implementation of our Permanent Secretariat in Geneva has been completed. WPA News has
grown in content and elegance. The WPA Directory has gained in clarity. Enhanced versions of the
Informational Leaflet and Informational Booklet have been prepared. WPA Online, well recognized for its
informational richness and timely updating, is acquiring new capabilities under Secretariat
administration. The General Survey for this triennium, now on its fourth edition, has completed a
systematic appraisal of all WPA components' performance, in many cases in comparison with
performance in the three previous trienniums.
WPA's finances are in quite a good shape. The core budget is fully balanced and we enjoy a reserve
fund of over USD 700,000.
Promotion of Member Societies
The pace of leadership meetings with large as well as with grouped member societies (many in
developing countries) increased substantially during this triennium, covering literally all world regions.
In a related effort, the WPA president has visited each year over 20 national or regional congresses. All
this has facilitated valuable exchanges of information and to make the WPA name quite well known
across the world.
2

Nordik European Leadership Meeting in Tampere August 2006 Leadership Meeting in Nairobi March 2007
Zonal Representatives are increasingly prominent leaders in our Association, and they have produced
outstanding workplans and annual progress reports (as documented in item 4.1.3-2). The reality and
presence and our continental Regions achieved high marks. Zonal Representatives have organized
productive continental Regions meetings and are publishing informative Regional electronic bulletins.
The Americas Region Meeting in Istanbul July 2006 Asia/Australasia Region Meeting in Melbourne, November 28, 2007.
Support for our societies in developing countries continued growing through sectoral activities and
special programs. Large societies are using WPA as preferred channel for international initiatives and
small societies are increasingly affirming themselves and collaborating productively with each other.
Also noteworthy has been the careful preparation of procedures for opening to all Member Societies
the opportunity to bid for WPA International Congresses.
S ectoral Activities
Sectoral work is carried out and guided primarily by the distinguished elected members of our
Executive Committee. They are ably supported
by colleagues in the Operational Committees who
represent high competence and talents from across the world. Their reports are separately presented
under 4.1.5., 4.1.6, 4.1.7 and 4.1.8.
In the Educational area, work on personality and depression programs have advanced substantially as
well as that on curricular updating in collaboration with pertinent institutional programs. Particularly
valuable is the enhanced set of continuing medical education credits being developed by incorporating
North American and European resources into WPA's broader array. WPA educational programs are
being translated to various languages.
In the Publications arena, World Psychiatry has achieved international indexation and is now edited in
English, Spanish and Chinese. Volumes on Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry, Images of
Psychiatry in different world areas, Anthologies of Psychiatric Texts, and a series on Psychiatry for the
Person continued growing. Steps have been initiated to establish co-publication agreements with well
established companies, which promise to enhance substantially our publication capabilities.
3

Concerning Scientific Meetings, sponsored events take place across the world in the form of World,
International and Regional Congresses and Conferences, and many meetings of relevant organizations
are granted co-sponsorship. Efforts are being made to evaluate carefully our major events to increase
their quality.
The WPA's 65 Sections have been systematically evaluated. Stronger communication and publication
tools are being prepared. Many Sections are individually prominent, as is the case of the Classification
Section, which has established an impressive Global Network of Classification and Diagnostic Groups
collaborating with the development of ICD-11 and related diagnostic systems. Also highly visible for
their work have been the Sections on Transcultural Psychiatry, Art and Psychiatry, Psychiatry in
Developing Countries, and Intellectual Disabilities.
Special Programs and Task Forces
Among the Institutional Programs approved by the General Assembly, that on Psychiatry for the
Person (IPPP) has been particularly active. Their motto promoting a psychiatry of, for, by, and with the
person has been warmly received wherever presented. Its conceptual, diagnostic, clinical care and
public health components have been quite productive. Especially noteworthy events have been the
Conferences on Psychiatry for the Person in London, October 2007 (in collaboration with the UK
Department of Health) and in Paris, February 2008 (in collaboration with our French Member
Societies and European Zonal Representatives). A Geneva Conference on Person-centered Medicine
was held in May 2008 under the auspices of the Geneva University Hospital and in collaboration with
the World Medical Association, the World Organization of Family Doctors, the World Federation of
Neurology, the World Fedration for Medical Education, the Council for International Organizations
for Medical Sciences, the World Federation for Mental Health, the International Council of Nurses,
and the International Alliance of Patients Organizations. A Pinel Prize on Psychiatry for the Person:
Articulating Medicine's Science and Humanism has been established. The Book Series on Psychiatry
for the Person includes volumes on Psychiatry and Sexual Health: An integrative Approach (Mezzich
& Hernandez, 2006), Recovery: Das Ende der Unheilbarkeit (Amering & Schmolke, 2006), Recovery,
Resilience, and Psychiatry for the Person (Amering & Schmolke, in press), Psychiatric Diagnosis:
Patterns and Prospects (Salloum & Mezzich, in press), and Cultural Formulation: A Reader for
Psychiatric Diagnosis (Mezzich & Caracci, in press). Additionally, a number of editorials and journal
papers have been invited to introduce several IPPP aspects (Mezzich, 2007a,b; Mezzich & Salloum,
2007a, 2007b, 2008; Christodoulou, Fulford & Mezzich, 2008; Mezzich & Christodoulou, 2007). For
more details see separate report under 4.1.1-3.
Collaborating Organizations' Leaders, Speakers and Discussants of the Geneva Conference on Person-centered Medicine on May 29-30, 2008
4

The Institutional Program on Disasters and Mental Health has been instrumental in the preparation of
a WPA-WHO Joint Statement (Mezzich & Saraceno, 2007) and the implementation of our Disaster
Response Plan. This includes the coordination of Taskforces on the South Asian Tsunami, the
Kashmir Earthquake, the North American Hurricanes, the Peruvian Earthquake, the Bangladesh
Cyclone, and the Sichuan Earthquake. The resources of the Section on Disasters and of a Disasters
Fund have been also helpful. More details are presented under 4.1.1-5.
The Institutional Program for Young Psychiatrists has continued to collaborate with the organization
of Fellowship programs at several WPA major events. It is also assisting the establishment of the WPA
Young Psychiatrist Council and the presence in WPA Online of the WPA Young Psychiatrists Network.
A WPA Ulysses Vianna Prize for Young Psychiatrists has been established to be presented for the first
time at the World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague. See Report as Document 4.1.1-4.
The Institutional Program on Perinatal Psychiatry and Infant Mental Health is increasingly
collaborating with the Scientific Section of similar name. Also, it has recently engaged the
corresponding units of WHO. See Document 4.1.3-3.
The Institutional Program on Asian Psychiatry and Mental Health is active through its efforts with
regional developing countries and special attention to disasters and their psychosocial consequences.
Three special Task Forces have been established by the Executive Committee on Brain Drain,
Physicians' Health, and Mass Violence and Mental Health. They all have prepared substantial work
plans and their reports can be found under items 4.1.1-9, 4.1.1-10, and 4.1.1-11.
WPA Prizes 2008
The WPA Prizes for 2008 include the Jean Delay Prize, the Philippe Pinel Prize on Psychiatry for the
Person, and the Ulysses Vianna Prize for Young Psychiatrists in Developing Countries. They along
with their 2008 winners are outlined below.
The Jean Delay Prize
This WPA Prize was established in the past decade to honor the First President of
WPA and to recognize an outstanding psychiatrist who cultivated and bridged the
biological, psychological and social underpinnings of psychiatry and mental health. It
is financially supported by Servier International. The 2008 winner is Prof. Hans-
Jürgen Möller, of Munich, Germany. Prof. Moeller is a world-recognized researcher
on psychopathology and psychopharmacology as well as an accomplished organ
player. He is the current chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the University
of Munich.
Philippe Pinel Prize on Psychiary for the Person: Articulating Medicine's Science and Humanism
Prof. Hans-Jürgen
Möller
In 2007 the WPA Executive Committee established this Prize to honor Philippe
Pinel, a pioneer in the quantitative systematization of clinical psychiatry and an
inspiring humanist who broke the chains of mental patients. Pierre Fabre
Prof. Yrjo Alanen
5

Laboratoires financially supports this Prize. The winner in 2008 is Prof. Yrjo Alanen of Turku, Finland.
Prof. Alanen is world-acclaimed for his innovative work on Need Adapted Assessment and Treatment
integrating scientifically valid therapeutic techniques with attention to the experience and views of
patients with psychotic disorders.
Ulysses Vianna Prize for Young Psychiatrists in Developing Countries
This Prize was established this year by the WPA Executive Committee to honor
Ulysses Vianna Filho, a former WPA officer and eminent Brazilian psychiatrist
well known for his work to promote the professional development of the future
of our field. It is supported by the Brazilian Brain Institute. The 2008 winner is
Dr. Yu-Tao Xiang from Beijing Medical University in China. At age 34 he has
published over 30 papers in top Chinese and international journals principally
focusing on the epidemiology, quality of life and rehabilitation of people
experiencing major mental disorders.
Dr. Yu-Tao Xiang
Collaboration with WHO and Other International Organizations
Cooperation with the World Health Organization has been quite productive. In 2006, the WPA
President and Secretary General paid a highly successful visit to Dr. J.-W. Lee, WHO Director General,
Dr. C. Le Gales-Camu, WHO Assistant Director General for Non-Communicable Diseases and
Mental Health, and Dr. B. Saraceno, Director of the WHO Dpt. of Mental Health and Substance
Abuse. The expanded WPA-WHO collaborative program has included the Atlas Project in its various
versions, the Clinical Comorbidity Project, WPA-WHO Joint Statement on Disaster Response, and
cooperation on classifi cation and diagnosis focused on the ICD Classification of Mental Disorders.
L to R: Dr. B. Saraceno, Prof. J.E. Mezzich, Dr. J.-W. Lee, Prof. J. Cox and Dr. C.
Le Galès-Camu at the WHO Director-General's Office, Geneva, 9 February 2006.
WPA and the World Federation for Mental Health signed in 2007 for the first time a formal interinstitutional
agreement. In line with this, the WFMH leaders have offered lectures and symposia at
each of our major congresses and the WPA president delivered the Mary Hemingway-Reese Memorial
Lecture at the WFMH World Congress in Hong Kong. Collaboration has also included the WFMH
World Mental Health Day and the WPA Program on Psychiatry for the Person, among several other
projects.
6

Interactions with the World Medical Association (WMA) have included invitations for the WPA
president to attend WMA Council Meetings and a General Assembly in 2007, as well as collaboration
of WPA in reviewing WMA’s Declaration of Helsinki on Ethical Medical Research.
The World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is being represented by its president at two major WPA
Congresses. They invited the WPA president to speak at the WFN Jubilee Congress in Brussels in
2007. Collaboration is focusing on articulating science and humanism.
The presidents of the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) and WPA met for the first
time in 2007 at our Melbourne International Congress. Collaboration is emerging on comorbidity and
person-centered care.
WPA is a full member of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS).
Our leaders are participating in CIOMS Executive Committee Meetings and General Assembly.
Working sessions with several of the above organizations and others such as the World Association for
Psychosocial Rehabilitation and the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry have taken
place at our recent Congresses. Also important is the dialogal process (Mezzich, 2007b) we have started
with a range of patient/user groups, including those critical of psychiatry. A WPA Thematic
Conference in Dresden, June 2007 was a landmark in this regard (Kallert, Monahan & Mezzich, 2007).
Reflections on the Status of World Psychiatry
The current status of psychiatry around the world reflects the great opportunities and the great
challenges for understanding the human mind. At no time in history have there been such
opportunities for understanding mental processes scientifically. Cognitive neuroscience, brain imaging,
and molecular genetics provide powerful tools for understanding basic processes that regulate the
development of thought and emotion underlying mental disorders. Substantial investments in such
basic research are being made on every continent, particularly in developed countries. We have learned
much about neurotransmission, learning, memory, and brain development, and these basic insights
have made possible the design of several classes of psychoactive drugs and psychosocial techniques for
treatment (US Surgeon General, 1999). Randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy
of both somatic and psychosocial treatments for most mental disorders as documented in the WPA
Series on Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry.
Nevertheless, mental disorders remain the greatest source of burden and disability to people around the
world (Murray and Lopez, 1996). The classification of mental disorders is still based on behavioral
descriptions that do not correspond to basic mechanisms and are not as prescriptive of treatment
methods as it was once hoped they would be. Despite decades of neurobiological research, there are
no valid laboratory tests that show any specificity for particular symptom-based diagnoses. In genetic
research, whole genome scans demonstrate only modest correlates even for the most heritable and
extensively studied disorders, such as schizophrenia (Sanders et al, 2008). Pharmacological treatments
are approved for specific nosological diagnoses but are used in practice in rather non-specific ways.
There is little data to guide the combination of multiple treatments for particular patients. And
contextualization of understanding and care is still largely underdeveloped.
The challenges facing psychiatry are similar to those facing general medicine in the treatment of all
common and complex disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Disease burden is high,
etiology is intricate, and treatments often involve chronic management, rather than cure or recovery.
7

Modern medical care is often excellent for acute treatment but much less effective for treating chronic
conditions and for prevention, resulting in high costs. The recovery movement starting in the
rehabilitation field and the initiative on psychiatry for the person have pointed out the need to consider
a change in perspective, particularly for long-term care. There is a need to involve all stakeholders in
diagnosis and treatment processes and to emphasize hope, empathy, and respect for the needs of the
whole person, as described by Alanen and colleagues (2000).
The status of practicing psychiatrists is being diminished by managed care systems that reduce patients
to diagnostic codes and reduce psychiatrists to technicians who just prescribe drugs. Institutional
standards require the continued use of diagnostic systems that are not based on mechanism and are at
best weakly prescriptive for care. People with mental disorders feel stigma and discrimination, which
reduces their access to methods that promote recovery. These challenges in diagnosis and treatment
are directly related to the complexity of mental processes. There is a great need and opportunity for
WPA to contribute to better understanding of both the positive and negative aspects of mental health
through initiatives related to improved methods for diagnosis, treatment, and health promotion. And to
stimulate medicine and health care at large to join in this endeavor.
Concluding Remarks
The review outlined above documents the substantial fulfillment of the Strategic Plan 2005-2008 thanks
to the dedicated work of all WPA components. It has become clear that WPA's identity, institutional
capacity, and global impact have gained in both depth and recognition. The Institutional Program on
Psychiatry for the Person has obtained the adherence of many colleagues across our Association and is
attracting the attention of major world medical and health organizations towards the exploration of
person-centered medicine and health care.
Upon reflecting on the challenging status of world psychiatry, witnessing some
fascinating achievements but also considerable limitations, we can perceive the special opportunities for
an increasingly strong and mature WPA to contribute creatively, along with our sister societies, to the
advancement of diagnosis, treatment and health promotion across the world.
References
Alanen, Y.O., Lehtinen, V., Lehtinen, K., Aaltonen, J, and Räkköläinen, V. (2000): The Finnish
integrated model for early treatment of schizophrenia and related psychoses. In: B. Martindale,. A.
Bateman, M. Crowe and F. Margison (eds), Psychosis: Psychological Approaches and their
Effectiveness (pp. 235-65). Glasgow: Gaskell (ISPS).
Amering M, Schmolke M (2006): Recovery: Das Ende der Unheilbarkeit. Bonn: Psychiatrie-Verlag.
Amering M. Schmolke M (in press): Recovery, Resilience and Psychiatry for the Person. Chichester,
UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
Christodoulou G, Fulford B, Mezzich JE (2008): Psychiatry for the Person and its Conceptual Bases.
International Psychiatry 5: 1-3.
Kallert TW, Monahan J, Mezzich JE (2007): WPA Thematic Conference on Coercive Treatment in
Psychiatry: A Comprehensive Review. BMC Psychiatry Supplement 1.
8

Mezzich JE (2007a): Psychiatry for the Person: Articulating Medicine’s Science and Humanism. World
Psychiatry 6:1-3.
Mezzich JE (2007b): The Dialogal Basis of our Profession: Psychiatry with the Person. World
Psychiatry, 6: 129-130.
Mezzich JE, Caracci G (in press): Cultural Formulation: A Reader for Psychiatric Diagnosis. New
York: Rowman & Middlefield.
Mezzich JE, Christodoulou G (2007): Psychiatry for the Person and its Ethical Perspectives. South
African Journal of Psychiatry, 13: 71-73.
Mezzich JE, Hernandez R (Eds) (2006): Psychiatry and Sexual Health: An Integrative Approach.
Rowman & Middlefield, New York.
Mezzich JE, Salloum IM (2007a): On Person-centered Integrative Diagnosis. Die Psychiatrie, 4: 262-
265.
Mezzich JE, Salloum IM (2007b): Towards innovative international classification and diagnostic
systems: ICD-11 and person-centered integrative diagnosis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 116:1-5
Mezzich JE, Salloum IM (2008): Clinical complexity and person-centered integrative diagnosis. World
Psychiatry 7:1-2.
Mezzich JE, Saraceno B (2007). The Role of Psychiatrists in Response to Disasters. World Psychiatry,
6:1-2.
Murray CJL and Lopez AD (eds) (1996): A comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from
diseases, injuries and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. The Global Burden of Disease Series.
Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press.
Salloum IM & Mezzich JE (in press): Psychiatric Diagnosis: Patterns and Prospects. Chichester, Wiley-
Blackwell.
Sanders AR, Duan J, Levinson DF, Shi J, He D, Hou C, Burrell GJ, Rice JP, Nertney DA, Olincy A,
Rozic P, Vinogradov S, Buccola NG, Mowry BJ, Freedman R. Amin F, Black DW, Silverman JM,
Byerley WF, Crowe RR, Cloninger CR, Gejman PV (2008): No significant association of 14 candidate
genes with schizophrenia in a large European ancestry sample: implications for psychiatric genetics.
American Journal of Psychiatry 164:497-506.
US Surgeon General (1999). Mental Health: Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD:
Department of Health & Human Services, US Public Health Services.
WPA (2006): The World Psychiatric Association Governance Plans 2005-2008: A Key Initiative for
Institutional Development. Geneva: WPA.
WPA (2008): Manual of Procedures, 4th Edition. Geneva: WPA.
9

APPENDIX Cii
REPORT OF THE WPA PRESIDENT-ELECT
24 July 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.2
1. The journal World Psychiatry
World Psychiatry, the official journal of the WPA, is now indexed in PubMed, Current
Contents Contents/Clinical Medicine, Current Contents/Social and Behavioral Sciences,
Science Citation Index and EMBASE.
It is published regularly in English, Spanish and Chinese. An electronic version in Russian
will become available shortly.
The journal reaches more than 32,000 psychiatrists in 121 countries. All the issues of the
journal, since its launch in February 2002, are freely available on the PubMed system
(www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/tocrender.fcgi?journal=297&action=archive).
World Psychiatry will receive its first impact factor in 2009. In a recent paper published in
the British Journal of Psychiatry (190:77-78, 2007), dealing with the contribution of low- and
middle-income countries to leading general psychiatric journals, it has been mentioned as the
prototype of an “explicitly international journal”.
2. The preparation of the International Congress “Treatments in Psychiatry: A New Update”
(Florence, Italy, April 1-4, 2009)
The WPA International Congress “Treatments in Psychiatry: A New Update” 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 evidencebased
treatments currently available for all mental disorders. Many of the most renowned
experts in the various treatments areas – including the scientists who attracted the higher
total citations to their papers in indexed journals of psychiatry and psychology over the past
10 years, according to the Essential Science Indicators – will be among the speakers.
The preliminary programme of the Congress is available on www.wpa2009florence.org.
1

3. The work of the Standing Committee on Planning
The Standing Committee on Planning has produced the WPA Triennial Action Plan 2008-
2011 (included as a separate document in this folder), which identifies ten institutional goals
for the next triennium, and several concrete activities to pursue each of these goals.
The Committee also produced a list of recommendations for changes in WPA’s functioning
and a set of proposals for amendments to the WPA Statutes and By-Laws (included as
separate documents in this folder), which have been approved by the Executive Committee.
2

APPENDIX Ciii
14 July 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.3-1
Secretary General’s Report to the General Assembly in Prague
22 September 2008
1. Introduction
It is a privilege and honour for me to address the General Assembly and to present
this Triennial Report. The Secretary General, from the inception of WPA has had
wide institutional responsibilities; and my account of this experience together with
specific responsibilities for the Secretariat in Geneva forms the substance of this
report.
During this Triennium the Secretariat in Geneva has become fully established and I
have also served as a member of the Review Committee and led with Prof Tyano
the Institutional Programme on Parent and Infant Mental Health.
2. Permanent Secretariat in Geneva
We have appointed two excellent and experienced staff (Anna Engstrom –
administrator and Pamela Atiase - deputy administrator) who have ‘grown with the
organization’ and already established an effective office at the hub of WPA
activity.
The well appointed offices are situated in the extensive grounds of the University
Psychiatric Hospital near to the center of Geneva; a lecture theatre, seminar rooms,
library and fine refectory are nearby. A Gallery of Past Presidents photographs is
fittingly hung in the entrance lobby, and we hope that other artwork will become
available in due course.
I would wish to thank the Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) for making this
spacious office suite available at virtually no cost to WPA; and for facilitating this
long anticipated key institutional development in the life of the World Psychiatric
Association. During this triennium we have worked hard on establishing more
optimal employment practices for the staff; and additional staff should now be
appointed when financial circumstances permit.
The Secretariat has serviced the Executive Committee, Board, Advisory Council,
Finance Committee, Planning Committee, Nomination Committee, and the
General Assembly; as well as administered Prizes and liaised with the lawyer,
bank manager and other important contacts in Geneva.
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In particular the management of WPA Finances, under the supervision of the
Secretary of Finance, has been a major Secretariat responsibility. The Secretary
General has always worked closely with the Secretary for Finance and I would
wish to place on public record my indebtedness to Prof Tyano for his shrewd
advice and support over the past years. It has been a strategic advantage to WPA
that we have worked well together over last two triennia.
I would wish to record my thanks to Anna Engstrom and Pamela Atiase for their
pioneer work which is frequently carried out under severe constraints of time and
money, against tight deadlines and with executive officers rarely close at hand.
Tak so Myket. Thank you.
The Secretariat has in the last triennia hosted two meetings of the Executive
Committee in Geneva; two meetings of the Finance Committee as well as the
Planning Committee. In addition the President’s Institutional Program of
Psychiatry for the Person organized an international conference in Geneva when
our staff assisted greatly with the local organization and by hosting a large
workshop at the Secretariat.
The WPA is now formally registered with the Geneva Chamber of Commerce in
May 2008, and for legal purposes its offices are at 2 Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air,
1226 Thônex (postal address: 2 Chemin du Petit-Bel-Air, 1225 Chêne-Bourg).
• WPA New Website in Geneva
In July 2008 the new Website, developed by Prof Allan Tasman and Kathie Sauer
went live. The web management has thus returned to the Secretariat after the
pioneer work of Prof Montenegro in Argentina, who initiated the website during
the Secretariat’s several moves in New York and subsequent location to Geneva.
The Secretariat staff under the supervision of the Secretary General are responsible
for web entry and accountable to the Executive Committee.
• Publications
WPA News has been published four times a year with much improved colour
layout and expanded content. It remains in my opinion a useful paper publication
especially for those who have limited access to the Net.
Informational Guide
This new look booklet was redesigned with more optimal use of photos and text. It
is now available from the Secretariat in Geneva to promote the work of WPA in
the public domain.
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WPA Leaflet
This small Leaflet, the brainchild of the Secretary General, is intended for
promotional purposes at Congresses when it can be inserted into Congress bags. It
answers the eight commonly asked questions about the structure and function of
WPA.
• WPA Courier
Regular mailings of WPA News, Minutes and other information to the Member
Societies has continued by post and e mail, but increasingly to conserve paper the
Minutes are posted only on the website.
• General Survey
This questionnaire was sent by the Secretariat to all WPA components and
provided an opportunity for a limited internal audit of WPA effectiveness. The
results suggested that WPA is a vibrant organization with plenty of room for
growth and development as resources allow. Of particular importance were the
detailed unstructured responses which I would suggest should have further specific
consideration and analysis.
Some other new developments at the Secretariat are a ‘modest’ Library; a
modified, improved version of the Database and electronic WPA Directory in
consolidated form; as well as the Archives.
Other routine work of the Secretariat has continued uninterrupted, and included
correspondence with Member Societies, applications for membership from
Individuals and Societies. Assistance to WPA officers, travel arrangements for the
EC, production of EC, Board and other committee folders, tiring travel to distant
places and a host of other efforts which cumulatively assist WPA on its very
limited budget to achieve many of its aims.
3. Zonal Representatives
During this Triennium it has become clear that the Zonal Representatives are spear
heading major changes in their Zones and Regions as summarized in their
Triennial Reports.
They are each senior and experienced psychiatrists who are developing stronger
regional associations, encouraging new societies in countries where there are few
psychiatrists, and with very limited resources producing Newsletters and more
active local links.
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I would wish to congratulate them on their achievements. The stronger WPA
framework within which we can all thrive is very largely attributable to their good
work.
Working with these colleagues around the world is one of the most productive and
interesting aspects of the Secretary General’s responsibilities.
Finally I wish to conclude with my personal thanks to my family and to all
colleagues throughout the world who have worked with me over six years and
made these triennia amongst the most fulfilling and challenging of my professional
career.
The WPA is I believe now ready to consolidate its real achievements and I wish
my successor every good fortune and much pleasure in his new responsibilities.
John Cox September 2008
Secretary General
Page 4 of 4

APPENDIX Civ
27 August 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.4
Report of the Secretary for Finances
and the Operational Committee on Finances
General Assembly, Prague, 2008
Introduction:
The Operational Committee has met annually for the last three years at the WPA
Secretariat in Geneva, whose members are: S. Tyano (Chair), M. Kastrup, F. Ferrero, T.
Akiyama, T. Udristoiu. The Committee also convened during two International
Congresses in Istanbul 2006 and Melbourne 2007. Additionally, two joint meetings were
held with the Publications and Scientific Meetings Committees.
Goals put forward by the Finance Committee in 2005:
• Define a Financial Policy for WPA.
• Regulate the financial functioning of the Permanent Secretariat in Geneva; to adjust
the organization and activities according to the availability of income, and to regulate
the status of the staff.
• Increase transparency of financial activities of WPA by discussing Finance matters in
different WPA Meetings.
• Increase WPA Activities, without creating a deficit budget.
• Monitor the bank accounts in New York and Geneva; and maximize the investments.
• To consolidate the target of achieving a one year reserve capital
• Meeting with other Standing Committees in order to elaborate on the financial aspects
of their activities, in order to increase the income of WPA Components.
• Consolidate the Corporate Supporters Program as being the main source of income at
that time for WPA
• Find alternative sources of income besides the Pharmaceutical Industry in order to
obtain an independent financial system and improve our ethical standing.
• Retrieve funds from previous World Congresses
• To maximize the income from International and World Congresses by redefining the
active role of the Secretary for Finance during all the procedures in preparing
congresses; and to review and participate in the preparation of all contracts and
congress budgets negotiated by the WPA and its components by offering expertise
and advice to reduce superfluous expenses
• To receive updated reports from Member Societies on the exact number of Members.
Page 1 of 3

Dynamics of the process during the three year term:
The Executive Committee defines the Financial Policy of the Association, and the
Finance Committee is the organ responsible for implementation of this policy. During the
last three years, the EC has suggested:
• To terminate the present Corporate Supporter Program;
• To define a new structure of International and World Congresses;
• To maintain the present level of Membership Dues.
Despite WPA’s efforts to approach several pharmaceutical companies in order to obtain
funds for new Institutional and Educational Programs, except the Depression Program,
WPA did not receive any other positive response. Therefore, the income from such
programs decreased dramatically compared to previous years.
WPA Assets have in the past been in US Dollars. Due to the decrease of the US Dollar
value, in the global international markets, the overall balance between income and
expenses have been affected.
Goals Achieved:
Most of the goals stated above have been achieved during our term, and approved by the
EC. One of the most important ones was to give stability to the financial policy of the
WPA by creating a reserve capital, in fact, we will transfer to the next EC a reserve
capital covering a year and a half budget. This allows for a smooth transition to the next
officers of the EC existing policy and time for develop of new programs.
The strong involvement in the last International and World Congresses improved the
WPA revenue by decreasing the expenses and preserving some of the assets in the central
fund.
The meetings with the other standing committees allowed to improve the financial
awareness of their activities.
The final transfer of the WPA World Congress in Hamburg funds has been achieved with
the collaboration of the German Psychiatric Society.
Successful maintenance of WPA activities and programs despite the decreased amount of
income.
Page 2 of 3

Recommendations to the next Financial Committee, and Executive Committee:
• To maintain the continuity of the financial policy of the WPA in order to ensure
stability.
• To find new programs replacing the Corporate Supporter Program in order to
maintain at least the existing level of income.
• To place the existing financial reserve in investments which can bring better bank
interests.
• To continue the close monitoring of all WPA activities which have any financial
implications.
• To find new sources of external funding in order to decrease our dependency on the
pharmaceutical industry.
• To find sources for special WPA Programs e.g. Disasters, in collaboration with other
international foundations and organizations
• To find difference solutions to grant support to our WPA Members and Officers to
provide bigger and better opportunities for research and support of training programs.
Appendix : Figures – Power Point to be projected during the General Assembly.
Page 3 of 3

APPENDIX Cv
14 August 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.5.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND THE OPERATIONAL
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION FOR THE 2008 WPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PRAGUE, CZECHOSLOVAKIA
September 22, 2008
ALLAN TASMAN MD
WPA SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND CHAIR OF THE
WPA OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Thanks go to the members and consultants of the Operational Committee on Education
for their hard work and support of the aims of the WPA and fulfillment of the WPA
triennial plan over the last three years: Linda Gask, Dan Stein, Brian Martindale, Savita
Malhotra, Valery Krasnov, Roger Montenegro, and Anne Lindhardt. Each of them has
initiated or participated in a new educational project or program. The committee met
during the WPA Istanbul Congress in 2006 and the Melbourne Congress in 2007. Thanks
also to WPA President Juan Mezzich,, President elect Mario Maj, and the other members
of the executive committee and zonal representatives for your strong support and advice.
Activities for 2005-08
• Upgrade and Revise the WPA website: Over the last two years, I have worked
with the WPA executive committee, Anna Engstrom of our Secretariat staff, John
Cox, WPA Secretary General, and a technical consultant, Kathie Sauer of Lumins
Associates, to completely revise and upgrade the website. New technical advances
will allow more ease of use by those with both fast and slow connections.
Capacity to develop online interactive CME, and to post online lectures and
seminars is now available, bringing many new opportunities for online CME.
Also, enhanced availability of list serves, online conferencing, and eventually,
online teleconferences have been accomplished. These and many more technical
changes provide the potential to vastly expand the utility of our website as an
organizational communicational tool.
All material previously on the website, including past copies of all the e-bulletins,
so ably initiated and edited by Dr Roger Montenegro, will be available. In
addition, enhanced capacity for use of WPA email has been accomplished.
Special thanks go to Dr Montenegro, not only for his pioneering work initiating
the WPA website, but also for his valuable consultation during the website
upgrade and revision process over the last several years.
1

• Revision of the WPA Educational Program in Depression: The original
program was produced in the 1990’s. With the major advances in diagnosis and
treatment of depression and bipolar illness since that time, a revision was needed.
Funded by a substantial unrestricted educational grant from Lilly, one of the few
extramurally funded WPA projects over the last three years, a task force cochaired
by Professors Norman Sartorius, past WPA President, and Allan Tasman
have produced an extensive program for use around the world. The program will
be translated into Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic as part of the
project. The entire program, including power point slides, is being made available
throughout the WPA. There have already been two major symposia, one at the
WPA International Congress in Melbourne in December, 2007, and at this Prague
WPA World Congress, with an ongoing series of major symposia planned for the
future.
An important component of this project will be the development of a major
initiative to improve education of primary care clinicians around the world in the
recognition and treatment of depression. Collaboration with global primary care
organizations and the WHO is being developed in this regard. Further, a small,
inexpensive handbook for primary care clinicians will be produced in 6 languages
for global distribution with the collaboration of Helen Hermann, WPA Secretary
for Publications.
• Educational Program on Personality Disorders: Under the direction of the
Section on Personality Disorders, chaired by Eric Simonsen, and compiled by an
outstanding group of internationally known leaders in the field within the section,
and in collaboration with major international organizations working in this area, a
major new educational program has been produced and posted on the WPA
website. The project leadership are working on a textbook version of the
program, and a clinical case book.
• Educational Program on the Economics of Mental Health Care: The section
on Mental Health Economics has produced a series of workshops as well as
written materials for education in this area. Information regarding their programs
is available by looking in their section’s area of the WPA website.
• Spanish Translation of the Schizophrenia Education Modules: Professor
Manuel Suarez Richards, and his team of psychiatrists (Miguel Maria Goni,
Silvana Pujol, and Eric Harry Wainwright) all from the PEPyC at the School of
Medicine at La Plata University, Argentina, completed the Spanish translation of
the entire group of schizophrenia education modules. This new translation was
posted on the WPA website when completed.
• CME Advances: WPA CME credits can now be made transferable for UEMS
and APA CME credits, vastly expanding CME opportunities for WPA members
who participate in WPA sponsored or co-sponsored CME programs. Thanks to
the assistance of WPA education committee consultant Anne Lindhardt and
2

• Projects initiated by Education Committee members:
Dan Stein has initiated a Wikipedia project to develop a WPA education
committee sponsored open access textbook for medical students in psychiatry..
This will be a major educational contribution for medical students. Since it will be
posted on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia website, it will be available free of
charge for medical students..
Brian Martindale has completed work on the draft of an educational program on
Early Intervention in Psychosis. The program has been highly regarded by
several WPA section reviews, and final revisions are being undertaken prior to
WPA executive committee approval.
Savita Malhotra, responding to a national need in her home country of India, has
developed a WPA education committee sponsored series of workshops on
psychotherapy training. The first of these was held in mid September, a short time
ago. Plans include future annual or semiannual programs.
Linda Gask has played a leadership role in the Depression program revision in
the area of training of primary care physicians, based on her extensive
academic work in this area.
Valery Krasnov has been part of a of group in Russia beginning work in
collaboration with the WPA on the development of a training program for primary
care clinicians on depression recognition and treatment. This project will build on
the work done in the project to revise the WPA educational program in
depression.
• Other Activities of the Secretary for Education: A close collaboration has
developed with WPA publication activities, collaborating with WPA Secretary for
Publications Helen Hermann, on planning for WPA education related publication
activities. There is an ongoing collaboration with the WPA young psychiatrists
group and the World Association for Young Psychiatrists and Trainees
(WAYPT). Other collaborations have been developed to further the initiative for
primary care education in recognition and treatment of psychiatric illnesses in the
primary care setting. Finally ongoing collaboration with WHO Secretary General
Benedetto Saraceno has been implemented to develop mutual areas of educational
interest.
Future Developing WPA Education Initiatives and Programs:
• Plans are being formulated to initiate a revision of the WPA curricular guidelines
for medical student and post graduate training, based on the proposed triennial
plan of incoming WPA president Mario Maj.
3

• In addition there will be a major initiative regarding public education activities,
particularly focused on use of the WPA web site for materials based in the major
national languages in use around the world. Eventually the goal is to have the
material available in the native languages of each WPA member society.
• A third planned initiative is to develop interactive online CME activities through
the WPA website.
• A collaboration to develop web based educational materials in child and
adolescent psychiatry is being developed with the Middle East Kids Initiative, a
project organized by globally prominent psychiatrists including Tarek Okasha,
zonal representative for north Africa of the WPA, Sam Tyano, WPA Secretary for
Finance, and David Fassler, Trustee of the APA. The liaison with WPA is Dr
Siham Muntasser, at the University of Pittsburgh in the US.
4

APPENDIX Cvi
16 July 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.6
2005-2008 WPA SECRETARY FOR MEETINGS
AND WPA OPERATIONAL COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS REPORT
This report is prepared for the WPA General Assembly to be held on Monday, September 22,
2008 during the XIV World Congress of Psychiatry being held in Prague, Czech Republic. This report
covers the triennium 2005-2008, and also makes reference to the 2002-2005 triennium. During the last
two trienniums (2002-2005 and 2005-2008) there were more Scientific Meetings organized by the WPA
than during any trienniums in the entire history of the WPA. During these two trienniums there were a
total 251 Scientific Meetings organized by the WPA; that is, 117 in the period 2002-2005 and 134 in the
period 2005-2008. There were also a marked increase in the number of WPA Sponsored Scientific
Meetings (11 in 2002-2005 and 14 in 2005-2008), as well as WPA Co-Sponsored Section Meetings (21 in
2002-2005 and 28 in 2005-2008). Additionally, the number of Co-Sponsored Scientific Meetings
organized by WPA Affiliated Societies grew as well (2 in 2002-2005 and 11 in 2005-2008).
The specific details of the WPA Scientific Meetings organized during the triennium 2005-2008 were
as follows:
- The 14 WPA Sponsored Scientific Meetings consisted of 8 WPA Regional Meetings (Mexico 2005,
Cuba 2006, Peru 2006, Hungary 2007, Kenya 2007, South Korea 2007, China 2007 and Argentina
2007), 3 WPA Thematic Conferences (Spain 2006, Germany 2007 and Spain 2008), 2 WPA
International Congresses (Turkey 2006 and Australia 2007), and 1 WPA World Congress of
Psychiatry (Czech Republic 2008). The WPA Sections were also very active in the 2005-2008
trienniums with 28 organized Co-Sponsored Conferences. Insofar as the WPA Member Societies was
concerned, they organized 51 Co-Sponsored Scientific Meetings during the 2005-2008 triennium.
The WPA Affiliated Societies also organized 11 Co-Sponsored Conferences, and other international
organizations not affiliated with the WPA Co-Sponsored 30 Scientific Meetings during the 2005-
2008 triennium.
1

Of major scientific impact was the number of mental health professionals reached via the WPA Scientific
Meetings organized during the two trienniums (2002-2005 and 2005-2008). The estimated number of
mental health professionals was as follows:
WPA SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS REACHED
2002-2005 2005-2008
WPA Member Societies Conferences 44,800 40,800
WPA Sections Conference 8,400 11,200
WPA Regional Meetings 3,000 4,000
WPA Thematic Conferences 2,000 3,000
WPA International Congresses 5,000 5,000
WPA World Congresses of Psychiatry 6,500 5,000
Other Organizations Conferences 14,500 20,500
Total 84,200 89,500
2

The number of WPA Scientific Meetings organized in the last two trienniums (2002-2005 and 2005-
2008) by Zones was as follows:
_________2002-2005__________
_____________2005-2008_______
Zones Scientific Meetings Zones Scientific Meetings
#1 1 #1 3
#2 7 #2 3
#3 7 #3 11
#4 5 #4 10
#5 16 #5 13
#6 18 #6 9
#7 2 #7 0
#8 18 #8 33
#9 6 #9 9
#10 5 #10 3
#11 3 #11 8
#12 0 #12 12
#13 0 #13 3
#14 5 #14 3
#15 2 #15 1
#16 5 #16 4
#17 3 #17 5
#18 3 #18 4
Before ending this report, the WPA Secretary for Meetings wishes to take this opportunity to thank
the Members of the WPA Operational Committee on Scientific Meetings, Dr. Maria I. Lopez-Ibor
Alcocer (Zone 8), Dr. Nasser Loza (Zone 11), Dr. Hong Ma (Zone 17), Dr. Jiri Raboch (Zone 9), Dr.
Fouad T. Antun (Zone 12) consultant, Dr. Levent Kuey (Zone 8) consultant and Dr. Tania A. Peon Valdes
3

(Zone 3) consultant, for their dedication and hard work on behalf of the Committee, and on behalf of the
WPA as a whole during the triennium 2005-2008.
This report is respectfully submitted on behalf of the WPA Secretary for Meetings and on behalf of
the Members of the WPA Operational Committee on Scientific Meetings by Dr. Pedro Ruiz on July 16,
2008.
4

APPENDIX Cvii
16 August 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.7
2005-2008 Report of the WPA Secretary for Publications
and the Operational Committee on Publications
Prof. Helen Herrman
Alongside the WPA Institutional Broad Goals 2005-2008, the specific goals identified for
publications were: 1) to disseminate information about clinical, service and research developments
in the mental health field to the largest possible number of psychiatrists and health professionals
across the world; 2) to promote and give visibility to good quality research carried out in low and
middle income countries; and 3) to upgrade the publishing capacity of WPA.
These goals were pursued by further development of the official journal of the Association, World
Psychiatry, continuation of successful book series, the publication of new books on topics relevant
to the ethical and successful practice of modern psychiatry and illustrating partnerships with
important groups in doing this, and further efforts to promote online availability and wider
dissemination of published materials as well as progress in efforts to offer support to psychiatric
journals in low- and middle-income countries.
The members of the Operational Committee for Publications are H Herrman (Chair and Secretary
for Publications) F Njenga (Kenya), V Patel (India), M Rondon (Peru), Y Thoret (France), and
consultants M Maj (WPA President-Elect and former Secretary for Publications), M Riba (USA)
and N Tzavaras (Greece). The Committee three times in person (at International Congresses),
including a joint meeting with the finance committee, and once by telephone. The committee is
participating in workshops to support publishing activities of young psychiatrists and fellows.
1

1. World Psychiatry, editor M Maj, continues to develop as a high quality journal of
international mental health, widely disseminated to all countries, and supports publication
of material from authors of all regions and countries. It publishes research articles from
around the world, balanced with a significant proportion of Special Articles, Forums,
Mental Health Policy Papers, Section Reports and WPA News, with the participation of
many of the most highly cited authors in our field, aiming to keep the readership informed
on significant clinical, service and research developments in mental health as well as on
WPA initiatives. It is now distributed to more than 32,000 psychiatrists worldwide. It is
produced in English, Spanish and Chinese languages. The long-tem possibilities of
publishing World Psychiatry in other languages are under exploration. The journal is now
indexed by Pub Med, and full articles and abstracts from its inception in January 2002 are
available online through PubMed as well as the WPA website. In July 2006 World
Psychiatry was accepted for inclusion in the Current Contents and in the Science Citation
Index.
2. The series Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry is a highly successful publishing
venture initiated by Prof M Maj in his period as Secretary for Publications. The series aims
to compare research evidence and clinical experience concerning the diagnosis and
management of the most common mental disorders. Each volume of the series covers a
specific mental disorder, by means of a set of systematic reviews of the research evidence,
each followed by many commentaries produced by psychiatrists from various countries and
representing different schools of thought. By 2002, nine volumes existed, several in second
edition and several translated into various languages including Russian, Spanish,
Portuguese, Italian and Turkish. In this triennium the third edition of the volume on
Depressive Disorders, editors H Herrman, M Maj, N Sartorius, is contracted for publication
by Wiley-Blackwell April 2009. A new volume is planned on Substance Abuse Disorders
and a program established for issuing new editions of existing volumes in the next
triennium and beyond.
2

3. Volumes originating from the 13 th World Congress of Psychiatry. The Mental Health
of Children and Adolescents: An area of global neglect, editors H Remschmidt, B
Nurcombe, M Belfer, N Sartorius and A Okasha, was published by Wiley-Blackwell in
March 2007. The book documents the extensive work from the WPA Institutional Program
on Child and Adolescent Mental Health, much of which was presented at the Congress. The
book was launched and distributed to attendees at the WPA Regional Meeting in Nairobi
Kenya in March 2007. It was also distributed to attendees at the WPA Regional Congress
in Shanghai September 2007. Contemporary Issues in Women’s Mental Health, editors P
Chandra, H Herrman, U Niaz, M Kastrup, M Rondon, J Fisher and A Okasha, is contracted
for publication by Wiley-Blackwell in April 2009. Psychiatric Diagnosis: Patterns and
Prospects, editors Ihsan M Salloum & Juan E Mezzich is contracted for publication by
Wiley-Blackwell 2009.
4. The series Anthologies of International Psychiatric Texts (Series Director D. Moussaoui)
and Anthologies Online. The first three books of this series, originally produced in 2002,
include classical texts produced by psychiatrists of a given country or group of countries
published in English for the first time, accompanied by essays on their authors. In
recognition of their value to psychiatrists everywhere, electronic versions of the first three
volumes in the series, that is the French, Spanish and Italian volumes, are now published by
Wiley-Blackwell in July 2008. The electronic versions are available through the WPA
website and link to Wiley-Blackwell Interscience. Print versions of the volumes are also
available through Wiley-Blackwell by print-on-demand. The German Anthology of
Psychiatric Texts, Editor Henning Sass was published in April 2007 and electronic
publication by this same means is in discussion.
5. Series on Psychiatry for the Person and other books. "Psychiatry and Sexual Health: An
Integrative Approach", editors JE Mezzich and R Hernandez on behalf of the WPA
Educational Program on Sexual Health was published by Rowman & Littlefield in July
2006. Handbook of Service User Involvement in Mental Health Research, editors Jan
Wallcraft, Beate Schrank and Michaela Amering is contracted for publication by Wiley-
Blackwell in 2009. Recovery, Resilience, and Psychiatry for the Person (Published 2007 in
3

German language with the title: Recovery – the end of incurability), authors M Amering
and M Schmolke, is contracted for publication in English language translation with Wiley-
Blackwell 2009.
6. Books from the Scientific Sections. Psychiatrists and Traditional Healers: Unwitting
Partners in Global Mental Health. Editors: M Incayawar, L Bouchard, R Wintrob (Section
on Transcultural Psychiatry) is contracted for publication by Wiley-Blackwell 2009.
Religion and Psychiatry, editors P.J. Verhagen, H.M. van Praag, J.J. López-Ibor, D
Moussaoui and J Cox, contracted for publication by Wiley-Blackwell 2009.
7. A project to promote research dissemination through support for psychiatric journals
from low- and middle-income countries has been established with appointment of a Task
Force in 2008. A report on the first phase of the work, preliminary to appointment of the
Task Force, is in press for publication in World Psychiatry with the title ‘Indexation of
psychiatric journals from low- and middle-income countries: a survey and a case study’
(Kieling, Herrman, Patel, Mari). The Task Force will meet at XIV WCP with invited
editors of journals selected after a process developed in consultation with the WPA Board.
8. Publishing developments in partnership with WPA. Wiley-Blackwell series page for
Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry is available at
http://eu.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-303180.html and ready to be linked to the new
WPA website. Wiley-Blackwell is working to link with this page the other WPA books,
including Anthologies Online. All Wiley-Blackwell books published for WPA are available
online and form part of the HINARI offering to low- and middle-income countries. People
in some countries have free access, others pay a small amount. Publishing agreements with
Rowman & Littlefield allow books published by Rowman & Littlefield to be placed on the
WPA website for free access 18 months after publication date. Translation into additional
languages (current for World Psychiatry and volumes in Evidence and Experience series),
and appropriate ways to disseminate books and electronic content to colleagues in low- and
middle-income countries are under continuing discussion with publishers.
4

APPENDIX Cviii
13 August 2008
2008 / OGA / 4.1.8
2005-2008 REPORT OF THE WPA SECRETARY FOR SECTIONS
MIGUEL R. JORGE
INTRODUCTION
The purposes of sections specified at the WPA Statutes and By-Laws comprehends the collection,
analysis, presentation and dissemination of information concerning services, research and training in
the various fields of psychiatry and mental health, and the advancement of scientific knowledge in
these fields. WPA Sections are supposed to develop the following activities to achieve those
purposes:
- working relations with national and international organizations
- scientific meetings
- symposia at World and Regional Congresses as well as at Regional Meetings
- educational programs, guidelines and publications
- consensus and position statements
- international collaborative research
The World Psychiatric Association has 65 Sections, one of them inactive. They represent different
areas of interest such as specific mental and behavioral disorders, basic and related sciences,
diagnosis and interventions, special populations and settings, and others.
In the 2005-2008 WPA General Survey, the overall performance of all Sections was rated similarly
to the previous period (2002-2005), with 65% of the respondents classifying it as excellent or good.
Nevertheless, a substantial amount of respondents (31%) classified their overall performance as fair
or poor. Their main suggestions to improve Sections’ activities were a rigorous planning and quality
control, more information and reports, and more intersectional collaboration.
One of the most important initiatives taken during the current period by the WPA Executive
Committee upon recommendation of the Secretary for Sections was to conduct a Sections’
reinstatement process as required by the WPA Statutes and By-Laws. A specific questionnaire was
developed and sent to all 65 Sections, containing questions related to all WPA Statutes and By-Laws
requirements for the functioning of Sections. All but not one Section have answered and sent back
the questionnaires. Results will be partially presented in this report.
ADMISSION OF A NEW SECTION
A new section on Perinatal Psychiatry and Infant Mental Health was proposed and accepted by the
EC.
BOOK “ADVANCES IN PSYCHIATRY”, 3 RD EDITION
A 3 rd edition of the book “Advances in Psychiatry”, a state-of-the-art volume mainly reflecting the
scientific progress achieved in the Sections’ area of interest, is being organized by George
Christodoulou and is expected to be published up to the end of 2008.
1

CHANGE OF A SECTION NAME
The former Section on Psychiatry of Mental Retardation was renamed to Section on Psychiatry of
Intellectual Disability.
CONSENSUS AND POSITION STATEMENTS
An update on a statement produced by the Section on Biological Psychiatry and the Standing
Committee on Ethics on unmodified ECT and a position paper on Spirituality proposed by the
Section on Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry are under final revision.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MATERIAL
Two educational programs were developed by Sections during the current triennial period in a joint
action with the WPA Secretary for Education by the Section on Personality Disorders and the
Section on Mental Health Economics.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND PUBLICATIONS
Almost all Sections have reported an extensive list of research projects and papers published by their
membership individually or in collaboration.
JOURNALS AND NEWSLETTERS
12 Sections have reported to publish their own journals or in collaboration with others (Addiction
Psychiatry; Affective Disorders; Biological Psychiatry; Classification, Diagnostic Assessment and
Nomenclature; Clinical Psychopathology; Ecology, Psychiatry and Mental Health; Mass Media and
Mental Health; Measurement Instruments in Psychiatric Care; Mental Health Economics;
Psychiatric Rehabilitation; Psychiatry in Private Practice; Research Methods in Psychiatry) and 16
Sections their own Newsletter (Affective Disorders; Art and Psychiatry; Classification, Diagnostic
Assessment and Nomenclature; Ecology, Psychiatry and Mental Health; Education in Psychiatry;
History of Psychiatry; Literature and Psychiatry; Psychiatric Rehabilitation; Psychiatry and Human
Sexuality; Psychiatry and Sleep Wakefulness Disorders; Psychiatry in Developing Countries;
Psychiatry of Intellectual Disability; Psychoanalysis in Psychiatry; Schizophrenia; Suicidology;
Transcultural Psychiatry).
SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
One of the most developed activities by WPA Sections was symposia within WPA sponsored and
co-sponsored scientific meetings, many of them within WPA Member Societies congresses. Some
Sections have organized intersectional symposia in past WPA meetings and also for the World
Congress of Psychiatry next September in Prague.
SECTIONS’ CHAIRS FORUM
Two forums were organized and carried out by the Secretary of Sections at the WPA International
Congresses in Istanbul (2006) and Melbourne (2007), and another one is scheduled to happen at the
World Congress of Psychiatry in Prague (2008).
2

SECTIONS RESEARCH PROJECTS PARTIALLY FUNDED BY THE WPA
Six out of 18 research projects submitted by WPA Sections were chosen by the EC to be partially
funded by the WPA:
- Art and Psychiatry: “Exploring and changing the attitude towards the mentally ill in the
society through their art”.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: “The impact of war and natural disasters on newborn
babies and their future health”.
- Mass Media and Mental Health: “Detection and modification of prejudice against psychotic
disorders within the social context”.
- Measurement Instruments in Psychiatric Care: “Cross-cultural adaptation of the Schedules
for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN)”.
- Quality Assurance in Psychiatry: “Rehabilitative psychoeducation of bipolar patients and
quality of life”.
- Schizophrenia and Stigma and Mental Disorders: “Antistigma modules for mental health
professionals: development and implementation of educational modules for mental health
professionals for the destigmatization of patients with schizophrenia”.
TRIENNIAL PLANS AND REPORTS
53 Sections have submitted their triennial plans at the beginning of this period and 37 have
submitted their triennial reports recently to the Secretary for Sections.
WORLD CONGRESS OF PSYCHIATRY SYMPOSIA IN PRAGUE
Apparently 52 Sections have submitted at least one symposium to the Prague WCP.
WPA NEW WEB PAGE AND SECTIONS MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY
The new WPA web page is currently being developed and will contain expressive information from
each one of the Sections, including an updated membership directory.
REINSTATEMENT OF SECTIONS
The Section on Military Psychiatry is inactive since its inception when there was a split in the
previous Section on Disasters and Military Psychiatry. A business meeting that will be personally
chaired by me as WPA Secretary for Sections is scheduled for the WCP-Prague and the EC is
expecting that we will be effective in revitalize this important area.
Considering the WPA Statutes and By-Laws for Sections reinstatement, besides the Section on
Military Psychiatry that was inactive, other 18 Sections have not fulfilled in 2007 one of them as
follows: have not hold elections for more than 3 years (Clinical Psychopathology; Eating Disorders;
History of Psychiatry; Philosophy and Humanities in Psychiatry; Psychiatry of Intellectual
Disability/Mental Retardation; Psychoneurobiology; Religion, Spirituality and Psychiatry; Urban
Mental Health), do not have at least 20 members (Exercise, Psychiatry and Sport; Genetics in
Psychiatry; Literature and Psychiatry; Mental Health Economics; Occupational Psychiatry; Old Age
Psychiatry; Personality Disorders; Rural Mental Health) and did not presented at least one
symposium at a World Congress of Psychiatry and at least one symposium or course at another
WPA scientific meeting in the last 3 years (Brain and Pain; Pharmacopsychiatry). We didn’t take in
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consideration another requirement which is to have prepared educational material or have produced
at least one book (both authorized to carry the WPA logo) or a consensus or position statement or
have edited a Newsletter or Bulletin of the Section.
Nevertheless, the WPA Executive Committee, by recommendation of the Secretary for Sections,
decided to reinstate all Sections considering that overall they are doing very well in promoting
different activities on behalf of the WPA and aiming to increase the quality of psychiatric care
worldwide as well as to contribute to the advance of scientific knowledge in psychiatry and related
areas. We are sure that corrections will be made during the next months by those which didn’t fully
fill the requirements.
MAIN ACTIVITIES PLANNED FOR THE NEXT TRIENNIUM
Another Sections reinstatement process will take place in 2010 not just to follow what is required by
the WPA Statutes and By-Laws but also as a method of evaluate the work developed by each one of
our Sections. On behalf of the WPA Executive Committee and of our membership, Sections will be
stimulated to enlarge their worldwide membership and to develop more activities particularly
involving other Sections and Member Societies, to develop much more educational programs and
materials as well as position and consensus statements in their area of expertise, and to continuous
update their information provided in our reformatted WPA website. As Secretary for Sections, I
hope to get more funds during the next triennium to support at least some Sections activities and
also to periodically publish an electronic bulleting in our website.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I want to express my deepest gratitude to the members of the WPA Executive Committee by
providing me with important suggestions and to all Sections’ chairs and members of the Operational
Committee on Sections (Ruben Hernandez, Edmond Chiu, Tarek Okasha, Dusica Lecic-Tosevski,
George Christodoulou- consultant) for their outstanding work during 2005-2008.
Prof. Dr. Miguel R. Jorge
WPA Secretary for Sections
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Appendix E
September 26, 2008
WPA ACTION PLAN 2008-2011
This Action Plan has been produced by the WPA Planning Committee, and reviewed and
approved by the WPA Executive Committee and General Assembly. It contains the WPA
institutional goals for the triennium 2008-2011 and a list of actions by which these goals will be
pursued. The plan takes advantage of the experience acquired by the WPA during the past
trienniums, and is going to be implemented with the active involvement of all the components of
the Association.
Goal 1. To enhance the image of psychiatry worldwide among the general public, health
professionals and policy makers.
Actions:
1.1. Give visibility to successful experiences in the mental health field, by regular press
releases and reports in a section of the WPA website intended for the general public.
1.2. Fund three projects on improving the public image of psychiatry, selected on the basis of
an international call for proposals.
1.3. Launch an international programme aiming to raise the awareness of the prevalence and
prognostic implications of depression in persons with physical diseases, in collaboration with
other international and national medical associations and with organizations of users and
families.
1.4. Produce a set of guidelines on how to combat stigmatization of psychiatry and
psychiatrists, to be posted on the WPA website and translated in several languages.
1.5. Establish a regular track at World and International Congresses and a special section in
World Psychiatry focusing on successful experiences of mental health care in the various
regions of the world.
1.6. Maintain and increase collaborative contacts with other international medical and health
organizations.
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Goal 2. To partner with Member Societies in their efforts to improve the quality of mental
health care, education and research in their countries and regions, and in their attempts to
upgrade their own structure, governance and organizational capacity.
Actions:
2.1. Join and assist Member Societies, upon their request, in their interactions with national
and regional institutions concerning policy matters.
2.2. Join and assist Member Societies in the production and implementation of guidelines,
ethical codes and research protocols.
2.3. Join and assist Member Societies in promoting the refinement of curricula for graduate
and post-graduate psychiatric and public mental health education.
2.4. Produce a template for graduate and post-graduate psychiatric education to be posted on
the WPA website and translated in several languages.
2.5. Join and assist Member Societies in the development and implementation of programmes
for continuing education of psychiatrists, other mental health professionals and primary care
practitioners.
2.6. Assist Member Societies, upon their request, in refining their structure and organization.
2.7. Organize a series of seminars at World and International Congresses in which leaders of
selected Member Societies will illustrate the structure and activities of their associations to
representatives of other Member Societies, answer their questions and provide advice on
specific issues.
Goal 3. To promote the dissemination of information on recent clinical, service and research
developments in such a way that it can be assimilated by psychiatrists of all regions of the
world.
Actions:
3.1. Develop a programme of high-quality itinerant educational workshops, to be replicated in
the four WPA Regions.
3.2. Develop a CME online programme for WPA individual members.
3.3. Produce a series of guidelines on issues of great practical relevance, translated in several
languages.
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3.4. Increase the dissemination of World Psychiatry and promote the translation of entire
issues or selected articles in several languages, making them available on the WPA website
and on the websites of relevant Member Societies.
3.5. Support the development of national psychiatric journals.
Goal 4. To promote the professional development of young psychiatrists worldwide.
Actions:
4.1. Launch, in collaboration with a network of centers of excellence, a programme of oneyear
fellowships for young psychiatrists from low-income countries, who will commit
themselves to apply in their country of origin what they have learnt.
4.2. Organize a series of workshops on leadership and professional skills for young
psychiatrists.
4.3. Facilitate the participation of young psychiatrists in WPA Congresses and other
worthwhile scientific meetings, organizing, in the case of WPA Congresses, a fellowship
programme and a meeting of the WPA Young Psychiatrists Council.
4.4. Stimulate the participation of young psychiatrists in the activities of WPA Scientific
Sections.
4.5. Join and assist Member Societies in the development and implementation of programmes
for young psychiatrists.
Goal 5. To promote the development of mental health care in low-income countries and its
integration into primary care.
Action:
5.1. Develop a “training the trainers” programme, targeting nurses and clinical officers
working in dispensaries and health centers, to be implemented in selected low-income
countries.
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Goal 6. To foster the participation of psychiatrists from all regions of the world in the
international dialogue on clinical, service and research issues.
Action:
6.1. Ensure an adequate representation of psychiatrists from all regions of the world in WPA
programmes, scientific meetings and publications, and in the activities of WPA Scientific
Sections.
Goal 7. To promote the highest ethical standards in psychiatric practice and advocate for the
rights of persons with mental disorders in all regions of the world.
Actions:
7.1. Launch an international programme on the protection and promotion of physical health
in persons with severe mental disorders, in collaboration with other international and
national medical associations and with organizations of users and families.
7.2. Support international and national initiatives aiming to protect the human rights of
persons with mental disorders; to promote the meaningful involvement of these persons in the
planning and implementation of mental health services; to encourage the development of a
person-centered practice in psychiatry and medicine; and to promote equity in the access to
mental health services for persons of different age, gender, race/ethnicity, religion and
socioeconomic status.
7.3. Promote the implementation of the principles of the Declaration of Madrid in all
countries of the world, and the continuing update of these principles on the basis of
international input.
Goal 8. To promote the establishment of networks of scientists conducting collaborative
research in the mental health field.
Actions:
8.1. Fund at least two high-quality international research projects conducted by WPA
Scientific Sections.
8.2. Facilitate the involvement of the most prominent scientists of the world in the activities of
the WPA Scientific Sections.
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Goal 9. To increase the visibility and credibility of the Association at the international level.
Action:
9.1. Ensure that all WPA’s initiatives and products are of the highest possible quality level,
with a fully effective utilization of available human resources.
Goal 10. To build up a long-term, solid and transparent partnership with potential donors.
Action:
10.1. Establish a consortium of donors which will partially fund the above-mentioned
activities, as part of the WPA financial policy.
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