Mohammed T. Abou-Saleh

800 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRYphysicians, psychologists, geropsychiatric nurses, social workers,occupational therapists and others with an interest in our field.Presidents of the organization have until now been drawn fromthe disciplines of psychiatry and geriatric medicine.Although these meetings and congresses have been sufficient toserve the growth of our organization, IPA has also createdinitiatives which have independently served our discipline. One ofthese initiatives concerns the coveted IPA Research Awards inPsychogeriatrics. The research awards were conceived through thevision of Manfred Bergener and were supported through thegenerosity of Bayer AG for the first decade, from 1989. Theseawards, for which submissions are solicited from throughout theworld, are given for the best unpublished research submission.Since its inception, the Research Awards Committee has beenchaired by Barry Reisberg, with referees from many nations whodevote their time, energy and expertise to the exceedingly rigorousreview process for these awards.Winning papers over the course of the years have provided asignificant contribution to the body of knowledge and progress inour field. For example, in the first Awards in Tokyo, 1989,subsequently famous research studies on behavioral and psychologicalsymptoms of dementia (BPSD) by Alistair Burns (UK) andon reduction of Alzheimer’s disease caregiver stress by HenryBrodaty (Australia) were awarded, in addition to seminal researchby Barry Rovner (USA) on agitation in nursing home settings inthe USA. Each of these award-winning research entries provided astimulus for numerous subsequent papers and, more importantly,major changes in the structure of our field. For example, in part asa result of Alistair Burns’ work, we now know much moreregarding the nature of BPSD and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologictreatments of BPSD. As a result, in part, of HenryBrodaty’s award-winning research, Alzheimer’s organizations andassociated support groups have now proliferated throughout theglobe. Barry Rovner’s findings led, in part, to changes in thequality of care provided to nursing home residents.This astoundingly important work, singled out for accolades inIPA’s first series of research awards, has resulted in commensurateeffects on the careers of these scientists. For example, AlistairBurns is currently the President-elect of IPA and Henry Brodaty ispresently the medical director of Alzheimer Disease International.The research awards have remained similarly successful from 1989to the present, and have clearly not only stimulated the growth ofour field but also served to advance the mental health quality ofthe elderly.Another modality that IPA has chosen to coalesce growth inour field has been the convening of special meetings. Thesemeetings have typically brought together leading scientists,leading clinicians, government officials, representatives of regulatoryagencies and others to coalesce knowledge around aparticular subject in our field. For example, a meeting was heldin 1994 on ‘‘Methodology for drug trials in mild, moderate andsevere Alzheimer’s disease’’. This meeting, held in New York,helped to stimulate the approval and understanding of pharmacologictreatments for Alzheimer’s disease which have now beenapproved in many nations around the world.Another timely special meeting concerned behavioral andpsychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in 1996. Thismeeting stimulated worldwide trials of drugs for the treatmentof BPSD and subsequent demonstrations of efficacy. An updatespecial meeting on BPSD was held in 1999. Yet another specialmeeting, which was held in Geneva in 1996, pulled togethercurrent knowledge regarding the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s diseasefrom diverse clinical and psychologic, electrophysiologic, neuroimaging,pathologic and biomolecular perspectives. This meetinghelped foster the understanding that Alzheimer’s disease, like allother major illnesses, is a diagnosis of inclusion as well as ofexclusion.IPA has published a journal, International Psychogeriatrics,since 1989, which is an Index Medicus publication and is a leadingorgan for research and information regarding worldwide activitiesin psychogeriatrics. Apart from regularly scheduled quarterlyissues, International Psychogeriatrics has published groundbreakingand syncretic special issues. The special issues have includedthe proceedings of IPA’s special meetings as well as comprehensiveissues on other topics, such as a special issue on suicide in theelderly.Another important publication of IPA is the Bulletin, anewsletter which serves as a less formal organ of communicationfor psychogeriatricians around the world. The IPA also publishesmodules, pamphlets and slides on topics of special interest, suchas BPSD. The publications further serve IPA’s broad educationalmission.Other special and noteworthy activities of IPA include aninternational visiting junior scholar pilot program, sponsored byPfizer, which enabled junior psychiatrists and neurologists fromless financially endowed research nations to visit wealthier researchinstitutions. For example, physician scholars from Argentina,Brazil, PR China, ROC Taiwan and Russia, were able to work atresearch centers in the USA, UK and Australia and absorb themost up-to-date methodologies for scientific research.Yet another important initiative of IPA is its affiliateorganization program, which is enabling regional and nationalorganizations to have more ready access to internationalopportunities and resources and also enable IPA to reachphysicians at the ‘‘grass roots’’ level. Equally important in termsof IPA’s individual reach is its excellent website (www.ipa-online.org).Apart from the activities listed in this brief summary, IPA hasbeen involved in numerous other activities and communications inpsychogeriatrics. The net result of these activities at the presenttime was reflected in part by IPA’s outstanding Ninth Congress,which was held in Vancouver in 1999. This meeting was the largestmeeting ever held in the field of psychogeriatrics. It broughttogether colleagues from 50 countries that represent IPA’s diverseconstituency, currently encompassing 75 of the world’s nations.In coming years, IPA seeks to further develop governmentalconsulting activities in psychogeriatrics, and to further develop itswebsite and affiliate organization program, while maintaining,expanding and improving upon its numerous other activities onbehalf of our field.In summary, through a series of outstanding initiatives andactivities, IPA has served the growth of psychogeriatrics worldwidefor the past two decades. The goals of these activitiescontinue to be improved mental health as people age, andconsequently improved health more generally, throughout theworld.