WPA World Congress of Psychiatry
Established in Paris in 1950, the WPA World Congress of Psychiatry (WCP) is the association's flagship event. Taking place annually, with the general assembly and associated elections being held every triennium, the congress rotates between three parts of the world - Asia/Oceania, the Americas, and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
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WPA partners with its member societies to host the event, taking into account security, safety, resources, accessibility, facilities, and finances when selecting the host city and country.
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Our next World Congress
23rd WPA World Congress of Psychiatry
28 September - 1 October 2023
Theme: Psychiatry: current knowledge and perspectives for action.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Website: https://wcp-congress.com/
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In partnership with WPA member society:
Austrian Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
and Psychosomatics
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Live Reporting on X (formerly known as Twitter) using the hashtag: #WCP23
Prof. Afzal Javed (President, WPA) and Prof. Johannes Wancata (Local Host) talk about the importance of this year's congress and why people should attend.
Previous Events
22nd World Congress of Psychiatry
3-6 August 2022 || Bangkok, Thailand
Theme: Psychiatry 2022: The Need for Empathy and Action
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21st World Congress of Psychiatry
18-21 October 2021 || Virtual
Theme: New World, New Challenges for Psychiatry & Mental Health
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20th World Congress of Psychiatry
10-13 March 2021 || Virtual
Theme: Psychiatry in a Troubled World
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19th World Congress of Psychiatry
21-24 August 2019 || Lisbon, Portugal
Theme: Psychiatry and Mental Health - Global Inspirations, Locally Relevant Action
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18th World Congress of Psychiatry
27-30 September || Mexico City, Mexico
Theme: Psychiatry - Standing Firm for Mental Health
Regional Congresses
Regional Congresses provide an opportunity for those parts of the world not hosting that year's World Congress to host a meeting in their region. Accordingly, no more than two regional congresses take place in any one year. Typically, regional congresses focus on issues most relevant to the host region, sometimes also drilling down to areas of interest specific to the host country.
Our Upcoming Regional Congresses
WPA Regional Congress
Theme: Innovations in the Practice of Psychiatry in XXI Century
Yerevan, Armenia
8-10 June 2023
Contact: Professor Armen Soghoyan, President, Armenian Psychiatric Association
Website: https://wpayerevan2023.org/home/
Congress programme: View the Congress programme here or download it here.
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You can also watch an interview with Prof. Afzal Javed (President, WPA) who speaks about the upcoming Regional Congress on Armenian TV programme - First Channel News here (interview in Armenian).
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In partnership with WPA member society: Armenian Psychiatric Association (in collaboration with the Armenian Medical Association & National Institute of Health)
Previous Events
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WPA Regional Congress
14-16 April 2023 || Kolkata, India
Theme: Building Awareness – Bridging Treatment Gap
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WPA Regional Congress
8-10 December 2022 || Hammamet, Tunisia
Theme: African Psychiatry in the 21st Century, Achievements and Future Perspectives
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WPA Regional Congress
7-9 July 2021 || Kyiv, Ukraine
Theme: Psychopathology in Periods of Transition
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WPA Regional Congress
16-18 May 2021 || Virtual (Formerly St. Petersburg, Russia)
Theme: Interdisciplinary Understanding of Co-morbidity in Psychiatry: from Science to Integrated Care
Thematic Congresses
Thematic Congresses are focused on one or more topics of interest. Their purpose is to address special subjects that WPA wishes to pursue - such as a topical issue or coverage of a specific region. They take place in parts of the world with a timing and format that does not compete with any of the other organised WPA activities. Thematic Congresses may be organised one or more times a year worldwide.
Our Upcoming Thematic Congresses
There are currently no WPA Thematic Congresses planned for 2022. Please check back here for future updates.
Previous Events
WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Innovations in Treatment & Psychosocial Rehabilitation
Abu Dhabi, UAE
5-7 May 2023
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Organised by the World Psychiatric Association Scientific Section Psychiatric Rehabilitation
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Mental Health in New Era
Karachi, Pakistan
3-5 March 2023
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In partnership with Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain House, Lahore (PPRC)
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Treatment and Management of Mental Disorders in a Post-Pandemic Era
Tbilisi, Georgia
14-16 October 2022
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In partnership with the Society of Georgian Psychiatrists (WPA member society)
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: New Horizons in Psychiatric Practice: Creative Ideas and Innovative Interventions
St. Julian, Malta
10-12 November 2022
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Organised by the World Psychiatric Association Scientific Sections with PCO Erasmus.
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Early Intervention in Psychiatry across the Life Span
Athens, Greece
23-25 June 2022
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Organised by WPA Action Plan Group on Early Interventions in Psychiatry with PCO Erasmus
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Public Mental Health
Lahore, Pakistan
11-13 March 2022
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In partnership with Pakistan Psychiatric Research Centre, Fountain House, Lahore (PPRC)
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Understanding psychiatry today: Economic reactivation, social inequalities and mental health
Cartagena, Colombia
23-25 February 2022
In partnership with WPA member society: Colombian Psychiatric Association
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Intersectional Collaboration - Psychological Trauma: Global burden on mental and physical health
Virtual
11 -13 December 2020
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In partnership with WPA member society:
The Hellenic Psychiatric Association
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WPA Thematic Congress
Theme: Dementia: Psychiatric and Neurological Challenges and Perspectives
Ohrid, Republic of North Macedonia
15-18 May 2019
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In partnership with WPA Member Society:
Macedonian Psychiatric Association