KARACHI, Jan 26: The Pakistan Psychiatric Society in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association is holding the 15th International Psychiatric Conference with the theme "Expansion of mental health in primary health care" here at a local hotel from Jan 28 to Jan 30.

Over 500 delegates comprising leading psychiatrists, psychologists, intellectuals, physicians and young doctors are expected to participate in the three-day conference.

The conference will deliberate on a wide range of issues concerning mental health. Apart from eight scientific sessions and four workshops, the conference will include three scholarly key-note addresses by leading psychiatrists of the world.

A special seminar will be held on the "Plight of mental health in Afghanistan". The volatile "Dialogue with pharmaceutical industry" focusing the central nervous system drugs is expected to generate heated debate and prove popular with the participants.

The conference will launch three books on psychiatry - 'Ibrath Kada-Revitialised' by Dr Ibrahim Khalil Sheikh (translated by Dr Musarrat Husain and Dr Karam Khawaja); 'Mental Health Ordinance' by Prof Musarrat Husain; and Dr Bakir Raza's book on psychiatry.

The moot court, a courtroom drama, projecting real psychiatric cases and a battle between prosecuting patients and defending psychiatrists, with a neutral judge as a presiding officer, promises to be a real show stealer.

Almost 50 scientific papers will be presented at the conference focusing on different aspects of mental illness, its relationship with physical health and the role of primary health centres in safeguarding the care and cure of the mentally ill. - PPI