International Congress of Biological Psychiatry. 8-13 February 2004, Sydney, Australia.

Abstract

Approximately 1500 psychiatrists, psychologists and basic scientists attended the International Congress of Biological Psychiatry with a specialist interest in the biological aspects of psychiatry. There was relatively little information on new medications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders but the congress emphasized approaches to treatment based on medications and physical therapies, as well as advances in the understanding of the biological basis of psychiatric illnesses. Around 800 abstracts were presented in symposia, sponsored satellite sessions, free communications and poster sessions. The poster sessions were particularly well attended and provided many lively discussions. Of particular interest were sessions devoted to new antipsychotics for the treatment of schizophrenia, management of mood and anxiety disorder, Alzheimer's disease and bipolar disorder. This report describes information on the new antipsychotic drug aripiprazole, novel targets for the treatment of mood disorders and psychoses, GABAA receptors in the treatment of panic disorder, and poster presentations on bipolar disorder.