JEDDAH, 1 May 2007 — Most people think they are far from needing psychiatric treatment. However, studies have shown that 25 percent of the world population has psychological problems at some stage of their lives, according to Dr. Mohamed Khalid, head of the psychiatric unit of Saudi German Hospital (SGH) and secretary-general of the Third International Symposium on Psychiatry.
A four-day symposium, which starts today, will focus on the future of psychiatry as a neuroscience. It will tackle the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation periods of psychological problems. The Ministry of Health, represented by Al-Amal Hospital, Saudi German Hospital and the Saudi Psychiatric Association are co-sponsoring the event at the auditorium of the SGH.
Thirty percent of the topics discussed in the symposium will be on children’s mental health. “Children can suffer from depression before the age of going to school,” said Khalid. “Four percent of the adolescents suffer from depression as well.”
Drug and alcohol addiction will be an important part of the discussion. Dr. Mohamed Shawoosh, head of the organizing committee and general supervisor for Al-Amal Hospital’s programs, said that drug addiction, which in most countries is treated as cause or symptom of psychological disorders, is increasing.
“(Drug abuse) has increased four to five times in recent years,” he said.
Some sessions will discuss the relationship between the therapist and the addicts.
Khalid said that the symposium this year targets the full team that works with those patients. “Psychologists and social workers are the people mostly involved in treating addicts while the psychiatrist’s role comes to supervise and prescribe medications since addiction usually starts with a psychological problem,” he said.
Three workshops will tackle the after-treatment period of addicts and how they can assimilate in societies. Other lectures will focus on psychological disorders relating to menstruation and menopause. The symposium will also discuss schizophrenia although one percent of people in a community have the disorder. Depression and suicide are also among the topics.
In all 45 speakers from 12 countries and 28 organizers from six international societies will take part in the symposium.
