Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Genetic factors play a substantial role in the etiology and course of all mental disorders as well in the way patients respond to treatment. There has been long-standing hope that genetic research will eventually deepen our understanding of mental disorders; most importantly to translating benefit to patients. How this hope has finally started to materialize and which role the WPA may play in, not only furthering the process, but by establishing fair participation in research, will be illustrated in this lecture. The most prestigious representatives of their fields will cover in their talks the whole range of topics from genetic testing and counselling to the potential effects of psychiatric genetics on patients and society as a whole, as well as the role the WPA can take in this path. Prof. Brenda Finucane: Diagnostic genetic testing: closing the gap between recommendation and clinical implementation. Prof. Jehannine Austin: Genetic Counselling for Mental Health Disorders Prof. Henrietta Raventos: Effects of Psychiatric Genomics on Beliefs, Practices and Policies in Costa Rica.