Welcome to the 21st WCP Virtual Congress Program Scheduling

Genetics research in psychiatry has demonstrated the importance of heritability and the use of genetic information in determining the underlying mechanism of mental illnesses. Pharmacogenetics has also in shown early promise in predicting drug efficacy and tolerability in psychiatry. Given the explosion of genetic technology and research over the past decades, dissemination of basic knowledge on psychiatric genetics has been lagging behind and requires significant knowledge translational and outreach. There are many common principles that are relevant to all trainees around the world, such as basic mechanisms of gene expression and function, different types of genetic variation associated with psychiatric disorders, and the current genetic testing guidelines. However, there are some regional differences in approach to genetic testing and counseling in psychiatry, depending on cultural norms and resource availability that inform approaches to education in psychiatric genetics. This symposium will discuss the various approaches to psychiatric genetic education across the globe including: 1) Middle Eastern countries by the first speaker, Dr. Alnor, 2) Colombia and Latin America by the second speaker, Dr. Castaño, and 3) North America and a look into the future of psychiatric genetics education by the third and final speaker, Dr. Zai. Overall, this proposed symposium will highlight the international effort on disseminating knowledge and educating trainees, physicians, and allied health professionals on psychiatric genetics. This symposium will also highlight the current limits and barriers and set out a vision for future advances.