Welcome to the 22nd WCP Congress Program Scheduling

The somatic health of persons with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is considerably worse compared to the general public. A mortality gap of more than a decade is a perseverative research finding. Psychiatrists are involved in different strategies in order to change this deplorable situation. In this state-of-the-art symposium Armida Mucci will set the scene with her data on psychiatrists and the management of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in patients with schizophrenia. Michael Krausz will present the potential of working in the framework of a harm reduction paradigm for protecting the physical health of the most vulnerable patients. The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health as spelled out by the UN-Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the resulting obligations for signatories to ensure the right to health without discrimination of persons with psychosocial disabilities will be addressed by Charlene Sunkel. Wolfgang Gaebel will highlight the role of guidelines for protecting the somatic health of patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.