Dear Colleagues,

It is our great privilege and pleasure to invite you to the fantastic city of Paris for five stimulating days of basic, clinical and conceptual science in the field of Biological Psychiatry.

Following Vienna (2005), the Assocation Française de Psychiatrie Biologique (AFPB) will welcome you as a host for the most important highlight of our Federation – the 9th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry.

Paris with its rich history in psychiatry is the ideal setting to discuss the today’s advances in biology and molecular genetics, the development of a new generation of treatments based upon neuroplasticity concepts, and the radical progress in modern technologies and neuroscience
that is changing our concepts and attitudes on mental diseases. During this outstanding, cutting edge scientific event thought leaders and decision makers from all around the world will share with us the newest innovations in our field and their impact on diagnoses, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with mental disorders.

An excellent collection of scientific sessions will be prepared: intensive workshops and debates, plenary lectures with rewarded experts, and symposia. Young scientists are especially encouraged to present their recent findings in Free Communication and Young Scientists Award Sessions and thus benefit from the congress.

Looking back at the history of psychiatry Paris has been the centre of many important epochmaking developments. Philippe Pinel who became chair of the Hôpital Salpêtrière in 1794 is considered by many as one of the founders of modern psychiatry. He integrated the field of psychiatry into medicine by introducing empirical methods and by observating the clinical pictures of mental disorders.
In 1885 Sigmund Freud visited Jean-Martin Charcot whose psychopathological studies of hysteria had a great impact on Sigmund Freud’s theories.

In the 1950ies Jean Delay and his assistant Pierre Deniker were the first to introduce the neuroleptic chlorpromazine for the treatment of schizophrenia in the Hôpital Saint Anne. In 1952 isoniazid was recognized independently by the French Jean-Francois Buisson and the American Max Luire as the first synthetic antidepressant compound.

But Paris offers far more: the city of painters, writers and musicians, the city of fashion and design, the city of haute cuisine – there is something to discover for every congress participant in Paris. Social events and city tours will be arranged to make your congress attendance exciting and comfortable.

Come and enjoy the congress and the city of Paris, meeting your colleagues, maintaining old friendships, and establishing new ones. But most of all, don’t miss an unique opportunity to share the science that is the driving force of our Federation and our profession.

Sincerely yours,

Prof. Siegfried Kasper Congress President WFSBP President	Prof. Florence Thibaut Co-Chair Local Organising Committee WFSBP Vice-President	Prof. Raquel E. Gur Co-Chair International Scientific Programme Committee