“[The center] will be a meeting point for mental health researchers in the region, stimulating collaborations between them and disseminating the results of their work to others in the region,” the announcement said.
The project is in collaboration with the World Health Organization and will serve as one of nine International Field Study Centers for the ICD revision.
“It will recommend specific changes to the mental disorders classification so the definitions, descriptions, and diagnostic guidelines are more accurate for the Arab region and that relevant cultural issues are considered. This will improve the usefulness of the classification for Arab mental health professionals.” the announcement said.
The center’s director, Dr. Brigitte Khoury, said the intention is ultimately to help reduce the burden of mental disorders in the region, adding that the neuropsychiatric disorders account for a higher percentage of global disease burden than any other category of non-communicable disease.
“And they are vastly undertreated, even more so in the Arab region, even though effective treatments exist,” the press release quoted Khoury as saying.
The center is also expected to serve as a database for researchers and as a network of professionals with similar interests who will be able to meet and share their expertise and knowledge.
The center will be officially launched with an opening ceremony on the morning of the June 20, under the patronage of the Lebanese Minister of Health.
No comments:
Post a Comment