Summer School - Precision Psychiatry, 8-12 July 2019, Utrecht University, Netherlands

Precision Psychiatry

The summer course Precision Psychiatry will focus on how genetic, psychological, physiological and imaging research can help us with the transformation of clinical psychiatry into a more personalized and precision profession. In addition, during the course we will discuss the impact of (technological) innovation, societal changes, patient participation and lifestyle on psychiatric diagnostics & treatment now and in the future.

It is becoming increasingly clear that human behavior reflects a complex interaction between genetic predisposition, brain construction, physiological functioning, subjective experience, social context and changing environmental factors. This dynamic interaction ultimately determines whether or not someone will develop mental problems. Since 1980, a psychiatric classification system (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM) has been leading for diagnostics, (bio) medical, and psychological research. However, this static DSM does not do justice to the complex and adaptive reality of human nature. Symptoms change over time and symptom overlap between discrete disorders is the rule rather than the exception. The course Precision Psychiatry will focus on how we can transform clinical psychiatry into a more personalized profession. The day-to-day program will be published in the beginning of 2019.