Psychology and Mental Health

The Psychology and Mental Health session is designed to explore the critical interplay between psychological processes and mental well-being. With mental health becoming an increasingly important global concern, this session will address the latest research, therapeutic approaches, and societal impacts of mental health issues. This session aims to provide an interactive platform where experts from various disciplines can discuss advancements in understanding, diagnosing, and treating psychological disorders while also emphasizing the importance of mental health in everyday life.

Neuroscience and Neurology

The Neuroscience and Neurology session offers an in-depth exploration of the complexities of the brain and nervous system, focusing on cutting-edge advancements that are reshaping both scientific understanding and clinical practice. Attendees will explore the intricacies of neuroplasticity and brain resilience, learning how the brain adapts in response to injury and disease, and how these processes open the door to innovative therapeutic approaches. From stroke recovery to traumatic brain injuries, this session will highlight the potential for brain repair and cognitive rehabilitation. By understanding the science behind brain adaptation, participants will gain insights into new avenues for treating neurological disorders.

Psychotherapy & Psychology

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour, encompassing both conscious and unconscious processes. Psychotherapy aims to enhance a person's mental and emotional well-being by identifying and reducing negative impulses, feelings, or emotions, and improving social skills and connections. This often involves regular, one-on-one interactions to help individuals change their behaviour and overcome problems.

Key components include:

Personal interaction

Addressing pseudoscience

Schizophrenia & OCD

Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder where individuals interpret reality abnormally, with persistent and often severe disabling effects. Globally, around 24 million people, or 1 in 300, suffer from schizophrenia. This disorder can result in a combination of delusions, hallucinations, and extremely disordered thinking and behaviour, impairing daily functioning. While schizophrenia and OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) are distinct in their causes and symptoms, some overlapping characteristics can make individuals vulnerable to both disorders.

Key aspects include:

Streptococcal infections

Generalized anxiety disorder

Intrusive thoughts

Research and Case Studies in Neuroscience and Mental Health

The Research and Case Studies in Neuroscience and Mental Health session provides a detailed review of recent findings and practical case studies that shed light on developments in the fields of neuroscience and mental health. This session is designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, showcasing innovative research methodologies and significant findings from both clinical and laboratory settings.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Child mental health focuses on the identification, classification, treatment, and maintenance of optimal psychological functioning and well-being in children and adolescents. Specialists use psychotherapy and sometimes medication to address mental health issues in this population. This field also addresses obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and nutritional deficiencies, and mental health problems such as depression. Child psychiatry, also known as Pediatric psychiatry, involves addressing issues such as:

Key areas include:

Child abuse and neglect

Emotional and behavioural disorders

Social impact

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Aggression and violence

 Neurological Outcomes After Effect of COVID-19

Stress and Anxiety

Stress is primarily a cerebral perception of pressure, releasing important neurochemicals and hormones that prepare us for action (fight or flee). It's a feeling of emotional and physical pressure linked to heart-related issues like coronary artery disease, heart attack, and heart failure. Extreme responses to stress can lead to panic attacks. Stressors are situations and pressures that cause stress. Events that make you feel confused or anxious can trigger this focused emotion. The majority of people experience stress and anxiety occasionally. Pressure may manifest as fear, stress, or apprehension and can be a response to anxiety or the inability to identify significant stressors in life.

Positive psychology

Generalized anxiety disorder

Depression and Bipolar Disorders

In everyday life, the term "depression" can refer to various topics. It's challenging to understand because it describes both a mental condition and a feeling. "Depression" may refer to a temporary feeling of unhappiness resulting from daily setbacks, fatigue, loneliness, and anguish. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental condition characterized by erratic changes in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to perform daily tasks. There are four main types of bipolar disorder, each causing significant changes in mood, energy, and activity levels, ranging from highly elevated, energized "manic episodes" to very sad, "down" or depressed episodes. Hypomanic episodes are less severe manic episodes.

Childhood abuse

Mood stabilizers

Natural disasters

Manic depressive behavioural disorder

Sleep Disorders

Sleep-wake disorders often occur alongside medical conditions or other mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or cognitive disorders. Sleep difficulties are linked to both physical and emotional problems. Sleep problems can contribute to and complicate mental health conditions and can also be a symptom of other mental health issues.

Restless leg syndrome

Sleep apnea

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Neurodevelopmental conditions interfere with the growth and development of the brain or, sometimes, the central nervous system. These issues affect memory, learning ability, self-control, and emotion, emerging as a person develops. Neuropsychology and behavioral neuroscience are closely related to neuropsychiatry, a growing psychiatry subspecialty that deals with mental issues potentially linked to nervous system conditions.

Pervasive developmental disorders

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Addiction Psychiatry

Addiction psychiatry is a subspecialty within psychiatry focused on the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with addiction-related disorders. This includes dependencies on legal and illegal drugs, gambling, food, and other impulse control disorders. Addiction occurs when a person ingests a substance (e.g., alcohol, cocaine, nicotine) or engages in a behaviour (e.g., gambling, sex, shopping) that is enjoyable but becomes compulsive and interferes with daily responsibilities and activities such as work, relationships, or health.

Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry

Geriatric psychiatry is a branch of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating mental disorders in older adults. It is a subspecialty of psychiatry that deals with the study, prevention, and treatment of mental disorders in the elderly, emphasizing the psychological and biological aspects of normal aging.

Evolutionary Psychology and Psychoanalytic Theories

Psychoanalysis is a treatment technique related to the investigation of the unconscious mind to address mental disorders. It aims to release repressed emotions and help patients confront them. Evolutionary psychology and psychiatry suggest that psychological issues arise from the malfunctioning of mental modules adapted to ancestral environments but not modern ones.

Strokes and Trauma

With increased awareness of the severe impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in recent years, a common question is whether TBI can cause strokes. Many well-known athletes have discussed how TBI affected their lives long after retiring from sports. Research has found an association between TBI and stroke. Following trauma, strokes are common, and although modern concepts of stroke pathology do not directly link it to trauma, various mechanisms can cause ischemia or haemorrhage due to a previous traumatic event.

Neurodegenerative Diseases and Stress

A type of disease within cells of the CNS cease functioning or die. The cells of the brain are jointly linked and miscommunications in one region may disrupt further brain functions, explaining that brain disorders can consequence in widespread issues. Even though there are numerous illnesses and diseases that can influence the brain, the most complex of these diseases are called neurodegenerative diseases. These diseases can influence an individual’s movement, speech, memory, intelligence, and much more. As neurodegenerative diseases are so complex, the root of various diseases remain a question. Neurodegenerative disorders generally get adverse over time and have no heal. They may be genetic or be caused by a malignancy or stroke. They also occur in persons who consume huge quantity of alcohol or are exposed to certain viruses or toxins.

• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Parkinson’s disease and PD-related disorders
• Prion disease
• Motor neurone diseases
• Huntington’s disease
• Spinocerebellar ataxia
• Spinal muscular atrophy

Stress:

The body’s reaction to intellectual, physical or psychological pressure. Stress leads to chemical alteration in the body that will increase blood glucose volume, heart rate and blood pressure. It may further lead to feelings of anger, anxiety, frustration or depression. Stress may be originated by usual life activities or by an incident, such as injury or illness. Long-term stress or high levels of stress may lead to mental and physical health problems.

• Acute stress
• Episodic acute stress
• Chronic stress

Brain and Neurological Disorders

The Brain and Neurological Disorders session offers an in-depth exploration of the latest advancements in brain and neurological disorders, focusing on the critical aspects of pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms of conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, examining how genetic, environmental, and pathological factors contribute to these complex disorders. Understanding these mechanisms is essential for developing effective treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.