Each of the plenary sessions will each last 90 minutes.

Each of the three plenary sessions will be guided by two chairpersons. After their introduction they will invite the plenary speaker to make his or her presentation lasting no longer than 25 minutes.

After the presentation the chairperson will offer the floor to three discussants who will address issues presented in the plenary speaker’s presentation. The discussants should focus on the issues presented by the speaker relying on their experience and knowledge of the field. Each of the discussants will have 8 minutes at their disposal.

The Chairperson will next invite the audience in general to make their comments and raise questions. They will guide the discussion that will engage all panelists (speaker and discussants) and last for 20 minutes. They will then invite the speaker to reply to the issues raised by the discussants and the audience. The speaker will have 5 minutes for his/her answers.

The two chairpersons will then summarize what went on and make their final comments. Each of the Chairpersons will have 3 minutes to make their comments.

The nine presidential symposia will address themes which in the opinion of the President deserve special attention. Each of the presidential symposia will last 90 minutes. In each of them there will be three speakers speaking for 20 minutes. After each presentation the audience should be invited to ask questions and at the end there should be another period for any general comments or questions. At the end of the discussion the chairperson may wish to provide a brief summary of the main issues presented and discussed.

There will be 8 state of the art sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. These sessions will have a chairperson and three speakers, each speaking for no longer than 20 minutes. The time for the discussion involving the audience will be 30 minutes.

Each of the Collaborative Interorganizational Symposia will last 90 minutes. In each of them there will be three speakers speaking for 20 minutes. After each presentation the audience will be invited to ask questions or make comments. After the three presentations there will be another period for any general comments or questions. At the end of the discussion the chairperson may wish to provide a brief summary of the main issues presented and discussed.

These sessions will last 90 minutes. Each of the sessions will be composed of two special lectures followed by 15 minutes of discussion.

An exciting series of original sessions are planned in a dedicated hall. We welcome all early career psychiatrists and participants to come and attend these interesting sessions. Sessions will include:

• Difficult case discussions
• The digital interactive theatre
• The WPA three-minute competition
• Debates
• Collaborative research session
• The WPA book Presentation session

Special sessions will be selected to discuss particularly important development relevant to psychiatry.

The Panel discussions will involve up to five participants.  They will participate in the discussion moderated by the chairperson.  In the sessions there will be no formal presentations.

The number of participants in the courses is limited.   If there are fewer than 12 participants interested in the course the course will be cancelled. The courses will be held in the morning of the first day of the Congress and last for 4 hours.

The Scientific Committee will select accepted symposia from the submitted proposals. There will be 4 speakers for each symposium, speaking for approximately 15 minutes each so as to leave 5 minutes after each presentation for questions and discussion.

Free communications presentations sessions will be composed of 8 oral presentations selected by the Scientific Committee from those submitted through abstract submission. The presentations will be grouped according to the list of topics produced for the Congress. Each speaker will have 10 minutes for the presentation (8 minute talk and 2 minutes for questions and answers).

Short oral communication presentations will last 5 minutes (3 minute talk and 2 minutes for questions and answers) and will be given in the exhibition and poster area on 22-24 of August.

Special sessions are organized to present issues that are of particular importance for psychiatry as a whole and for the World Psychiatric Association both to inform the participants in the congress and to obtain their views about the matter. They involve several participants who make a presentation prepared in consultation with the chairperson of the Special session bearing in mind that the session chairperson has to leave enough time for discussion with the audience about the subjects presented.