International Conference about Depression and Bipolar Disorders in Amsterdam accessible to patients and relatives

From July 13-16, 2016, the international ISBD ISAD conference entitled “Challenging Moods’ will be held in Amsterdam. It is the world’s largest and most important conference on mood disorders and it is organized by two leading international organizations: the International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD) and the International Society for Affective Disorders (ISAD). The Dutch advocacy groups the Association for Manic-depressives and Relatives (VMDB) and Depression Association (DV) are involved in the organization of this conference.
Recognizing the need for greater integration of programing for clinicians and those with lived experience of bipolar and unipolar disorder in its meetings, ISBD and ISAD consider it important that expertise and knowledge is exchanged between patients, relatives and professionals.
Therefore, there are two specific opportunities to create space for patients and their relatives to participate in the program.

Expert by Experience tracks
Firstly, for a limited group of patients and/or relatives, ISBD and ISAD will offer up to 50 discounted registrations to support attendance of those with lived experience of mood disorders. These people will be able to attend the entire conference (July 13th to Saturday 16 th) for a greatly reduced rate of €55. For more information: see this link.

Advocacy Day
Secondly, on Saturday July 16th, ISBD and ISAD and the Dutch advocacy groups have put together a day of advocacy program activities, special for patients, their families, and other interested parties.
This public program is focusing on information about mood disorders, breaking stigma, and to promote self-management by patients and clinicians.
Because of the international aspects of the day, the presentations will be in English, with simultaneous translation into Dutch.

Patients and relatives / interested parties are cordially invited to come to the Advocacy Day on Saturday, July 16th, 2016.

The program for Saturday, July 16th – What to expect?
Time Title symposium/session*
8.30 Registration
9.30 ‘Just Do It: Behavioral Activation in Depressive and Bipolar Disorders’
– Stefan Groothuis, Olympic Champion skating and expert by experience Depression Association (to be confirmed)
– Prof. Claudi Bockting, professor in clinical psychology, University of Utrecht
– Prof. Gin Malhi, professor in Mood Disorders University of Sydney.
11.00 Break
11.30 Keynote presentations
‘Sad facts about the course of depression: a synopsis of key NESDA# findings’
– Prof. Brenda Penninx, professor in psychiatric epidemiology Vrije University Medical Center.
12.10 ‘What can we learn from bipolar offspring studies’
– Dr. Manon Hillegers, psychiatrist, senior researcher UMC Utrecht
12.50 Break
13.30 ‘Patient Participation in Research’
– Various Dutch and foreign speakers
Short pitches and a panel discussion about how patients can truly participate in scientific research in mood disorders
‘Patient self-management and functional recovery in unipolar and bipolar disorders’
– Sergio van de Heuvel, researcher Dimence/Saxion Universiteit
– Elisabeth ter Kulve, expert by experience VMDB
– Peter Oostelbos, expert by experience DV
15.00 Meeting of international advocacy groups for Mood Disorders
16.00 Adjourn
* Only these symposia are a part of the advocacy program on July 16th. These are included in your registration; access to other conference symposia is restricted to full conference registrants.
# Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety

For whom?
This program is carefully designed for patients with affective disorders, relatives and other interested parties.

Where?
The conference takes place in the main building of the Vrije University, the Boelelaan1105, 1081 HV Amsterdam.

How to register?
You can find further information here. Pre-registration and payment is possible up to June 13th 2016. You can also register on the day itself at the venue (Vrije University, main building) and pay cash (Note: no electronic payments possible). We strongly encourage people to register in advance to secure a space in the program.

Costs
The cost for the above program is only € 20, -. This is made possible by a generous grant from the Dutch ‘Fonds Psychische Gezondheid’.

Confirmation
You get a confirmation of your registration by email before June 16, 2016.

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