The department of psychiatry of National Institute of Mental and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is planning to introduce a registry for major mental health disorders in the country, according to Prof. Srinath, head, department of psychiatry, NIMHANS.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Psychiatry Congress on Psychiatry in the new millennium, he said that the psychiatrists are determined to make this task possible with concerted efforts, stated Prof Srinath. A registry of patients is mandatory in the wake of mental health care becoming an important part of many medical facilities. Most physical disorders begin when the mind is ill. The registry would allow us to track the various disorders in the population. It will also allow aid drug development and drug trials of new medicines, Prof Srinath added.

Among the other two focus areas of NIMHANS, one is a speedy implementation of district mental health programme which would provide primary level mental health care to the citizens and prevention of disorders at school-level.

Prof. D Nagaraja, director and vice chancellor NIMHANS felicitated seven psychiatrists from the first five batches of the psychiatry departments.

A plenary session on 'Vision of NIMHANS: Dreams Realised' was held as a precursor to the symposia on the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders and their outcome. Papers were also presented on psycho-social therapies and psycho-pharmacology and physical treatment.

Linda B Cottler, professor, of Epidemiology in Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine made a presentation on the epidemiological challenges in the 21st century.