Dear colleagues, dear researchers, dear clinicians,
On behalf of the board of the World Association of Stress-Related and Anxiety Disorders “WASAD”, it is our pleasure to invite you to the 4th WASAD Congress from September 11 to 13, 2023, to be held for the first time in Zurich, Switzerland.
The overall topic of the congress is “Dealing with stress and anxiety in a world of chronic crises: What we can learn from translational perspectives”. In an increasingly fast-paced and complex world, the issue of stress and anxiety is becoming increasingly important, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Both brought new levels of stress and uncertainty to individuals and communities around the world, making it more important than ever to improve our understanding of these conditions and develop effective interventions. This conference will provide a platform for cutting-edge translational research and best practice aimed at reducing the burden of stress and anxiety, including pandemic-related stress, on individuals and society.
The WASAD aims to promote translational research and to foster effective and safe treatments as well as prevention strategies for mental disorders related to stress and anxiety, including anxiety, ADHD, depression, panic disorders, social anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD, cognitive dysfunctions and others. From keynote presentations to interactive panel discussions, you will hear from experts in the field and learn about new perspectives and innovative approaches. In interactive panel sessions between experts and young scientists, we want to learn from translational perspectives including basic research to innovative clinical treatments.
We are particularly pleased to announce our keynotes and plenaries from experts on mental health, research on stress, prevention and resilience. In addition, there will be a focus on other topics beyond anxiety, including ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, depression and suicidality, somatic and neurodevelopmental aspects, but also on important sociological factors to provide a broad and comprehensive understanding of the impact of stress on individuals and society in the management of acute and chronic crises.
On behalf of the local and Scientific Committee as well of the WASAD board, we cordially invite you to participate in our congress and personal exchanges. We are very much looking forward to meeting you at our congress in Zurich.
Susanne Walitza, Local Chair of the congress, University of Zurich
Andreas J. Fallgatter, WASAD President, University of Tübingen