-

Interview: Prof. R. N. Mohan
We are always looking to build on our success
rather than rest on our laurels
Psychotherapy, importance of psychological treatment and 
spirituality will be covered in the next years meeting

COVENTRY (UK): Prof. R. N .Mohan consultant psychiatrist is an important member of the organizing committee of the Midland Psychiatric Research Group which holds its annual meeting regularly for the last seven years. He has been involved with the group from its inception and has played a vital role in the success of its meetings throughout these years. An excellent speaker who has tremendous command on communication skills, Prof. Mohan talked to Pulse International during the conference Banquet on June 9^th and highlighted the reasons for the success of this meeting, the criteria to select people who were honoured with Life Time Achievement Awards and the future scientific programme. Given below are the excerpts from the conversation:

It started as a very small group but now it has become an important international meeting attracting speakers from overseas as well. How it has gone over the years.

I think success breeds success. Over the years, people have spoken about it. More interest has come. And now when Dr. Afzal Javed announces the meeting, every body wishes to join at whatever cost. Even if you start charging registration fee, people are always willing to come. It is organization of the meeting by Dr. Afzal Javed and the quality of scientific programme which matters at the end of the day. If these are excellent coupled with a good venue and good fellowship, people will always come.

This time you have introduced this idea of Life Time Achievements Awards. How the idea came and what was the criteria for selection of the personalities honoured at this meeting?

Dr. Afzal Javed and I thought that for too long we have not recognized the significant contributions by our senior psychiatrists in this country. That is how this idea came. It was Dr. Afzal Jared’s idea which I fully supported. We chose people very carefully to ensure they were over the age of seventy; people must have significantly contributed in supporting other South Asian doctors, in teaching, training and research. We were very mindful not to upset any one. We chose very carefully and chose these five Awards this time. But there will be many more to come down the line in the years to come.

From your point of view what were the highlights of this year’s scientific programme?

This was the best scientific programme that we have ever had. Guest lecture by Prof. Norman Sartorius from WHO Switzerland on the future of psychiatric care was superb. We had the President of American Psychiatric Association Prof. Pedro Ruiz and his talk on the role of migration and acculturation on mental health and mental illnesses was wonderful. We hade Professor Pierre Chue from Canada speaking on the compliance with antipsychotic medication which was absolutely wonderful. We had from New Castle Dr. Hamish McAllister Williams who is a specialist in psychopharmacology who made two presentations i.e. on Challenges in the management of depression besides Evolving guidelines for the management of bipolar disorders. I myself covered the recent case law changes as regards mental health and its implications for clinical practice which are important for psychiatrists. It is just like a scalpel to a surgeon. This was followed by a talk on relative toxicity of anti-depressants. To top it all we had a workshop on issues and priorities for psychiatric research in developing countries which went very well and generated tremendous interest among the participants. It will further research collaboration within the South Asian countries.

From the scientific point of view, what are the future plans. Have you thought of the topics you would like to cover in next year’s meeting?

We are always looking to build on our success rather than resting on our laurels. We will continue to look at new areas, psychotherapy, and importance of psychological treatment. These are some of the aspects we have not covered properly in the past. Some of these things will be covered in the next year’s meeting including spirituality.