President's letter:
Belmont, MA, USA
January 1, 2008
Dear Colleagues,
This is a very exciting time for the studies of personality disorders. More than ever, our accumulated bulk of knowledge on both normal and disordered personality functioning can contribute to unfold new perspectives and possibilities. Scientists, clinicians and educators working on enhancing the understanding and treatment of personality disordered people are facing a challenging task to integrate and apply relevant facts. ISSPD has an important role in supporting and advancing clinical, scientific and educational activities and discussions around the world.
As the newly elected President of ISSPD my prime motto is clinical applicability and utility, i.e., to promote the exchange and dialogues between scientists and clinicians, and to make recent knowledge on personality disorders more readily accessible and useful for clinicians and educators around the world.
Building on the significant contributions of the preceding Presidents of ISSPD, I foresee directing our efforts along four major avenues:
- Promoting the WPA ISSPD Educational Program on Personality Disorders, initiated by Erik Simonsen in Denmark, now available on the Internet;
- Encouraging symposia and discussion groups involving both scientists and clinicians at the upcoming ISSPD regional and international congresses;
- Initiating the collaborative activities with other international organizations on interfacing subjects through symposia, teaching and publications;
- Utilizing the ISSPD website and the Journal of Personality Disorders for exchange and discussions of scientific and clinical knowledge that can enhance our awareness on the management and treatment of personality disorders.
Likewise the Journal of Personality Disorder and the WPA ISSPD Educational Program are essential in our efforts to reach and engage interested colleagues around the world. The ISSPD congresses usually attract attendees from 20 – 25 different countries representing all continents.
My second motto is internationalism, i.e., to further the international representativeness in our activities and membership. Involving new national and cultural groups of scientists, clinicians and educators, as well as entering new geographical and cultural territories utilizing the WPA ISSPD Educational Program, are high on my priority list for the years to come.
I am truly looking forward to our collaboration to develop and advance the aims and activities of ISSPD.
Elsa Ronningstam, Ph.D.
President of ISSPD
The International Society for the Study of Personality Disorders, ISSPD, stimulates and supports scholarship, clinical experience, international collaboration and communication of research on all aspects of personality disorders including both diagnosis, course and treatment.
Through its Regional and National organizations ISSPD encourages the initiative of education and research on personality disorders as well as collaborative efforts across countries and regions.
ISSPD is open to professionals who are actively involved or interested in the study, assessment and treatment of personality disorders.
