Book excerpt: This volume presents the highlights of the IX World Congress of Psychiatry. The congress was a major event with the participation of over 6000 scientists from all over the world with the scientific program covering all aspects of contemporary psychiatry. The 200 papers selected for this volume provide an insight into recent advances in psychiatry. They discuss a wide spectrum of subjects ranging from the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses to critical issues affecting the future of mental health care throughout the world. Authors include leading psychiatric clinicians and researchers throughout the world as well as international mental health policy makers.