We are pleased to announce that the Second International Congress on Hormones, Brain and Neuropsychopharmacology will take place in Rhodes, Greece, on July 15-19, 2000 (HBN 2000). As you can see from the program (and we can see from the enthusiastic responses and support), the HBN 2000 is shaping up as a major scientific event.

The driving forces of the HBN 2000 are integration and clinical relevance. Psychobiological processes cannot be assessed in isolation. The multifaceted complexity of the brain and behavior calls for a multidimensional, comprehensive approach and a close interdisciplinary collaboration towards better understanding and implementation of knowledge in clinical practice.

The program will focus on practical implications of new insights into basic neurosciences, hormonal psychotropic effects, circuitry and homeostatic mechanisms. The biological processes and milieu will be presented and discussed in the context of the cultural and physical environment, socioeconomic and policy factors as well as the individual's well being.

The spirit of integrative cooperation and collaboration is manifested in the multiple co-sponsorship of the Congress: The HBN 2000 Congress is co-sponsored by the WPA, WHO (EMRO), WFMH, CINP, WASP, WFSBP and the ISPNE. Specific sessions are co-sponsored by several other organizations. The HBN 2000 Congress has been formally endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association.

The invited program includes state-of-the-art plenary sessions, as well as 7 tracks of symposia, which are: a) Clinical Psychopharmacology, Chaired by Professor Hans-Jürgen Möller (Germany; President, World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry); b) Neuroendocrinology, Chaired by Professor Charles Nemeroff (USA; Past President, American College of Neuropsychopharmacology and International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology); c) Gynecological Endocrinology, Chaired by Professor Andrea Genazzani (Italy; President, Society of Gynecological Endocrinology); d) Clinically Relevant Basic Sciences, Chaired by Professor Joseph Coyle (USA; Past President, Society of Neuroscience); e) Integrative Track, Chaired by Professor Norman Sartorius (Switzerland; Past President, World Psychiatric Association) with a focus group on Socioeconomic, Ethical, and Health Policy Factors, Chaired by Professor Eliot Sorel (USA; President, World Association for Social Psychiatry); f) Integration of Mental Health in General Medicine, Chaired by Professor Costas Stefanis (Greece; Past President World Psychiatric Association, President PTD); g) Mediterranean Collaborative Regional Meeting, Chaired by Professor Fuad Antun (Lebanon; Past President, Society of Arab Psychiatrists). Each chair has assembled “a dream team” for the track scientific committee.

In addition to the plenary sessions and track symposia, the program includes thematic sessions and small group discussions which will intensively emphasize future directions for research and clinical implications, and will constructively apply diversity and controversy towards integration.

A special educational program on: Problem-Oriented Practical Review of Psychiatry is provided for Clinicians-Psychiatrists, Primary Care Physicians, Internists, Generalists, Nurses and Gynecologists. Special workshops on research methodology and practice are provided for young faculty and residents.