American Psychopathological Association 2023 Annual Meeting

Mclean Hospital, Belmont MA

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT This application requests R13 funds for the 2023 conference of the American Psychopathological Association (APPA) on the topic “Complexity in Psychopathology: One Size Does Not Fit All.” This topic is timely because of the growing recognition that complexity and heterogeneity are perhaps the most important challenges to progress in research into causes, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric conditions, including substance use disorders. We will explore several avenues of research for identifying and embracing sources of complexity in research as an opportunity to better address psychopathology in both clinical and population-based samples. The mission of APPA, since its founding in 1910, has been to (1) support the investigation of disorders of mind and behavior, including their biological underpinnings and psychosocial substrates, and (2) promote the development of junior scientists. The APPA holds an annual meeting focused on a different topic each year. Presenters and attendees are widely diverse in terms of discipline and area of expertise. The unique all- plenary format of the APPA meeting stimulates an exchange of information, concepts, methods, new findings, current controversies, and pressing gaps in knowledge that is facilitated by the diversity of the presenters and the audience. The aim of the 2023 conference is to provide an exciting scientific meeting in this unique format with the goal of impacting the field by stimulating new research directions, collaborations, and – for junior scientists and individuals from underrepresented groups – new connections and career opportunities. Conference presenters include distinguished leaders in their fields (e.g., NIH institute representatives, university department chairs, center directors, and investigators in psychiatry, psychology, epidemiology, genetics, and neuroscience) and junior scientists with potential to lead the next generation. Presentation topics include: keynote lectures on “Personalized medicine” and “Making sense of complexity in psychiatric disorders” and panels on “Data: Understanding and handling sources of variability in signal and noise”; “Development: Homotypic continuity or pluripotent syndromes?”; “Diagnosis: Over- and under-specificity”; “Heterogeneity of treatment response – what is it and how can we learn from it?”; and “Biology: Variable patterns, no mapping from biology onto psychopathology… what is going on?” Many activities are designed specifically for junior scientists (students, fellows, early-career investigators), including a workshop, breakfast roundtable with senior scientists, oral poster presentations to the entire APPA audience, and mentorship of more junior attendees by APPA Council members and Fellows. Funds are requested primarily for awards that will provide the benefits of 2023 APPA attendance to junior scientists and to investigators from underrepresented groups who would otherwise not be able to participate in the meeting. Such attendance is designed to attract junior scientists to become members of the next generation of researchers and members of underrepresented groups to become involved in research in our field. Additional funds are requested to cover some service costs for the meeting.