Introduction to the AEP CME Courses Programme 2004

The AEP is very pleased to introduce you to the CME Courses Programme of the 12th AEP Congress. Among several important objectives, the AEP has the ambition to work for excellence in psychiatric education. High quality education in psychiatry is indeed a prerequisite for professional development.
Background
To stimulate and harmonise psychiatric educational activities in the different European countries, the AEP developed a series of CME courses for the 11th Congress of the Association, which took place in Stockholm in May 2002.
These courses were formally evaluated in Stockholm by three groups of assessors: the participants, the teachers and a group of observers appointed by the AEP and the host society, the Swedish Psychiatric Association.
Programme of itinerant CME Courses
Among the courses which received the best ratings in Stockholm, the AEP Executive Committee selected those whose topics were most likely to be of interest to psychiatrists of all the various European countries. The list was then submitted to the Presidents of all national psychiatric societies in Europe, asking them to host one or more of the courses within their national congresses, as a joint initiative of their society and the AEP.
As a consequence, the AEP programme of itinerant CME courses was launched in 2003.
This programme of itinerant CME Courses is based on the following principles:
- Collaboration of the AEP with 22 national psychiatric societies in Europe through a concrete educational activity;
- Implementation of the initiative in individual European countries;
- Coverage of all areas of Europe, without any exclusion;
- Possibility offered to the national societies to choose the topics and teachers that most interest them.
Courses Programme of the 12th AEP Congress
Following the success of these initiatives, the AEP has decided to include 28 CME Courses in the Scientific Programme of the Geneva Congress.
A description of these courses can be found below.
Accreditation and Evaluation of the CME Courses
In order to develop European standards for CME programmes, a Task Force has been developed by the AEP, together with the World Psychiatric Association, the World Health Organization and the European Union of Medical Specialists. This Task Force will be involved in the accreditation of the CME Courses given during the 12th AEP Congress in Geneva.
The congress will give CME credits to certify that the participants have taken part in accredited education activities.
Moreover, the CME Courses given in Geneva will be evaluated by 3 different groups: the participants, the Course Directors and independent inspectors (Members of the AEP CPD Evaluation Committee; Representatives of the Swiss Society of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy; members of the AEP Board).
Following this evaluation, prizes for the 2 best CME Courses will be awarded during the Congress Closing Ceremony.

The AEP hopes that you will enjoy these courses and that they will contribute to raising the standards of education in European psychiatry.

CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION COURSES
These will be high-quality courses, each lasting 3 hours. Pre-registration is required (at an additional cost). The number of credits assigned to each course will be announced on the Congress website and in the final programme.