The symposium marking 80 years of military psychiatry, organized by the Psychiatry Clinic of the Military Medical Academy (VMA), was held on October 5, 2012, in the amphitheater of the VMA. The event gathered the most distinguished experts in the field of psychiatry from our region, with the Chief of the Military Health Directorate, Colonel Prof. Dr. Zoran Popović, also in attendance. The symposium was organized by the Psychiatry Clinic of the Military Medical Academy (VMA) in collaboration with the Center for Continuous Medical Education of the VMA and the Association of Psychiatrists of Serbia (APS).

The symposium was opened by the Head of the Military Medical Academy, Brigadier General Prof. Dr. Marijan Novaković, who congratulated the staff at the Clinic on the anniversary and emphasized the significance of psychiatry as one of the most important branches of medicine. He highlighted that a holistic approach to the patient—whether dealing with injuries during war or peace—is essential. Physical wounds are inherently linked to psychological disorders, and therefore, psychological and psychiatric assistance is needed in all stages of treatment. He stressed the need for continuous efforts to raise awareness among both military and civilian populations about the importance of mental health preservation and noted that in any mature society, visiting a psychiatrist should be seen as equivalent to visiting any other medical specialist.

The Head of the Psychiatry Clinic of the VMA, Colonel Doc. Dr. Radomir Samardžić, provided an overview of the long history and organization of military and wartime psychiatry in Serbia, initiating a series of expert presentations, all centered around post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The first introductory lecture was held by the Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Slavica Đukić Dejanović, a neuropsychiatrist, who discussed the topic “Stress, Psychotic Reaction, and Cytokine Profiles – Possibilities for Therapeutic Prevention.” Prof. Đukić Dejanović emphasized that while many etiological factors of mental disorders are well-known, the etiopathogenic mechanisms of disease development are still not fully understood. Current knowledge suggests that mental disorders are multifactorial in origin, involving biological, psychological, and social factors in their emergence and manifestation.

The Director of the Institute of Mental Health, academician Prof. Dr. Dušica Lečić-Toševski, presented on the topic of mental health protection in Serbia. She conducted an overview of European statistics, presenting the advantages and challenges of the psychiatric services in our country and announced future actions and preventive measures within the national strategy in this domain.