President's Message
As the incoming President of the International Society for Bipolar Disorders, I would like to thank the board members and the entire membership for the trust you have placed in me to guide the Society to a successful future. I recently had the opportunity to meet with and hear from many of you at the 6th International Conference on Bipolar Disorder (ICBD) and I can assure you that the Society is on track to address our common questions and concerns related to bipolar disorder research, patient care, and growth of the ISBD.

As you may know, I have been actively involved with the ISBD as a Councilor, Secretary/Treasurer, and more recently as a Vice-President and Chair of the Governance Committee. In these various roles, I have taken concrete steps to promote the mission and vision of the ISBD through establishment of partnerships and alliance with key opinion leaders, regional and national organizations and industry. These efforts, amongst others, have resulted in the establishment of regional ISBD meetings, the first of which was successfully held in Sydney in 2004.

My goals for the Society as President, with clinical and research experience across three continents, include:

1. supporting the establishment and development of ISBD affiliated associations dedicated to advancement of bipolar disorder in various countries around the world and fostering a link between such associations and ISBD,
2. through ISBD and its affiliated organizations, raising the awareness of bipolar disorder and its personal, social and economic burden amongst the general public, politicians, and research organizations in order to increase resources for patient care and research,
3. fostering development of young researchers through establishment of various awards and mentorship opportunities,
4. promoting development of evidence based practice through establishment of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder.

Building upon the success of the Society's first meeting in Sydney, Australia in 2004 and the subsequent establishment of the Australasian Society for Bipolar Disorders (ASBD), the first chapter of the ISBD, the Society has now made inroads with associations and research groups at various academic institutes in the UK, India, Brazil, and several countries in the Pacific Rim and is using the model of the ASBD to assist these groups in affiliating with the ISBD. Several of these regional affiliates are now planning regional site meetings of the ISBD.

Since taking office in June 2005, I have worked closely with many in the Society to build an even stronger network of members, and membership in the ISBD is already approaching a 20% increase over and above our numbers as reported at the International Conference on Bipolar Disorder. In addition, I am pleased to report that the Society has now secured additional funding to continue its work on diagnostic guidelines. Furthermore, we have just received a commitment for support for psychiatric trainees in the form of sponsored memberships, awards, and fellowships and these programs will be implemented before the end of the year.

The steps taken thus far will help to provide a solid foundation from which to proceed, but we need to have the continued support and active participation of all members. I would also encourage you to be advocates for the Society and its mission in your professional life and to help the ISBD reach into areas where we may be of most assistance. While significant strides have been made in bipolar research and clinical practice over the last 10 years, we still have a tremendous opportunity to improve outcomes in bipolar disorder through the translation of new studies in the areas of neuropsychopharmacology, neurobiology, and genetics to patient care and the ISBD is in an excellent position to accomplish this goal.

Best Wishes,

Lakshmi N. Yatham, MD President