Previous Summer Schools

12th EPA Summer School

For the 12^th Summer School and the second edition on the topic Focus on Suicidal Behaviours – One Step Beyond, the EPA was pleased to welcome 30 participants from all over Europe.

From 14 to 17 September 2023 in Strasbourg, France, young psychiatrists had the opportunity to take part in interactive discussions on the management of suicidal crises, therapeutic innovations, and prevention strategies with world-renowned suicidologists: Prof. Emilie Olié (France), Prof. Jorge López-Castromán (France) and Prof. Carla Gramaglia (Italy).

The programme included simulation sessions on suicidal behaviours organised by Dr. Defne Eraslan (Germany) and Dr. Julian Beezhold, EPA Secretary General (UK).

Thank you for this successful event!

11th EPA Summer School

To celebrate its return to Strasbourg, the EPA Summer School focused on a brand new topic for this new edition: Focus on Suicidal Behaviours – One Step Beyond.

From 29 September to 02 October 2022, the EPA was pleased to welcome 21 brilliant young psychiatrists from across Europe for an immersive three-day training programme featuring the expertise of Prof. Emilie Olié (France), Prof. Jorge López-Castromán (France) and Prof. Carla Gramaglia (Italy). Scholars were able to engage in discussions on a variety of topics, including the management of suicidal crises, therapeutic innovations, and prevention strategies. Our faculty members have shared their thoughts on the topic in a interview by Summer School participant Selin Tanyeri Kayahan. Read the full article “Suicide and suicide prevention in changing times“.

Interactive sessions included plenary lectures, workshops and the highly anticipated simulation sessions, organised by Dr. Defne Eraslan (Germany) and Dr. Julian Beezhold, EPA Secretary General (UK).

The EPA warmly thanks each scholar and faculty member for their participation and for making this 11th Summer School such a successful event.

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To find out more about our scholars’ experience, have a look at their article  “Focusing on Suicidal Behaviours – 11th EPA Summer School Experience”.

10^th EPA Summer School

After being postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Summer School was back for its 10^th edition, held online for the first time on 23 and 24 September 2021, on the topic of Research.

During 2 intensive training days, 21 participants from 16 countries were welcomed by EPA President Peter Falkai and EPA Secretary for Education Cécile Hanon, before actively taking part in plenary lectures, small group workshops and live exchanges with our faculty members: Dr. Nicolas Hoertel, Dr. Mariana Pinto da Costa, Prof. Andrea Raballo and Prof. Norman Sartorius.

 

 

2021 participants list:

FEEDBACK

A remarkable number of participants set down a well-rounded article entitled “Sharing experience of the first online edition”. This collaborative essay compiles their impressions and comments about the overall experience they shared during this Virtual 10th EPA Summer School Programme on Research 2021. Read the full article: « 10th EPA Summer School on Research 2021: sharing experience of the first online edition. L’Information psychiatrique 2022; 469 98 (6): 469-74 doi:10.1684/ipe.2022.2443

At the 2024 European Congress of Psychiatry in Budapest, EPA Summer School Alumni Dr. Cristina Tapoi presented the findings of an international study on the Trainees experiences and attitudes towards ECT in a Early Career Psychiatrists Committee (ECPC) session chaired by Professor Danuta Wasserman and Dr. Egor Chumakov. The study started in 2021 in the EPA Summer School on Research and the group has been mentored and supervised by Dr. Mariana Pinto da Costa, Faculty of the EPA Summer School on Research. The national findings of this study from the UK and Poland were presented by Dr. Laith Alexander and Dr. Martyna Gołębiewska repectively.

“Back in 2021, while I was participating in a group exercise that was meant to help us learn the basics of designing and conducting a cross-sectional survey at the EPA Research Summer School, I could not have imagined that 3 years later I would be presenting the results of this survey during an ECPC Symposium at the EPA Congress. Aside from being an extremely valuable experience in terms of knowledge gained, participating in the EPA Summer School proved to be an amazing opportunity to meet and stay in touch with inspiring peers and faculty experts. Sharing the results of this international study was very exciting and rewarding, as this project represents the foundation of a great international group. A big thank you to all that contributed!”  Cristiana Tapoi, 2024 EPA Congress, Budapest, Hungary

9^th EPA Summer School

From 12 to 15 September 2019, the EPA had the pleasure to welcome 20 selected young psychiatrists to Strasbourg, France.

This three-day intensive programme welcomed selected young psychiatrists for a unique opportunity to take part in interactive discussions on systemic therapy, psychodynamic practice or cognitive behavioural therapy, participate in role plays, workshops and so much more!

Led by our faculty, simulation sessions were also part of the educational sessions.

2019 participants list:

8th EPA Summer School

The 8th EPA Summer School on the topic of “ABCs of Psychotherapy” took place in Strasbourg, France, from 6 to 9 September 2018 and was attended by 27 selected scholars from all over Europe.

During the three-day intensive educational programme, the participants took part in interactive discussions, role plays, workshops and simulation sessions organised by our faculty members with a professional actor-patient to develop their communication skills and teach them the basis of how to conduct a psychotherapeutic interview.

The scholars were invited to participate in a guided tour of the European Parliament before the Opening Ceremony where Dr. Cécile HANON, EPA Secretary for Education, welcomed the participants and faculty.

All the participants names and countries can be found below:

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Some scholars got together to write an article entitled “An Integrative Approach to Training in Psychotherapy” to share more information on their experience at the EPA 2018 Summer School. The article has been published in the Free communication pages of the European Psychiatry Journal and is available here.

7^th EPA Summer School

For the 7th edition of its Summer School, held in Strasbourg from 7 to 10 September 2017, France, the EPA was pleased to welcome 23 participants from all over Europe for an intensive three-day training programme on the topic of “ABCs of Psychotherapy.”

Scholars were able to interact on a diverse range of topics such as systemic therapy, psychodynamic practice and neurosciences, cognitive behavioural therapy or the ethical issues in psychotherapy. Moreover, simulation sessions were an essential part of the training this year. Simulation has been increasingly used in medical education for over 20 years, and offers a safe but realistic environment to practice skills needed in clinical work. In psychiatry, simulation typically includes an actor-patient whose role is essential in giving feedback to the doctor.

The scholars were welcomed by EPA President, Prof. Silvana Galderisi, and by Dr. Cécile Hanon, EPA Secretary for Education.

2017 participants include:

Feedback

An article prepared by the 2017 Summer School participants, entitled “A Comprehensive Initiation into Psychotherapy: Recounting the Interactive Experience of the 7th EPA Summer School” has been published in the Free communication pages of the European Psychiatry Journal. The electronic version of the article is available here.

6^th EPA Summer School

From 9 to 11 September 2016, 27 scholars attended the EPA Summer School organised for the first time in Belgium, at EPA Office in Brussels. Coming from 19 different countries, they worked for several days under the supervision of our faculty, composed of Dr. Marc Hermans, Prof. Yves Sarfati and Prof. Norman Sartorius, on the topic “ABCs of Psychotherapy”.

Organised around plenary discussions, workshops in smaller groups and role-play sessions, the Summer School also gave the participants the unique opportunity to participate to a simulation session organised by the Maudsley Simulation Center, UK’s first simulation training centre focusing on mental health.

 

The scholars were welcomed by EPA President, Prof. Wolfgang Gaebel, and by Dr. Cécile Hanon, EPA Secretary for Education.

2016 participants include:

Feedback

Several motivated scholars co-wrote an article following the Summer School, entitled “A Better Comprehension of Psychotherapy: Reflections on 6th EPA Summer School”, which was published in the free communication pages of European Psychiatry (February 2017). The electronic version of the article is available here.

5^th EPA Summer School

From 10 to 13 July 2015, the EPA had the pleasure to welcome 24 young psychiatrists to Strasbourg, France.

Organised around plenary discussions, workshops in smaller groups and case studies, the Summer School was led by renowed faculty members and scholars were invited to participate in a three-day intensive programme on the topic of Comorbidity between mental and physical disorders.

 

The EPA President, Prof. Wolfgang Gaebel, and by Dr. Cécile Hanon, EPA Secretary for Education were present to welcome the scholars to Strasbourg, at the EPA headquarters.

2015 participants list:

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Several scholars contributed to the writing of an article about their experience during this Summer School, available here.

4^th EPA Summer School

The 4th EPA  Summer School took place place from 29 May to 1 June 2014, in Strasbourg, France, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland.

The important issue of Comorbidity between mental and physical disorders was the main topic of discussions during the Summer School. 24 Scholars from 18 countries attended the event, including:

The faculty was composed of Prof. Norman Sartorius (Switzerland), Prof. Albert Diefenbacher (Germany), Prof. Christoph Lauber (Switzerland), Dr. Henk Parmentier (UK) and Dr. Cécile Hanon (France, EPA Secretary for Education). In addition, the Summer School opening ceremony was attended by the EPA President, Prof. Danuta Wasserman (Sweden), and the EPA Secretary General, Dr. Julian Beezhold (UK), and a presentation on the EPA’s activities for early career psychiatrists was given by Dr. Olivier Andlauer (France-UK).

 

For more pictures from the event, visit the EPA Facebook page.

Feedback

An article, prepared by the 2014 Summer School participants, entitled “From the stork’s nest: Young psychiatrists spread their wings and fly” has been published in free communication pages of the European Psychiatry Journal (issue 6, 2014). The electronic version of the article is available here.

3rd EPA Summer School

The 3rd EPA Academia Summer School took place place on 7-10 June 2013 in Strasbourg, France, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland. Following its success in 2012, Strasbourg was again selected to host this educational event.

The 3rd edition focused on the problem of Comorbidity between mental and physical disorders since this issue has proved to be very important though less covered in psychiatric training curricula.

25 Scholars from 18 countries were selected to participate in the event:

The faculty was composed of Prof. Norman Sartorius (Switzerland), Prof. David Goldberg (UK), Prof. Christoph Lauber (Switzerland), Dr. Henk Parmentier (UK) and Prof. Henning Sass (Germany, EPA Secretary for Education). In addition, Dr. Martina Rojnic Kuzman (Croatia) made a presentation on the EPA’s activities for early career psychiatrists.

 

For more pictures from the event, visit the EPA Facebook page.

Feedback

Traditionally the Summer School participants prepare an article on their experience of the event. This year’s article “Was it successful? A reflection on the 3rd EPA Summer School” was published in the free communication pages of European Psychiatry (issue 7, 2013). The electronic version of the article is available here.

2nd EPA Summer School

The 2nd EPA Academia Summer School took place on 5-8 July 2012 in Strasbourg, France, under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Thorbjørn Jagland. Strasbourg was selected to host this educational event not only because it is a capital of united Europe but also due to its symbolic significance for EPA: place of creation of the association and location of its headquarters.

The second Summer School focused on the problem of comorbidity between mental and physical disorders and disabilities as its first edition, but with different sub-topics, since this issue has proved to be very important though less covered in psychiatric training curricula.

24 Scholars from 19 countries participated in the event:

The faculty was composed of Prof. Norman Sartorius (Switzerland), Prof. Albert Diefenbacher (Germany), Prof. Christoph Lauber (Switzerland), Dr. Henk Parmentier (UK) and Prof. Henning Sass (Germany, EPA Secretary for Education). Furthermore, the EPA President, Prof. Patrice Boyer (France), welcomed the participants at the opening ceremony at the Council of Europe.

 

For more pictures from the event, visit the EPA Facebook page.

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A group of Summer School participants prepared an article on the experience of the 2nd EPA Summer School, which was published in free communication pages of the European Psychiatry Journal (issue 8, 2012). The electronic version of the article is also available here.

1st EPA Summer School

The first EPA Academia Summer School took place on 6-9 July 2011 in Nice, France. It was focused on “Comorbidity between mental and physical disorders”.

25 Scholars from 17 European countries participated in the first EPA Summer School:

The faculty was composed of Prof. Norman Sartorius (Switzerland), Prof. David Wood (UK), Prof. Christoph Lauber (Switzerland), Prof. Norbert Hermanns (Germany), Prof. Kim Brosen (Denmark) and Prof. Henning Sass (Germany, EPA Secretary for Education). In addition, at the opening ceremony Dr. Andrea Fiorillo (Italy) made a presentation on the EPA’s activities for early career psychiatrists.

 

For more pictures from the event, visit the EPA Facebook page.

Feedback

In order to share experience and provide feedback on the first EPA Academia Summer School, an article was jointly prepared by the Summer School participants and teachers. The article was published in the free communication pages of European Psychiatry (October 2011). The article is also available here.