Seminars

Depression is one of the common mental disorders, afflicting an estimated 5% of the adults worldwide. It is characterized by persistent depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, recurrent thoughts of death, and physical and cognitive symptoms. Depression consists of different forms and the current seminar will focus mostly on the major depressive disorder (MDD). It will present an overview on the prevalence, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis and managements of depression. Importantly, the seminar will explore different treatment options of depression.

Fibromyalgia is a medical condition characterized by muscle pain and tender points distributed throughout the body, along with a range of other possible symptoms. Although the World Health Organization (WHO) has included fibromyalgia in its disease classification system, ICD-10, there is still no consensus on identifiable, objective physical abnormalities. Nonetheless, patients suffer from symptoms, and the diagnosis is made by excluding other diagnoses. During this interactive training day, we will focus on the symptoms experienced by patients, potential causes, and treatment options. Differential diagnostic considerations will also be discussed. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to share (both personal and professional) experiences among course participants.

Sooner or later, incidentally or frequently, therapists will meet in their contacts with patients circumstances where different options to act present themselves. In such cases it is often not a matter of choosing between just black and white, but merely between the one grey and the other. Arguments pro or contra can be put forward for any possible option. That what does justice to one principle might detract from the other, and vice versa. Norms prescribe how to act, but different norms might seem inconsistent towards each other. Nevertheless, choices must be made in given circumstances. Ethics may help you to make responsible choices. Medical ethics does so in cases related to patients and healthcare.