Facilitating 21st century research in psychiatry: the establishment of a global peer network of researchers, patients, and philanthropists

February 2017 \ News \ MIND AND BODY

Facilitating 21st century research in psychiatry: the establishment of a global peer network of researchers, patients, and philanthropists

Psychiatric illness is as old as mankind and affects a third of the world’s population at some point in their life time.

By Thomas G. Schulze and Marcella Rietschel

Thomas G. Schulze

Psychiatric illness is as old as mankind and affects a third of the world’s population at some point in their life time. Despite this, the causes of mental illness remain unclear. As a result, treatment and prevention are suboptimal and mental illness continues to represent a major cause of human suffering and socioeconomic burden across the world. Research into the causes of mental illness is therefore essential.