Training, Research and Clinic Experiences from the Perspective of Hispano-American C-L Psychiatrists: This Is Not an "Hasta Luego"

Historically, research and clinical practice in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry has been driven by work conducted in academic centers over North America and Europe. Over this decade, the field experienced fast growth across Hispanoamerica; however, most of it missed cross-border collaboration opportunities facilitated by the shared language and culture.



A growing number of CL Psychiatrists practicing in Central and South America and Spain have joined the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry. These members are stepping into active roles and, through the participation in different ACLP activities, have connected to collaborate and advance CL psychiatry, share knowledge and innovations in clinical practice and education, and foster a sense of community.



Last year, the Academy recognized this growth and approved the Hispano American Special Interest Group's creation. Dr. Ricardo Millan-Gonzalez was instrumental in the process. In this symposium, he will review the history and development of CL Psychiatry training in Spanish-speaking countries. He will present some of the high-quality academic work and formal research programs that produce original research tailored to the local population's specific needs and characteristics. Finally, he will outline future directions and opportunities for collaboration with the entire Academy.



Dr. Jose Roberto Galindo-Donaire will discuss the challenges of expanding medical education in Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry across Latin America derived from the paucity of professionals and the limited number of formal CL fellowship programs. He will present an innovative CL collaborative training program implemented in Honduras and Guatemala that has helped address this hurdle by leveraging video conferencing and integrating C-L psychiatrists in several different countries across the continent.



Dr. Alejandra Contreras will present a sample of the work CL psychiatrists are conducting to advance knowledge in a manner relevant to Latino populations. MTHFR gene and its allelic variants gained recent interest in psychiatric research. Unfortunately, research on this topic has focused on Caucasian, Afro-American, and Asian populations. She will present the work conducted in Mexico to find helpful information related to allelic variants in the population tested and assess the clinical response to supplementation with methylated folates.



Dr. Jordi Blanch will present research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental healthcare system of a European Region (7,6 inhabitants) during the lockdown and post-lockdown periods. He will reflect on how the experience can increase a public mental health system's effectiveness and resilience to face any new future mental health care challenges



This symposium will exclusively feature CL work conducted by ACLP members based in Hispanoamerica. It will end with a guided 20-minute discussion moderated by Dr. Carlos Fernandez-Robles that will focus on opportunities to collaborate and advance knowledge and general questions with active audience participation.