KBSU Organizes All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference on Current Issues in Psychiatry and Narcology
Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov co-organized the All-Russian scientific and practical conference with international participation, «Current Issues in Psychiatry and Narcology,» held on December 12, 2025, in Nalchik. The event brought together specialists from a wide range of fields—from psychiatrists, narcologists, and psychotherapists to neurologists, internists, cardiologists, endocrinologists, obstetricians and gynecologists, forensic psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, as well as experts in healthcare organization and public health.
The goal of the conference was to discuss modern scientific advances and clinical practices, including the diagnosis, classification, and treatment of borderline mental disorders, as well as to enhance the participants’ professional competence in a comprehensive approach to mental health.
Opening the conference, Kabardino-Balkarian Minister of Health Rustam Kalibatov emphasized that the prevention and treatment of mental disorders and addictions are becoming an increasingly important priority for the republic’s healthcare system. Significant positive changes have occurred in this area recently: medical facilities are being renovated, equipment is being updated, and targeted efforts are being made to train and attract qualified specialists.
Professor Nikolai Neznanov, Director of the Bekhterev National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry and Neurology and President of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists, noted that psychiatry is currently actively developing as a science.
«Increasingly, specialists from various fields—from neurobiology to digital technologies—are joining forces to solve complex problems. Scientists are paying particular attention to areas such as neuropsychiatry and digital psychiatry. For example, artificial intelligence is already helping doctors make faster diagnoses and select individualized treatments. However, the final decisions always rest with the doctor,» the professor emphasized.
Boris Tsygankov, Vice President of the Russian Society of Psychiatrists, addressed the participants with good wishes. Sergey Burd, President of the Russian Anti-Epileptic League; Natalia Semenova, Deputy Director for Scientific, Organizational, and Methodological Work at the Bekhterev National Medical Research Center; Nikolai Negai, Representative of the World Psychiatric Association in Eastern Europe; Olga Udalova, Chief Psychiatrist of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic; Igor Boev, Director of the Borderline Clinic and Head of the Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Medical Psychology with a Course in Neurology at Stavropol State Medical University; Leila Temmoeva, Professor of the Department of Childhood Diseases, Obstetrics, and Gynecology at the Medical Academy of Kabardino-Balkarian State University; and other leading physicians and scientists from Russia and Kazakhstan.
The conference was held in person with the option of remote participation for remote attendees. The plenary session featured presentations on the most pressing topics in modern psychiatry and addiction medicine. These included personalized treatment for schizophrenia, new approaches to addiction rehabilitation, diagnosing autism in children, the impact of childhood trauma on mental health, combating dementia, and the specific challenges facing regions—for example, in the North or during protracted emergency situations.
Experts also discussed how herbal remedies and neuroprotectors can help treat depression and cognitive impairment, how psychotropic and antiretroviral medications interact in HIV patients, and which modern methods allow for a better understanding and treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
The conference became an important platform for sharing experiences, engaging in scientific discussions, and developing new solutions aimed at improving the mental health of the population.