INTRODUCTION

The Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists is an Association of Psychiatrists from countries bordering the Pacific. Though primarily formed by academic psychiatrists, membership is open to psychiatrists in any area of practice.

The purpose of the College is to provide a forum for communication between psychiatrists in the range of countries around the Pacific, and this is particularly facilitated by a conference held every two years. There are also mail outs of newsletters between these conferences. The conferences provide an opportunity for the presentations of scientific papers, discussions on important issues in psychiatry, and consideration of the variety of clinical, social, political and ethical issues that tax psychiatrists in clinical practice, administration and the conducting of teaching and research in the Pacific countries.