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The International Society for Psycholgical and Social Approaches to Psychosis was founded in 1956 in Lausanne.

In July 2026, nearly 500 members and supporters met to celebrate accomplishments and look forward.

Progress in making nonmedical treatments for psychosis accessible has been gradual but steady.

Earlier this month (July, 2026), I attended a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis, in Lausanne, Switzerland. The ISPS had been founded there, in 1956, by two young Swiss psychoanalysts, Gaetano Benedetti and Christian Muller, who were dissatisfied with reductionist, biological understandings and treatments of "schizophrenia."

Today, ISPS has branches in more than 20 countries. Nearly 500 members and supporters came to Lausanne for our 24th international congress, entitled "Back to the Future; Inspired by Pioneers."

Although I only joined in 2000, it seems I have been actively involved long enough to qualify as a pioneer, as I was invited to give the opening keynote address to the conference—a real honour.

In those 26 years of membership, including 10 years on the International Board and six as chair of the New Zealand branch, I have seen ISPS grow and change in leaps and bounds. I have seen us transform from a purely professional organisation, comprised almost exclusively of psychiatrists and psychoanalysts, to one that embraces experts by experience, and family members, and professionals from all disciplines. This makes us a rather "broad church." We........

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