Publications

Preface

Volumes 1 and 11 of Brain Disorders are based on the presentations made at the International Meeting on Strategies for Studying Brain Disorders: Animal Modeis, Drug Screens and Clinical Syndromes, held in Madrid 26th April - 2nd May 1992. This volume on Affective Disorders and Drug Abuse, like volume 11, originated from talks, ideas and plans that started at Astra, Sódertálje, and the department of Psychology, Göteborg, evolved in various places of which the most important were: Crete, Paris, Göteborg, Irvine, Chicago, Phoenix, Warsaw, Noordwijkerhout, Malta and finally bore fruit in Madrid. After all the initial planning and arrangements and the massive personal efforts and dedicated work of Christina Spyraki and her staff - calamity struck - in the form of the dubious generalship of Saddam Hussein; Crete was deemed to be too near the Gulf combat zone. And so, a little Odyssey began to culminate, via Franco Borsini and Milano, Vicente Simon and Valencia, with TP in Madrid, 184 years to the day after the Dos de Mayo. Fortunately, none of us was in the business of interpreting omens, as, there we were in the land where Hannibal and Publius Cornelius Scipio, in turn, entered the historical scene and the Moor departed from it. From the outset we were beset by the goshts of historical endeavour and misadventure: would we triumph? Like, Sir Arthur Wellesley, Harry Smith and the 95th Foot, or would we slink away in the ignominy of defeat and disgrace?. Like King Joseph (Bonaparte), Marshal Jourdan and the Grand Armée. Well, as the venerable Duke put it, "it was a damned close run thing”. For a volume concerning affective disorders: depression, anxiety, aggression, sexual behaviour, and drug abuse; the background scenario of trials, tribulations, despair and “let downs” was of exquisite suitability; thus, the stage was set for a dramatic conflagration reminiscent of Albuera, orchestrated by Lord Beresford, Jean Soult and the "die-hards". One factor and one factor alone saved the meeting: the irrepressible professionalism of the characters involved. For this volume these were: Wojciech Kostowski and Paul Wiliner, Sara Lelbowitz and Al Levy, Berend Olivier and Klaus Mizcek, Charlie Nemeroff and Dennis Charney, Bob Balster and Bob Schuster, Jórgen Engel and Chuck O'Brien, Linda Dykstra and David Leander. Guarding this professionalism and scientific integrity like a suspicious mother eagle was the hovering gestalt of Lew Seiden, resplendent in all his acquired dignitas. Of course, he was the one who started it all and despite personal ill-health brought himself to Madrid to see the whole enterprise to its successful conclusion.

T. Archer R.J. Beninger T. Palomo