Psychiatry has probably always been the least attractive of the medical specialties. The choice of psychiatry as a career has been consistently low in the English-speaking world over the past 50 years (British Medical Journal, 1973; Feifel et al, 1999; Brockington & Mumford, 2002). Over the past decade there has probably been a further decline in the proportion of medical graduates choosing to train in psychiatry (Sierles & Taylor, 1995; Feifel et al, 1999).

Australia, a vast continent of 7 700 000 km2 (including the island state of Tasmania), is roughly the size of Western Europe or mainland USA, but with a population of only 20.2 million (2004 estimate), mainly concentrated in coastal areas.

The terms ‘conversion’, ‘hysteria’ and ‘conversion hysteria’ were used interchangeably to describe a condition characterised by a single somatised symptom, often pseudo-neurological in nature. DSM–III (American Psychiatric Association, 1980) expanded the concept of conversion to generalised symptoms involving loss or alteration of physical functioning suggestive of a physical disorder, along with a clinical indication that the conversion was an expression of psychological conflict or need. The type of symptom or deficit should be specified as: with motor symptom or deficit, with sensory symptom or deficit, with seizure or convulsions, or with mixed presentation (Kaplan & Sadock, 2004).

There is a growing concern in many countries over the low recruitment into psychiatry among medical graduates. This has led to studies that aim: (1) to study the attitudes of medical students towards psychiatry, (2) to determine factors that influence such attitudes, (3) to assess the possible causes of this low recruitment and (4) to try to change students’ views of psychiatry during their medical education to improve recruitment.

Lithuania is a country with an approximate area of 65 000 km2. Its population is 3.422 million, and the gender ratio (expressed as men per 100 women) is 87. The proportion of the population under the age of 15 years is 18%, and the proportion above the age of 60 years is 20%. The literacy rate is 99.6% for both men and women. The country is in the higher middle-income group (by World Bank 2004 criteria).

The Islamic Republic of Iran is located in the Middle East between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Iran's total land area is 1 648 000 km2. Its total population in 2003 was about 68 920 000 (UNICEF, 2003). The population growth rate is 1.41%. Of the total population, 60.4% live in urban and 39.6% in rural areas (Yasamy et al, 2001).

When medical school educators – polished veteran doctors – review data on their students’ attitudes towards residencies, they remember their own long days in the anatomy dissection room. They recall treating their first teenage patient and comforting a patient seeking solace while succumbing to a fatal illness. They think about why they made their important career choice. Thus the glory days of medical school become a defining and shaping experience for physicians, similar to boot camp for veteran paratroopers.

What is ‘mental health’ during the societal crisis and upheaval occasioned by war? Perhaps the primary psychological effect of war on victims generally is through their witnessing the destruction of a social world embodying their history, identity, values and roles of everyday life. Such suffering has largely to be resolved collectively, in this same social world, albeit one which has been intentionally weakened. Thus, as the World Health Organization and other authorities confirm, the major thrust of humanitarian interventions must be towards the depleted social fabric and its institutions, for herein lie the sources of resilience and capacity for recovery for all (Kawachi & Berkman, 2000). Beyond that, history has shown that social or political reform is the best medicine, and for victims of oppressive violence this means acknowledgement and justice (Summerfield, 2002).

Spain covers an area of some 506 000 km2 and has a population of just over 41 million. It is a high-income country (according to World Bank criteria) and devotes 7.5% of its gross domestic product to health.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is a medical specialty society that represents nearly 36 000 psychiatrists from the United States and Canada, as well as around the globe. It is the longest serving medical specialty society. As a leader in the mental health field, the APA continually supports the diagnosis and treatment of patients with mental illnesses, including substance use disorders, and also supports prevention and research. The APA acts as an advocate for psychiatrists and their patients.

The initiative of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to establish international divisions has created considerable enthusiasm. College members have some common characteristics, mainly their training and success in the Royal College examination. Thus College members share a common approach to the practice of psychiatry as well as some common experiences; it can be argued that they share a common language in psychiatry.