... History
A Brief History of the Founding of the Taiwanese Society of Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology
November 5, 2000, marked a historic moment for biological psychiatry in Taiwan. Professors Chang Wen-Ho, Lu Ru-Band, and Dr. Lin Shih-Ku convened in Hualien and decided to establish a “Biological Psychiatry Preparatory Group” under the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry (TSP). They nominated Professor Chang Wen-Ho as the interim convener to oversee preparations. Momentum quickly gathered, and experts from across Taiwan—including Lin Hsin-Nan, Su Tung-Ping, Hwu Hai-Gwo, Lin Keh-Ming, Shen W. Winston, Lung For-Wey, Liu Shi-Kai, Lee Ming-Been, Chen Chia-Hsiang, Tsuang Ming-Cher, Shiah I-Shin, Lin Wei-Wen, and many others—enthusiastically joined and contributed to this initiative.
On March 9, 2001, during the TSP Psychiatry Department’s Academic Program Committee meeting, the preparatory committee proposed the group’s official name: “The College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry”, abbreviated as the “Biological Psychiatry Group”. The English name was designated as: The College of Neuropsychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry (TCNBP). Dr. Lin Shih-Ku served as the Executive Secretary, and Professor Lung For-Wey assisted Interim Convener Professor Chang Wen-Ho in promoting activities in southern Taiwan.
On May 21, 2001, during a preparatory meeting, Professor Chang Wen-Ho and Dr. Lin Shih-Ku, along with Dr. Huang Ming-Chi, Secretary Chang Su-Chen, and Wu Hsiao-Tien, drafted an open invitation to TSP members titled, “Call for Founders of the Biological Psychiatry Preparatory Group” to recruit individuals who would serve as “Founders” and become charter members of the group. The preparatory committee also decided to formally announce the establishment of TCNBP during the CINP Regional Meeting held in Hiroshima, Japan, from October 2–5, 2001, with an invitation extended to the meeting chair, Professor Yamawaki, to participate.
Subsequently, the Biological Psychiatry Group was officially inaugurated during the 40th Annual Meeting of the Taiwanese Society of Psychiatry in 2001.
Following the group’s establishment, Professor Chang Wen-Ho and other key members accelerated efforts to elevate the group into an independent society. On November 30, 2001, Professor Chang Wen-Ho, representing the founding members, submitted an application to the Ministry of the Interior to establish the Taiwanese Society of Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology (TSBPN). On February 20, 2002, the Ministry approved the application via document No. 9038077.
The society’s preparatory meeting was held on April 13, 2002, in Room 602 of the Psychiatry Department at National Taiwan University Hospital. The seven preparatory committee members were Chang Wen-Ho, Lin Shih-Ku, Chen Chia-Hsiang, Shiah I-Shin, Lung For-Wey, Lin Wei-Wen, and Lu Ru-Band. During the second preparatory meeting on October 8, 2002, held at the Psychiatry Department of the Tri-Service General Hospital, it was resolved that the inaugural assembly would take place on November 2, 2002, at 11:30 AM in the Research Building of Changhua Christian Hospital. This meeting would include the election of the Board of Directors and Supervisors.
From the establishment of the Biological Psychiatry Preparatory Group in November 2000 to the official founding of the Taiwanese Society of Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology in November 2002, biological psychiatry in Taiwan entered a new era.