The Saudi Psychiatric Association (SPA) presents the 1st Symposium on Schizophrenia & Psychotic Disorders, a live online symposium held on Saturday, 31 October 2026 from 8:00 to 10:00 pm Saudi time (UTC+3). Under the theme "Beyond Dopamine: Expanding the Therapeutic Landscape in Schizophrenia," the evening brings together leading psychiatrists from Saudi Arabia and Egypt to review how schizophrenia care is evolving beyond classic dopamine-blocking strategies and what that means for everyday clinical practice.
The program opens with Dr. Nuha Al-Shammari, Consultant in First Episode Psychosis & Youth Crisis at King Fahad Hospital of the University, Khobar, who will discuss maximizing functional recovery through timely intervention in first-episode psychosis. Prof. Tareq Okasha, Professor of Psychiatry and Chair of the Neuropsychiatry Department at the Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, follows with a session on relapse prevention — preserving function and protecting recovery over the long course of illness.
After a moderated discussion, Dr. Amro Nabih, Consultant in Psychiatry at University Medical Center, Saudi Arabia and former Director of Helwan Mental Hospital, Egypt, explores one of the most significant recent developments in the field: redefining schizophrenia care through the emergence of muscarinic modulation. The final lecture, by Dr. Mohammed Al-Arabi, Assistant Professor and Consultant in Psychotic Disorders at the Department of Psychiatry, King Saud University, Riyadh, focuses on modern clozapine optimization, with updated titration and safety protocols for both inpatient and outpatient practice. Each block is followed by a Q&A, and sessions are chaired by Dr. Feras Al-Awad and Dr. Mohammed Al-Moqahwi.
The symposium carries 2 CME hours and is designed for psychiatrists, psychiatry residents and fellows, general practitioners and family physicians who care for patients with psychosis, as well as clinical pharmacists, psychiatric nurses and mental-health professionals involved in long-term treatment and recovery planning.
Registration is through the SPA events portal (an account is required). Tickets range from 35 to 45 SAR, with a discounted rate for active SPA members; non-members are welcome. Payment is by bank transfer, and registration is confirmed once the SPA team verifies the receipt.
