Moscow 119034/USSR Dear Professor Morozov: The American Psychiatric Association is aware of the resignation of the All Union Society of Psychiatrists and Neuropathologists of the USSR from the World Psychiatric Association. The All Union Society is also aware of the continuing concern of allegations of the abuse of psychiatry in your country. We do, however, regret that the situation has deteriorated to the extent that your Society felt the need to resign from the World Psychiatric Association, rather than to use the opportunity for dialogue and exploration for understanding. In your letter of resignation,, you mentioned the August 1, 1982 letter from the American Psychiatric Association to the member societies of the World Psychiatric Association. There are several issues which I will address at: this time: First of all, the APA notified all member socleties of the WPA of the resolutions regarding your Society. Secondly, the APA notified the member societies of a Forum to be held in Vienna at the World Congress to discuss these issues. It was our hope that your Society would be represented at this Forum where you could have had an opportunity to openly address the complaints made against certain alleged practices and against some of your colleagues. In addition, there was information given about a possible resolution going before the United Nations Human Rights Commission on the issue of the misuse of mental institutions to control dissent. You should note, however, that your country was not mentioned in any statement regarding this particular issue in any comment by the APA or in any of the background information on the UN Commission on Human Rights. The American Psychiatric Association was pleased to learn of your responses which were sent to the World Psychiatric Association to cases which were referred by the WPA leadership. We had hoped that this was the beginning of a dialogue on these issues leading to a better understanding. You will recall that the APA resolution stated that: "If the All Union Society of Psychiatrists and Neurolopathologists of the USSR does not adequately respond to all inquiries from the WPA regarding the issues of psychiatric abuse by April 1, 1983...." was a conditioned one which you were apparently prepared to meet at that time. You mentioned.possible abuses in other countries and the APA wishes to respond with the information that we have submitted information and made inquiries into allegations in other countries, in addition to those In the USSR. The difference is that the cases presented to the APA from other countries were less in number and, in addition, we have received responses from these other countries. The APA is careful to investigate any allegations of abuse in the United States and would be cooperative in replying to requests of this sort. The American Psychiatric Association is on record as being opposed to the use of psychiatry for political purposes wherever it may occur. We believe that issues of ethics should be of vital concern to any scientific organization. We further agree that the profession of psychiatry and any organization representing this profession should take an active stance on ethical issues in order to "promote the advance of psychiatric science,. Improve the system of organizing aid for the population," as mentioned in your letter of resignation. We hope that Soviet psychiatry would not be opposed to this stance. Your letter accused the World Psychiatric Association of becoming involved in outright political activity and that the APA has contributed to the politicizing of the WPA. If psychiatry were not being used for political purposes, this would not have occurred. It is our opinion that the resignation of the All Union Society in the face of criticism by colleagues regarding the use of psychiatry for political purposes, seems to be a political move in itself. Psychiatric science would have been more advanced by the All Union Society taking-part in discussion, with a possible change of practices or elaboration of new practices. It is on this basis that we negate your statement that it is the APA that is politicizing the WPA. In closing, I will say that we do hope that it will be possible someday for all countries to be members of the World Psychiatric Association. If the All Union Society of Psychiatrists and Neuropathologists would be prepared to demonstrate that there was no longer reason for concern about psychiatric abuse in your country, the American Psychiatric Association would certainly be in the forefront among those welcoming your organization back into the membership of the. WPA. cc: Peter Berner, M.D. Sincerely, Tanjan George Tarjan, M.Q. L Dear Pref. P. PICHOT, Prof. P. BUSTER and Kembers of the The All-Union Scientific Society of Heuropathologists' and. Paychiatrista has been a member of the World Psychistric Association sinca 1967. Having expressed their d«siro to participate in the work of the WEA, Soviet paychiatrists were guided by the premisa that this non-governmental professional orgenization, in accordance with its Cherter and the intereats of Hational Associations, should direct its efforts towazds pressing scientific problems, promote progress in studying the nature of mental disesses, as well as to improve the organicat. of psychatric aid to the populatiez. Regretfully, we must declare that in recent years, ¿:30 the fault of cartein circles exerting unprecedented pressure c. a number of astional societies and the leadership of the WPA, this Ascociation Tound Atsolí a pexticipent in a campoi, having otsɔiotely nothing to do with ito fundamental profungie activity. The copè in question concezas the utilization of th WPA in a «lendcroun campsim cileging that paychiatzy is being abused in the USSR for political yazpozes. An active role in this campaign is being played by the leader ship of the American Psychiatric Aɛsociation and the Royel College of Psychiatzists (United Kingdom). Things went so fa that the WPA leadership did not respond to the slanderous latter of the American Psychiatrie L33ocietion dated August 1 1982, which was sent to all psychiatric societies. This lett with reference to the State Departeunt of the USA, which is an indication of its active participation in this propaganda campaign; contains slanderous accusations directed against Soviet paychiatrists concerning alleged abuse of psychiatry. Therefore, a US government body is actively interferiz in the work of national non-governmental organizaticus, and indirectly, in the work of the WPA. Caca cgain, this fact ccafis the political anti-Scvist nature of the given camreig. · - This whole slenderous campaign, blatantly political in nature, is directed against Soviet paychiatry in the 'spiz of the "cold war" against the Soviet Union. We would like to emphasize once again that there have been no ground and there are no grounds for such slenderous attacks. Soviet psychiatrists, just like their colleagues in many countries, are seriously concerned over the unfavorable situation which has developed in the WEA, and clgo over the fact that the W leadership hes not undertaken end is not undertaking the necessary moesumes for its acımaldontion. |