Psychiatria pre prax 3/2020

Establishment and Development of the Slovak Psychiatric association of the Slovak Medical Association

In the article, authors describe the formation and development of the Slovak Psychiatric Association of the Slovak Medical Association (SkMA). Very first specialized professional association of psychiatrists in Czechoslovakia was the „Purkyňova spoločnosť pre štúdium duše a nervstva“ (Purkyně Association for Study of Soul and Nervous System), founded in 1918, which integrated activity of experts working in Slovakia during the inter-war period. The focus of efforts for the professional merging of physicians during the war-time Slovak republic was based in the creation of national professional organizations. After the war, activity of Purkyně Association was renewed in Slovakia and the association was divided in 1949 into two branches - neurological and psychiatric. These formed associations were integral part of the Czechoslovak Medical Association of J. E. Purkyně. The Slovak Psychiatric Association was established in 1969 as part of the processes within the federalization of the state. At that time, the Czechoslovak Psychiatric Association was created as an organization covering individual national Associations. A similar model was applied in the division of the Czechoslovak Medical Association of J. E. Purkyně into the Czech Medical Association and the Slovak Medical Association. The study provides an overview of the most important activities of the Slovak Psychiatric Association SkMA, which were performed in recent decades to date independently or in cooperation with other medical associations, or other professional institutions, including the Ministry of Health.

Keywords: Slovak Psychiatric Association, Slovak Medical Association, history, psychiatry, Slovakia