About us

The EPSIG raises awareness of the contribution of evolutionary theory to psychiatry.

Aims and objectives

  1. Raise awareness of the value of understanding the contribution of evolutionary theory to psychiatry
  2. Encourage research into the evolutionary psychiatry
  3. Provide a forum for psychiatrists and others to discuss evolutionary models, research ideas and data with fellow evolutionists
  4. Facilitate networking with academic institutions and evolutionary scientists, biologists, psychotherapists, psychologists and other disciplines such as philosophy
  5. Keep members and supporters of the SIG informed via our webpage and newsletter
  6. Organise workshops, symposia and conferences on evolutionary psychiatry and related subjects
  7. Organise sessions at the WPA and the College's International Congress, as well as with Faculties and Devolved Nations and Divisions.

The EPSIG Executive Committee comprises:

NameRole
Riadh Abed
Chair
Annie SwanepoelFinancial Officer
Paul St John-SmithNewsletter editor
David GeaneyMember
Derek TracyMember
Adam HuntMember
Agnes AytonMember
Tom CarpenterTrainee Member
Nikil ChaudharyMember
Muzaffer KaserMember
Leonard CornwallMember
Elena Titova-ChaudhryMember
Arif KhanMember
Monica FrancisPTC Rep
Emily JacksonPTC Rep

We are keen to recruit new SIG members and people to become members of the core executive committee.

If you would like to join, please email us, or fill in our online sign up via our website

Increasing trainee involvement

The Evolutionary Psychiatry SIG (EPSIG) aims to increase trainee involvement in its activities to help raise awareness of the importance of evolutionary science to the understanding of mental disorder among trainees in the UK.

We are therefore reaching out to our members to invite expressions of interest from psychiatric trainees at all levels and in all specialties in the UK to join a group of evolutionary-minded trainees to form an EPSIG Trainee Executive Committee (that will work alongside the current EPSIG executive committee). Any psychiatric trainee in the UK is welcome to apply but our aim is to have representation from across the country as far as possible. The only requirements are an interest in understanding the implications of evolution to psychiatry and mental health and an enthusiasm to promote awareness of this among trainees within their Deaneries/regions.

We held a successful whole-day workshop for trainees at the college HQ in London (27 January 2023). Our 2nd Trainee Workshop will take place on Friday 1 March 2024. More details can be found here

For further info please contact Tom Carpenter (CT2, trainee member on the executive committee of EPSIG): carpenter.te@gmail.com

Contact us

If you have any enquiries about the EPSIG please contact sigs@rcpsych.ac.uk.

Read more to receive further information regarding a career in psychiatry