Reasons:

1. The numbers of elderly people with neuropsychiatric disorders are increasing rapidly all over the world--in developing as well as developed countries.
2. Geriatric psychoneuropharmacology is one of the most exciting areas of research at this time.
3. The ICGP is unique in that it includes not only geriatric psychiatrists but also neurologists, geriatricians, psychologists, basic scientists, and others involved in investigations, registration, and uses of treatments for geriatric brain and behavioral disorders. It is international, and only includes investigators in the field.
4. The ICGP will provide an international forum where scientists from academia, industry, regulatory agencies, government, and independent research laboratories can discuss issues of methodology, treatment effectiveness, and emerging opportunities for new research.
5. One of the goals of the ICGP is to help develop international guidelines for regulatory agencies across countries involved in the approval of pharmacologic treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders in elderly patients. At present there is no single organization that can accomplish this task.