Dear colleagues, dear researchers, dear clinicians,

On behalf of the board of the World Association of Stress-Related and Anxiety Disorders “WASAD”, it is our pleasure to invite you to the 5th WASAD Congress from October 23 to 25 2025, to be held in Munich, Germany.

The topic of the upcoming congress is Uncertainty in Times of Change: A Lifecourse Approach to Stress and Anxiety”. In our rapidly evolving world, and particularly political, climate-related and societal challenges, uncertainty has become a constant companion, influencing our mental health and well-being at every stage of life. This congress aims to shed light on the complexities of stress- and anxiety-related disorders, particularly how they manifest and evolve throughout our lifetime. Together, we will delve into the latest research, share insights, and foster discussions that can lead to better understanding and management of these challenges.

The biological purpose of stress, fear and anxiety is to foster transitions and adaptation processes throughout life in continuously changing environments. Uncertainty is an important trigger for emotional distress and consequently anxious feeling, specifically if coping cognition and behaviours are limited and subjective solution options are experienced as reduced. Neurobiological and clinical research plays a crucial role in understanding these emotional responses and developing effective interventions. WASAD is strongly dedicated to describe biological, cognitive, behavioural processes and related biomarker underlying healthy and pathological coping with uncertainty, stress and anxiety. By exploring the brain’s mechanisms and how they relate to stress, researchers can identify potential targets for treatment, leading to innovative therapies that help individuals manage their anxiety more effectively.

The WASAD congress program includes symposia from basic to clinical research related to different life stages, from childhood to adulthood, but also to transgenerational and sex-specific aspects of stress and anxiety. Moreover, clinical research sessions will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of various therapeutic approaches, such as psychotherapy, neurostimulation and pharmacotherapy. This research not only enhances our understanding of stress and anxiety but also equips healthcare professionals with the tools they need to support those in distress and mental illness. The WASAD congress will cover definite diagnostic entities, such as anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, MDD, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, body-related anxiety syndromes, and will cross diagnostic boundaries to evolve transdiagnostic approaches for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of stress-related disorders.

In this line, we are pleased to announce our keynotes, plenaries, symposia and interactive sessions from experts on mental health, research on stress, prevention and resilience. In addition, the program will include topics like  psychocardiology, addiction, digital interventions, everyday lifestyle  and youth and adolescent mental health.

On behalf of the local and Scientific Committee as well of the WASAD board, we cordially invite you to engage actively, share your experiences, and connect with fellow professionals and researchers in Munich.

Yours sincerely,

Angelika Erhardt, Local President of the congress, Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich

Peter Falkai, Local Chair of the congress, Ludwig-Maximilian University in Munich

Urs Nater, WASAD President, University of Vienna