[Trace elements are found in the living organism in small (trace) amounts and are mainly essential for living functions. Essential trace elements are in humans the chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), fluorine (F), iodine (I), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), and questionably the boron (B) and vanadium (V). According to the biopsychosocial concept, mental functions have biological underpinnings, therefore the impairment of certain neurochemical processes due to shortage of trace elements may have mental consequences. Scientific investigations indicate the putative role of trace element deficiency in psychiatric disorders such in depression (Zn, Cr, Se, Fe, Co, I), premenstrual dysphoria (Cr), schizophrenia (Zn, Se), cognitive deterioration/de­mentia (B, Zn, Fe, Mn, Co, V), mental retardation (I, Mo, Cu), binge-eating (Cr), autism (Zn, Mn, Cu, Co) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Fe). At the same time, the excess quantity (chronic exposure, genetic error) of certain trace elements (Cu, Mn, Co, Cr, Fe, V) can also lead to mental disturbances (depression, anxiety, psychosis, cognitive dysfunction, insomnia). Lithium (Li), being efficacious in the treatment of bipolar mood disorder, is not declared officially as a trace element. Due to nutrition (drinking water, food) the serum Li level is about a thousand times less than that used in therapy. However, Li level in the red cells is lower as the membrane sodium-Li countertransport results in a Li efflux. Nevertheless, the possibility that Li is a trace element has emerged as studies indicate its potential efficacy in such a low concentration, since certain geographic regions show an inverse correlation between the Li level of drinking water and the suicide rate in that area. ]

[“What did Lipótmező mean to you?” My friends and acquaintances asked frequently this question in the past decades, concerning the National Institute for Psychiatry and Neurology or well known as the Lipótmező my past workplace and the role it played in my life thus far. It is difficult to give a short answer, but the three and a half decades I have spent there were certainly of decisive importance in my professional and private life as well. Since I was banned from tobacco smoking due to my disease ten years ago, I cannot keep my pipe in my mouth any more. Thus, I decided to recollect the dearest stories kept in my memory, which had the deepest impact on me during my 35 years in Lipótmező both as a doctor and as a man. ]

[Contrary to Attila Bánfalvi's position, I try to argue that within a narrow range of validity, the experimental-positivist knowledge creation methodology provides more secure, evolvable and useful knowledge than the knowledge creation procedures of some schools of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).]

[The Hungarian Psychiatric Society's 2016 Annual Meeting was held in Siófok, Hungary, under the title The Changing Face of Psychosis. The diverse programme of the three-day conference was so rich that we often wished to be present in two or more interesting sessions at the same time.]