The EPA was founded in October 1983 as the Association of European Psychiatrists (AEP), at the University of Strasbourg, by twelve French- and English-speaking university psychiatrists.
The objective of the new organization was to "promote European Psychiatry in the fields of research, treatment and teaching, three axes considered to be unequivocally complementary."
In 1989, the AEP was granted consultant status at the Council of Europe.
[1] European Psychiatry is the association's official journal.
The EPA is a member of the European Brain Council.