Aims and objectives

1) to identify and evaluate methods for prevention of severe mental disorders

2) to evaluate effects of early intervention in psychotic disorders

3) to improve symptoms and quality of life for people with severe mental disorders

4) to be the leading Danish research center for suicide prevention

Focus areas

Early phases of psychotic disorders, psychotic disorder and substance abuse, anxiety and depression, children of parents with severe mental disorder, suicidal ideation and suicidal behaviour, and the role of inflammatory mechanisms.

Disciplines, methods and tools

We conduct large randomised clinical trials (RCT) in which we evaluate psychosocial interventions such as specialised assertive intervention in first episode psychosis (OPUS trial), life style changes in patients with psychosis (CHANGE trial), cognitive remediation in patients with early signs of imminent psychotic disorder (FOCUS trial), supported employment in anxiety and depression (IPS-MA) and psychosis (IPS), monitored dose reduction in first episode psychosis patients (TAILOR), better treatment of suicidal ideas and risk of repeated suicide attempts (AID, SOS, MINPLAN), treatment of people on sick leave because of anxiety, depression or stress (IBBIS).

As part of the iPSYCH consortium (The Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research) we conduct large studies of genetic and environmental risk for different mental disorders.

We are conducting studies of genetic and environmental risk factors for depression, for good and bad outcome in schizophrenia, for level of cognitive funtioning. An important research focus is the PSYCH-FLAME initiative which includes many different studies of the possible role of inflammatory factors (infections and autoimmune disorders) and mental disorders.

Useful links

Link to iPSYCH website
Link to GlobalExcellence in health 2012 (and 2017)
Link to OPUS website