Month: December 2024

Christian Rück’s latest article on body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is featured in Nature Reviews Disease Primers.

The article provides an in-depth overview of BDD, a psychiatric condition characterized by excessive preoccupation with perceived physical flaws that are often unnoticeable to others. BDD is an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition that affects approximately 2% of the adult population. It is associated with significant impairment in quality of life and a heightened risk of suicide. The publication explores:

• The epidemiology and prevalence of BDD.
• Insights into the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms underlying the disorder.
• Strategies for diagnosis and management, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and pharmacological interventions.

Read It! 

• Full Publication: Nature Reviews Disease Primers
• Summary for laypeople: PrimeView

Maria Bragesjö and Volen Ivanov have been awarded planning grants (planeringsbidrag) from Forte as well as grants from the Söderström Königska Foundation . These grants will enable the development of new interventions and lay the groundwork for future large-scale studies.

Maria Bragesjö

Project Title: Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Internet-Delivered Trauma-Focused CBT for Children with PTSD
Grant Amount: 671,250 SEK

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children is a severe psychiatric condition that leads to significant suffering, impaired functioning, and an increased risk of suicide. Despite Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) being the recommended treatment, many children lack access to it within standard care. This project aims to address this gap by developing and evaluating the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of internet- mediated TF-CBT (iTF-CBT) for children with PTSD, thereby increasing the availability of evidence-based treatment.

Volen Ivanov

Project Title: Development and Evaluation of an Intervention for Caregivers and Relatives of Individuals with Hoarding Disorder
Grant Amount: 664,250 SEK

The project addresses the significant burden faced by caregivers of individuals with hoarding disorder (HD), a psychiatric condition that causes severe distress and functional impairment. Despite the high prevalence of HD and its impact on families, support for caregivers remains underdeveloped. This project aims to develop and refine an online support intervention tailored to the needs of caregivers of individuals with HD. This grant will lay the groundwork for a future full-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) by adapting existing interventions, ensuring cultural relevance, and engaging stakeholders in a co-creation process. This approach builds on current knowledge in caregiver support for mental health conditions but fills a critical gap by focusing specifically on HD.

Additional Grants!
Maria and Volen were also awarded grants from the Söderström Königska Foundation:
Maria received 284,000 SEK for the project Huddinge Online Prolonged Exposure Therapy for Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
Volen received 213,000 SEK for the project: Evaluation of Therapist-Supported Online Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Individuals with Olfactory Reference Syndrome: A Randomized Trial

Congratulations!