Last week, the magazine Medicinsk Vetenskap featured an extensive interview with our very own Maria about her work with ptsd. Read the full issue here!
Category: News
You read it right—Rücklab now has a LinkedIn page! We would very much appreciate it if you wanted to follow our work also HERE! 🎉
Last week, the first-ever Swedish Suicide Research Conference, an interdisciplinary event aimed at furthering suicide research, took place here in Stockholm. On the agenda were several presentations from the Rück research group:
Christian gave a talk on how suicide seems to be a uniquely human phenomenon, as it is not observed among other species, and discussed the role of the mature human brain in its occurrence.
Leoni presented her research on suicide following involuntary psychiatric care in Sweden. Her work confirms the high-risk status of involuntary psychiatric care patients, and emphasizes the importance of appropriate clinical considerations, monitoring, risk assessment, and care among such patients.
Oskar gave a presentation on his research on short- and long-term risk factors for suicide and suicide reattempt. In doing so, he highlighted the roles of hopelessness, relationship problems, and worsening of depressive symptoms as potential risk- or protective factors for self-harm repetition.
Manne shared the preliminary results of research related to suicide risk assessments, in which the team interviewed psychiatry specialists about their approaches to uncertainties of suicide risk assessments, and how they are dealt with in actual clinical practice.
Fredrik presented research on sex- and age-specific risk indicators of suicide. In doing so, he underscored the difficulty of identifying high-risk males, as well as the importance of considering this challenge when developing suicide prevention measures.
Further information about the research presented can be found here.
We applaud our presenters for a job well done! 👏🏼
We are happy to welcome our new research assistant, Lovisa Bergdahl, to the Rück research group! Lovisa has a background in both business and psychology, with undergraduate degrees from the Stockholm School of Economics and Uppsala University. She has previously done work on organizational psychology, decision-making, and AI, and is now looking forward to contributing to the various projects of the team!
Welcome!
Congratulations, Susanna!
Today, our talented Susanna Österman successfully defended her thesis Improving Detection and Treatment of Health Anxiety: Diagnostic Tools, Digital Interventions, and Substance-Related Risks in Alfred Nobels allé at Karolinska Institutet (KI), Flemingsberg. Opponent was Professor David Tolin, Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine.
Also present were principal supervisor Volen Ivanov and co-supervisors Erland Axelsson (KI), Erik Hedman-Lagerlöf (KI) and Nils Lindefors (KI). The examination board consisted of Ann-Sophie Lindqvist Bagge (University of Gothenburg), Sven Alfonsson (KI), Erik Pettersson (KI).
What is severe health anxiety?
Severe health anxiety is a disabling condition where individuals experience persistent and excessive fear of illness. These fears lead to considerable emotional distress, impair daily functioning, and reduce overall quality of life. Although evidence-based treatments are available, many individuals remain undiagnosed and go without the support they need.
Susanna’s thesis set out to tackle these challenges by exploring how severe health anxiety can be better understood, detected and treated.
Click here to read the full thesis!
The entire Rück research group is incredibly proud of you, Susanna, and your important contributions toward improving care for people affected by this condition. 💐💐
Yesterday, Susanna nailed her thesis “Improving Detection and Treatment of Health Anxiety: Diagnostic Tools, Digital Interventions, and Substance-Related Risks” in Flemingsberg 🔨🥂. There was a great turnout from both Rücklab and Kaldo group members.
We look forward to her disputation on April 11th!
Photo, right: https://drtolin.com
Last week, the Centre for Psychiatry Research at Karolinska Institutet welcomed Prof. David Tolin from Yale University School of Medicine for a seminar in the Suicide Seminar Series. Prof. Tolin discussed the use of Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for suicidal inpatients, discussing its role in preventing suicide attempts and reducing hospital readmissions.
Missed the seminar? You can watch the full recording here.
In the KI facilities at Huddinge Hospital, Stockholm, our own Modelling team is busy making the final touches to their course on Artificial Intelligence in Mental Healthcare – a highly relevant topic for patients, their clinicians, the healthcare system, and society.
What was the idea behind the course?
The idea behind the course is to provide a deeper understanding of how AI can be integrated into mental healthcare, particularly within clinical psychology and psychiatry, says John Wallert, course leader and examinator. In the course we will explore both opportunities but also challenges of AI in mental healthcare. A running thread throughout this course also pertains to ethical implications of this technological development.
Why is this important?
AI plays an increasingly significant role in mental healthcare and can help improve diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures, says John Wallert. The paradigm shift of AI will, in one way or another, matter for us all and I believe it is important to develop a comprehensive understanding of how this will affect mental healthcare. Understanding AI’s potential, limitations, and ethical implications is crucial to ensure that these technologies are used responsibly. The course is quite interdisciplinary. Students will gain a broad understanding of AI applications in mental healthcare.
What knowledge will students gain from taking the course?
A lot! The students will gain insight into AI’s role in improving personalized treatment, monitoring, and care, says Leoni Grossmann, teacher. They will develop insights into the specific strengths and limitations of AI compared to human caregivers, as well as a critical understanding of the ethical, practical, and societal challenges of AI implementation. Additionally, they will gain hands-on experience through workshops, providing them with a better understanding of how AI tools are developed and used in a clinical context.
What are the prerequisites for taking the course?
The course is for those who have studied at least 60 credits of higher education, says Björn Bråstad, amanuens. It is given in English and therefore also requires English B/English 6 with a minimum grade of pass/E. The course is an independent summer course given by a cross-professional team with several active elements between 2–16 June 2025 on site in Huddinge, Campus Flemingsberg.
Application period: 17th of February – 17th of March.
We are so happy to announce that our colleague, Diana Pascal, has been recognized as Docent in Psychiatry at Karolinska Institutet! Her research focuses on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), exploring its etiological and pathophysiological mechanisms as a foundation for improved treatment strategies, including Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS).
Reflecting on this achievement, Diana shared how the docent recognition opens new doors for conducting research projects, e.g., projects on exploring somatic aspects of psychiatric disorders, but it also opens new doors for engaging in higher-level teaching. Diana finds great satisfaction in combining clinical work, research, and education, emphasizing the importance of applying theoretical knowledge to real-world patient care.
Diana’s journey into research began unexpectedly—what she describes as “a slip on a banana peel.” Initially drawn to molecular biology and receptor pharmacology, she later developed a passion for structured psychiatric diagnostics and cognitive neuroscience. Over time, she became deeply invested in understanding the brain as a network and how different disciplines can come together to advance treatment for psychiatric disorders.
For Diana, the most rewarding aspect of her work is the opportunity to translate research into practice, bridging the gap between scientific discoveries and patient care. She also values working within the research group, as the collaborative environment fuels the detective-like nature of research, where every new discovery brings another piece of the puzzle closer to completion.
Congratulations Diana, on this well-deserved recognition!
Foto vänster: PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT Nyhetsbyrån
Foto höger: DANIEL CONSTANTINI/DN
Earlier this week, Christian Rück, appeared on Sveriges Radio to discuss the findings of a recent Socialstyrelsen report. The report revealed that 70% of medical visits at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service (BUP) are dedicated to investigating and treating ADHD. This significant figure raises questions about the implications for BUP’s ability to support other mental health issues and the surge in demand for ADHD-related care.
Below is a transcript of Christian Rück’s insights from the program:
What are your thoughts on the fact that 70% of medical visits at BUP are used to diagnose and treat ADHD?
“It sounds like an incredibly high number when you hear 70%. However, if you read the report, you’ll see that it was already 50% back in 2011, when there were three times fewer patients. So, any massive displacement effect would have to have been present for a long time. But of course, it’s striking that one diagnosis—which barely got any attention when I trained as a psychiatrist—is now completely dominant in medical work.”
What is your perspective on the sharp increase in ADHD diagnoses?
“The diagnosis clearly resonates with people and feels very meaningful to them. It’s widely discussed and top-of-mind for many. Additionally, we have a specialized private sector for ADHD evaluations, where people seek a diagnosis specifically for ADHD. If evaluations are set up in this way, and patients are funneled into the system, it likely leads to more diagnoses of this particular type because they’re being evaluated for one specific condition.”
So, does it seem like many people actively want an ADHD diagnosis?
“Yes, and that’s not surprising. A diagnosis grants access to medication that can be effective. It also offers support in schools that might not otherwise be available. So, it’s understandable that there’s a strong demand for this diagnosis.”
Is it a good thing that so many people are getting this diagnosis, or are there risks involved?
“It’s beneficial in itself, but now we’re seeing very high rates of diagnosis. The report states that up to 15% of boys receive an ADHD diagnosis. That’s much higher than earlier estimates of how common ADHD is thought to be. This raises questions about whether some individuals just below the threshold are also being diagnosed. For them, the benefits of a diagnosis might not be as significant, and there could be problematic aspects of diagnosing people who don’t have severe issues.”
What solutions could address the growing demand for help and BUP’s limited resources?
“One solution is for society to adapt. We need to make it easier for people with certain types of challenges to function. Schools are a clear example of this.
Additionally, I think we need to talk about ADHD differently. It’s not as simple as some people having ADHD and others not. ADHD is a way of describing traits that all people have to varying degrees. People with attention difficulties, for example, should be able to receive help, support, or have a place in society even without a diagnosis if their problems aren’t severe.
Finally, healthcare needs to reorganize to meet this demand. It’s not just about needing more resources but also about how the work is structured .”
Rücklab - Psychiatry research at Karolinska Institutet 