Research Scientific base and approach to mental disorders

Etiopathogenesis and treatment of severe mental disorders (MERITT)

Research Program

Scientific base and approach to mental disorders

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Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu

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The group "Etiopathogenesis and treatment of severe mental disorders" (MERITT) is a consolidated research group recognised by the Generalitat de Calatunya since 2014, and is led by Dr. Judith Usall and Dr. Susana Ochoa. The general interest of the group is based on the study of people with severe mental disorders, both from a clinical and basic perspective and from a longitudinal approach throughout life from childhood to adulthood, with a marked intentionality towards the transfer of clinical results to solve the needs of the population with psychosis and their families.

The group has several funded projects, is part of international research consortia and has a cross-cutting approach to gender that favours this necessary and relevant approach that should be adopted in research projects, as well as involving the active participation of experts in the first person.

The group is organised into 5 lines of research: Clinical, cognitive and psychosocial bases of severe mental disorders, Metacognitive approach to psychosis: assessment and psychological interventions, Molecular psychiatry, Child psychiatry and Mental health in the prison setting.

Research lines

  1. Line of clinical, cognitive and psychosocial bases of severe mental disorders. Principal Investigator: Judith Usall. This line aims to characterise and monitor people with a first psychotic episode in terms of biological, clinical, neuropsychological, and psychosocial aspects. It has recently focused more specifically on the study of stress and childhood trauma, as well as protective factors. More recently, scientists have been studying how the brain works and how we think.
  2. Metacognitive approach to psychosis: assessment and psychological interventions. Principal investigator: Susana Ochoa. The objective of the line is to evaluate metacognitive processes and social cognition in individuals suffering from psychosis, as well as their correlation with clinical, functional, neuropsychological, and recovery variables. The primary objective of the line is to develop and evaluate the efficacy of innovative psychological treatments that help to improve metacognition and social cognition in people with schizophrenia and first psychotic episodes, in order to achieve full recovery.
  3. Molecular psychiatry line. Principal Investigator: Belen Ramos. This line of research aims to investigate the biomarkers altered in people with psychotic disorders that can help predict the evolution of symptoms and cognitive deterioration in order to apply more effective early interventions. This fundamental research line operates in synergy with the clinical lines. 
  4. Research in mental health in prison and juvenile justice line. Principal Investigator: Gemma Escuder. This study examines the needs and variables of clinical, social, and neuropsychological functioning that most affect the rehabilitation and recovery of people with severe mental disorders in the prison environment. It also evaluates the effectiveness of pharmacological and psychological treatments aimed at this population.

Scientific objectives

  1. To conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of oestrogen in patients with schizophrenia.
  2. To evaluate the effectiveness of psychological treatments in persons with psychosis.
  3. To promote research into the effectiveness of new technologies in the management of patients with psychosis.
  4. To determine the clinical, social or neuropsychological variables involved in poorer outcomes in severe mental disorders, paying particular attention to the early stages with a view to preventing disease progression. We also explore biological aspects relating to sex hormones.
  5. To study the clinical, social and neuropsychological differences between various serious mental health disorders, in first-episode psychosis and in special populations (e.g. intellectual disabilities or prison) in relation to mental health.
  6. To make available adequate measuring instruments to evaluate people with severe mental disorders.
  7. To discover which molecular pathways are altered in the brain of persons with chronic schizophrenia, especially those involved in the neurodevelopment or the functioning of synaptic transmission and with special interest in transcription factors; and also, to investigate the relationship between these pathways and neuropsychological symptoms and functioning.
  8. To study the regulation of altered molecular pathways in schizophrenia in the brain of animal models of psychosis and in cell models.
  9. To study peripheral biomarkers in psychosis as they relate to symptoms, cognitive functioning, structural changes in the brain and in response to therapeutic interventions.

Area/Field of expertise

Research methodologies and techniques:

In our research into the clinical, cognitive and psychosocial bases of severe mental health disorders, we examine samples from patients with psychotic disorders at various stages of their illness. Patient cohorts are also followed up. Our research is conducted through clinical interviews and the use of clinical and neuropsychological scales. The need for appropriate measurement scales has prompted us to create and validate measurement instruments.

Regarding our research into mental health interventions, we carry out clinical trials of medicines already available on the market to evaluate their effectiveness in new indications. We also conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological treatments.

In molecular psychiatry, we have conducted studies on post-mortem brain tissue, mainly in schizophrenia. We examine specific markers using traditional biochemical techniques (immunoblot) as well as molecular biology (real-time RT-PCR gene expression) studies and, occasionally, genetic sequencing. We also conduct screening activities using quantitative proteomic techniques in post-mortem brain tissue in schizophrenia. Our researchers perform biomarker studies in peripheral mononuclear blood cells in patients with psychotic disorders and neuroimaging studies with structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging. We have attained a deeper understanding of some molecular pathways through studies in primary cultures of rat neurons or astrocytes and/or psychosis models in mice.

Group members

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Projects

Project name:
Eficacia de la combinación del Entrenamiento Metacognitivo (EMC) y el Ejercicio Físico Acuático (EFA) para reducir los síntomas psicóticos y mejorar la conciencia cognitiva en personas con psicosis.
Leader
Susana Ochoa Güerre
Funding entities:
Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Code
PI24/00294
Starting - finishing date:
2025 - 2027
Project name:
Document indicadors suïcidis i perspectiva de gènere presons. Mesura 10 del Pla de Xoc Prevenció suïcidis al centres penitenciaris Catalans de la SMPRAV.
Leader
Gemma Escuder Romeva
Funding entities:
Generalitat de Catalunya Centre d'estudis Jurídics i Formació Especialitzada
Code
CEJFE-2025-49
Starting - finishing date:
2025 - 2025
Project name:
Ajuts Joan Oró per a la contractació de personal investigador predoctoral en formació (FI 2024). Beneficiari: Jordi Regueiro
Leader
Beatriz Olaya Guzmán, Maria Elena Huerta Ramos
Funding entities:
Agaur - Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca
Code
2024 FI-1 00864
Starting - finishing date:
2024 - 2027
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Theses

  • Resiliència i suport social percebut en persones amb un primer episodi psicòtic
    Author
    Serra Arumí, Clara
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD DE BARCELONA
    14/01/2025
  • El biaix de saltar a conclusions i la metacognició en persones amb psicosi
    Author
    Diaz Cutraro, Luciana Beatriz
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD RAMÓN LLULL
    30/10/2024
  • Vías moleculares implicadas en la formación de gotas lipídicas en psicosis
    Institution
    UNIVERSIDAD DE VIC-UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE CATALUNYA
    24/05/2024
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