Katalin Gémes

Katalin Gémes

Principal Researcher
Visiting address: Avd försäkringsmedicin, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm
Postal address: K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 Fm Mittendorfer-Rutz, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • I have a background in public health epidemiology and research experience in the field of survey- and register-based research, cardiovascular and psychiatric epidemiology, and insurance medicine. My research interest involves investigating the interrelations between somatic and mental health, as well as sustainable working life, using a combination of register and survey data. My current projects in the MENTE research group involve the investigation of risk factors related to labor market marginalization among individuals on sick leave due to common mental disorders, and investigating work and other risk factors for hazardous alcohol use. 

Research

  • My research interests covers:

    • the understanding of the interactions between health- and work-related factors in relation to sustainable working life
    • gaining knowledge on which factors can contribute to a sustainable working life among individuals with chronic health problems
    • exploring the possibilites of using register and survey data to answer questions that can help to improve health and work-related outcomes in these populations. 

Teaching

  • I am a regular lecturer at the Public Health Epidemiology Master Program

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 January 2023 - 31 December 2025
    Research problem and specific questionsKnowledge is limited on the role of multimorbidity, work-related and social factors as well as treatment on the path to labor market marginalization after sick leave due to common mental disorders (CMDs), i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress-related disorders. This project aims to gain knowledge on how (1) social- and work-related factors, multi-morbidity, and (2) sick-leave patterns and treatment are associated with subsequent labor market marginalization after sick leave due to CMDs.Data and methodWe will use individually linked Swedish register data. Individuals, between the age of 21-50, residing in Sweden in 2006-09 (n=3,661,300), and among them those who started sick leave due to CMDs (49,903) will be included and followed regarding labor market outcomes. We will use sequence analysis and multi-state models to examine labor market marginalization patterns and transitions between labor market states in relation to prognostic factors after sick leave due to CMDs. Furthermore, all individuals living in the Stockholm region in 2014-19 (n=1,215,437) will form an additional study base. Network- and regression analyses will be used to examine the association between multi-morbidity patterns, treatment options and labor market marginalization.Plan for project realizationThis interdisciplinary project involves international collaborations analyzing data that has already been acquired. The three year project budget will cover 50% of the salaries for a postdoctoral researcher and the main applicant, 5% of salaries for co-applicants and costs including drug use modeling, data management, administrative costs such as knowledge exchange and dissemination, publication and premises.RelevanceThere is a large number of individuals with work disability and sick leave due to CMDs in Europe and in Sweden. Keeping individuals in the labor market and avoiding their labor market marginalization after sick leave due to CMDs is important both from a societal and an individual’s perspective and for achieving sustainable working life goals. Knowledge on risk factors and treatment can provide the basis for tailor-made, person-centered interventions.

Employments

  • Principal Researcher, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-
  • Research Specialist, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2025
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2021-2024

Degrees and Education

  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, 2018

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