Veronica Jackson

Dr Jackson is a board-certified specialist in Cardiothoracic surgery and Psychiatry at Konsultenheten, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm and a docent in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet. Dr Jacksons clinical and academical interest lies within the field of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, and her research focuses on psychiatric comorbidity in cardiothoracic surgery patients. The project aims improve clinical outcomes and care for patients with co-existing physical and mental illness.

Psychiatric comorbidity in cardiovascular disease and cancer

Psychological distress is common in patient with cardiovascular disease and cancer.  Both pre-existing and newly developed psychological symptoms can affect physical health outcomes negatively. Furthermore, individuals with severe mental illness have an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Physical and mental illnesses often co-exist but are frequently addressed separately, both clinically and academically. The research project focuses on psychiatric comorbidity in cardiothoracic surgery patients. In conjunct with epidemiological and experimental methods biopsychosocial analyses are used to investigate the research questions. The aim is to increase the understanding of the body-mind connection and that the new knowledge may serve as a bridge between these widely separated fields of expertise. Ultimately, the project aims to improve care for patients with co-existing physical and mental illness.

Research Group: Thoracic Surgery, MMK, KI
http://ki.se/en/mmk/thoracic-surgery