The research group is jointly led by Marianne Bonnert and Josefin Särnholm.
Our research focuses on psychological and behavioral mechanisms that influence health, illness, functioning, and quality of life across the lifespan. Our work lies at the intersection of behavioral medicine, psychiatry, and clinical psychology and encompasses the development and evaluation of psychological interventions for physical and psychiatric conditions.
Mental health in cardiovascular and respiratory disease
A major focus of our research is the interplay between mental health and cardiovascular and respiratory disease. We study children and adults with asthma and adults with cardiovascular disease, including patients following acute coronary syndromes and cardiac surgery.
We investigate how psychological and behavioral factors are associated with symptom burden, functioning, treatment adherence, health care utilization, and health-related quality of life. A particular focus is on potentially modifiable mechanisms, including fear, avoidance, and health behaviors.
We also study the bidirectional relationship between physical and mental health. Our research encompasses both mental health in the context of physical illness and physical health in people with psychiatric conditions, with a particular focus on shared and modifiable psychological and behavioral mechanisms.
Our research also incorporates family and caregiver perspectives. We study parent–child interactions in the context of chronic health conditions, behavioral problems in children, and how illness affects mental health and recovery among patients and their families and caregivers.
From mechanisms to treatment
Building on knowledge of modifiable mechanisms, we develop and evaluate evidence-based psychological and behavioral interventions for children and adults. A central area of our research is disease-specific cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that complements medical treatment and aims to improve health, functioning, recovery, and quality of life.
We also develop digital and scalable interventions to increase access to effective psychological treatment. We study how evidence-based interventions can be implemented and integrated into health care and adapted to the needs and circumstances of different populations, including age and developmental stage, language, and cultural context.
Our overarching goal is to improve physical and mental health by identifying modifiable psychological and behavioral mechanisms and developing effective and accessible interventions across the lifespan.
Research areas
· Behavioral medicine in physical illness, with a particular focus on cardiovascular and respiratory disease
· Physical and mental health in physical and psychiatric conditions
· Fear, avoidance, and health behaviors
· Interoception and symptom perception
· Children, parents, and caregivers in the context of illness and behavioral problems
· Cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based interventions
· Digital and scalable psychological interventions
· Implementation of and access to evidence-based psychological treatment
· Psychometrics and patient-reported outcomes