Research projects at Osher Center for Integrative Health
At the Center, we apply interdisciplinary and trans-diagnostic perspectives to investigate determinants of well-being in relation to somatic as well as psychiatric health conditions. Such perspectives are applied to optimize and complement clinical care to better meet the needs of the whole person.
Body-brain/behavior interactions in health and disease
The goal is to understand and when applicable treat especially inflammation-related suffering across mental and somatic disorders, by providing further evidence of the psychobiological mechanisms underlying subjective health.
We do this by collecting clinical data on different levels of observations (blood markers, brain functions, behavior and subjective feelings) from patients with chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, severe seasonal allergy, depression, and complicated fatigue. We complement these studies by experimental work, using an experimental model of inflammation, called experimental endotoxemia. By triggering a large range of bodily, brain, and behavioral changes during a few hours, we investigate the role of brain-body processes in symptoms that are relevant across diagnoses (e.g. fatigue, motivational alterations, anxiety, negative mood). Withing this framework of understanding, we also investigate non-specific aspects and placebo aspects of care, such as the patient-provider interaction, on health outcomes.
Contact persons: Mats Lekander and Julie Lasselin
Non-pharmacological treatments in primary care
We aim to contribute to the development and implementation of treatment for patients with sleep problems, and stress- and fatigue-related disorders. To accomplish this, a health systems perspective is applied, including work to develop and standardize the use of patient-reported outcomes. The center has no clinical practice of its own, but we collaborate closely with care units, especially at the Gustavsberg’s University primary care clinic outside Stockholm. We are presently running a large internet-based study of 300 patients with adjustment- or exhaustion disorder, including measures of cognitive functioning and sick-leave in addition to symptoms and functioning. We also study patients with severe fatigue across diagnostic groups. This trans-diagnostic approach is related both to longitudinal characterization and intervention studies, combining objective and subjective outcomes on different levels of observation.
Contact person: Victoria Sennerstam, Elin Lindsäter and Erik Hedman-Lagerlöf
Information support in healthcare in the interest of patient values
The goal is to develop health systems that benefit the patients by being less time-consuming and having the patient taken better care of as core values. The use of a patient-centered information model and data annotation that focus on the care pathway allows to support the patient care path by better service to health care professionals. This in turn leads to lower variability in health and better health equity.
Contact person: Martin Ingvar