Research

About

The Mental Health and Illness research group is co-directed by two principal investigators: Dr Crisanto Díez-Quevedo (MD, PhD) and Dr Maria Iglesias-González (MD, PhD), representing the generational transition from a past time when psychiatric research at the center was based mainly on collaborations with other in-hospital and external groups, to the construction in the last 4 years of a large mental health professionals group involving young researchers coming from different centers throughout Spain.

This group has a clear translational perspective that includes both psychiatrists and psychologists, with the collaboration of other mental health professionals. Its work is carried out in collaboration with other clinical and research departments (Pediatrics, Obstetrics-Gynecology, Endocrinology, Immunology, Nephrology, Neurology, Pneumology, among others).

The group is located in different assistance devices of the Psychiatry Service at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital (HUGTiP) and is also affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine). Similarly, two of its members (MI-G and JC-E) are part of the CIBER ISCIII network (CIBERSAM - mental health & CIBERESP - public health).

The group is working on different lines of research, both in the adult population and in the child-adolescent population, deepening into the etiopathogenic knowledge, diagnostic capacity and therapeutic algorithms of various mental illnesses.

Keywords: mental health, psychiatric research, mental illness.

Mental Health and Illness research group

Research lines

Innovation in acute psychiatric hospitalization

PI: Jorge Cuevas-Esteban

We assess and implement different new interventional approaches for psychiatric hospitalization like Safewards, open doors, sensory therapies, physical activity, immersive reality, user participation, healthy habits, zero restraint, and others.

Catatonia & delirium

PI: Jorge Cuevas-Esteban & Maria Iglesias-González

We assess several aspects of etiology, detection with clinical scales, and treatment of catatonic symptoms across different diagnostic categories, as well as delirium during medical or surgical hospitalization.

Inflammation and affective disorders

PI: Maria Iglesias-González

This line of research aims to study the relationship between inflammatory markers and the presence of psychopathological symptoms in patients with major depression, as well as develop predictors of response to antidepressant treatment. The main objective is to be able to address the biological heterogeneity of depressive disorders and allow a precision approach in psychiatry.

Neurodevelopmental disorders

PI: Maria Giralt-López

We study early markers of environmental and genetic risk to disentangle the vulnerability pathway to different neurodevelopmental disorders (schizophrenia, autism, ADHD).

Perinatal mental health

PI: Maria Giralt-López

We study women's mental health during pregnancy and postpartum and their impact on fetus and child. Also, we assess the impact of mental disorders during the perinatal period on obstetric and perinatal outcomes.

Health psychology

PI: Teresa Rangil

We study and implement clinical psychological interventions to improve health and health perception in several medical disorders (transplantation, epilepsy, rare diseases, etc.).

Active projects

Hospitalización de puertas abiertas en psiquiatría: validación y reproducción del modelo Can Ruti - PORTES OBERTES

PI: Jorge Cuevas-Esteban
Funding agency: Institut Català de la Salut (ICS). Fons Llegat JMC - Unitat de Projectes Estratègics de la Gerència Territorial Metropolitana Nord (GTMN)
Agency code: 2022_31
Start date: 2022
End date: 2024

Alteraciones cerebrales, neuroendocrinas e inflamatorias en la depresión perinatal, cuál es su asociación y cómo influyen en la descendencia

PI: Daniel Bergé Baquero (IMIM). Team researchers: Pilar Mundo Cid, Maria Giralt López
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI21/00018
Start date: 2022
End date: 2024

Estudio sobre la transferencia maternofilial de Δ9- tetrahidrocannabinol (THC) a través de leche materna en mujeres postparto con consumo habitual de cannabis. Correlación entre muestras de leche materna, orina y saliva durante el período inicial de la lactancia

PI: Laura Grau (VHIR). Team researchers: Maria Giralt López
Funding agency: Ministerio de Sanidad - Plan Nacional sobre Drogas
Start date: 2022
End date: 2024

Implication of male fetal microchimerism in female depression: translational studies in women and in an animal model

PI: Maria Patricia Robledo Montoya (IMIM). Team researchers: Maria Giralt López
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI22/00018
Start date: 2022
End date: 2024

Predicting diagnosis on first-episode psychosis through fingerprints, genomics and deep learning algorithms

PI: M Fatjó-Vilas. Team researchers: Maria Giralt López, Monica Moreira Martínez & Jorge Cuevas Esteban
Funding agency: CIBER de Salud Mental, Intramural Joint Research and Development Project
Start date: 2022
End date: 2024

Neurodevelopment markers and schizophrenia: analysis of their shared genetic underpinnings and the modulation effect of prenatal stress

FIDMAG Research Foundation. Team researchers: Mónica Moreira Martínez, Maria Giralt López
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI20/01002
Start date: 2021
End date: 2023

Personalized medicine in Neurofibromatosis type 2: improving the genetic diagnosis, the evaluation of the quality of life and the generation of schwannoma iPSC-derived cell model

PI: Elisabeth Castellanos & Ignacio Blanco (IGTP). Team researchers: Teresa Rangil Muñoz
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI20/00215
Start date: 2021
End date: 2023

Ensayo clínico sobre los efectos de un entrenamiento de habilitades en síntomas de larga evolución en pacientes con Trastorno Límite de Personalidad

PI: IIB Sant Pau. Team researchers: Sara González Simarro
Funding agency: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Agency code: PI19/00087
Start date: 2020
End date: 2022

Scientific publications

Vicent-Gil M, González-Simarro S, Raventós B, Vera J, Marín Martínez ED, Sabaté-Cao C, Pérez-Blanco J, Puigdemont D, de Diego-Adeliño J, Alemany C, Serra-Blasco M, Cardoner N, Portella MJ. Randomized clinical trial of integral cognitive remediation program for major depression (INCREM). J Affect Disord. 2022 Aug 1;310:189-197. DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.05.016.

Mendoza-García S, García-Mieres H, Lopez-Carrilero R, Sevilla-Lewellyn-Jones J, Birulés I, Barajas A, Lorente-Rovira E, Gutiérrez-Zotes A, Grasa E, Pousa E, Pelaéz T, Barrigón ML, González-Higueras F, Ruiz-Delgado I, Cid J, Montserrat R, Martin-Iñigo L, Moreno-Kustner B, Vila-Bbadía R, Díaz-Cutraro L, Verdaguer-Rodríguez M, Ferrer-Quintero M, Punsoda-Puche P, Barrau-Sastre P, Moritz S, Ochoa S. Influence of Maternal and Paternal History of Mental Health in Clinical, Social Cognition and Metacognitive Variables in People with First-Episode Psychosis. J Pers Med. 2022 Oct 18;12(10):1732. DOI: 10.3390/jpm12101732.

Canal-Rivero M, Silva C, Obiols-Llandrich JE, García-Bernal C, García-Sanchez C, Bustos-Cardona T, Joiner TE, Crespo-Facorro B, Ruiz-Veguilla M. Toward Understanding of Suicidality in a Spanish Clinical Population: Validation of the European Spanish Version of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire. Psychopathology. 2022;55(1):16-27. DOI: 10.1159/000519792.

Cuevas-Esteban J, Romero E, Moreno-Orea A, Ibáñez-Caparrós A, Bustos-Cardona T, Martínez-Cirera B, Pablo J. 2022: IS IT TIME TO OPEN THE DOORS IN THE ACUTE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALISATION? Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2022 Jul;50(4):206-207. PMID: 35867487. Article

Vila-Badia R, Kaplan M, Butjosa A, Del Cacho N, Serra-Arumí C, Colomer-Salvans A, Esteban-Sanjusto M, Iglesias-González M, Cuñat O, Del Hoyo-Buxo B, Profep G, Usall J. Suicidal behaviour in first-episode psychosis: The relevance of age, perceived stress and depressive symptoms. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2022 Jul;29(4):1364-1373. DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2716.

Spitaleri G, Zamora E, Cediel G, Codina P, Santiago-Vacas E, Domingo M, Lupón J, Santesmases J, Diez-Quevedo C, Troya MI, Boldo M, Altimir S, Alonso N, González B, Bayes-Genis A. Cause of Death in Heart Failure Based on Etiology: Long-Term Cohort Study of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality. J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 31;11(3):784. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030784.

Giné-Servén E, Serra-Mestres J, Martinez-Ramirez M, Boix-Quintana E, Davi-Loscos E, Guanyabens N, Casado V, Muriana D, Torres-Rivas C, Cuevas-Esteban J, Labad J. Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis in older adults: A systematic review of case reports. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2022 Jan-Feb;74:71-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.11.006.

Vila-Badia R, Del Cacho N, Butjosa A, Serra Arumí C, Esteban Santjusto M, Abella M, Cuevas-Esteban J, Morelló G, Pardo M, Muñoz-Samons D; Group PROFEP; Usall J. Prevalence and types of childhood trauma in first episode psychosis patients. Relation with clinical onset variables. J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Feb;146:102-108. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.033.

Iglesias-González M, Boigues M, Sanagustin D, Giralt-López M, Cuevas-Esteban J, Martínez-Cáceres E, Díez-Quevedo C. Association of serum interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein with depressive and adjustment disorders in COVID-19 inpatients. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2022 Feb;19:100405. DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2021.100405.

Gil-Girbau M, Peñarrubia-Maria MT, Carbonell-Simeón D, Rodríguez-Ferraz B, Contaldo SF, Iglesias-González M, Fernández-Vergel R, Blanco-García E, Baladon-Higuera L, Serrano-Blanco A, Rubio-Valera M. Assessment of a Primary Support Program: family physicians and mental health professionals' perspective. Fam Pract. 2022 Sep 24;39(5):920-931. DOI: 10.1093/fampra/cmac013.

Cuevas-Esteban J, Sanagustin D, Iglesias-González M. Catatonia: Back to the future of the neuropsychiatric syndrome. Med Clin (Barc). 2022 Apr 22;158(8):369-377. DOI: 10.1016/j.medcli.2021.10.015.

Solé-Morata N, Baenas I, Etxandi M, Granero R, Forcales SV, Gené M, Barrot C, Gómez-Peña M, Menchón JM, Ramoz N, Gorwood P, Fernández-Aranda F, Jiménez-Murcia S. The role of neurotrophin genes involved in the vulnerability to gambling disorder. Sci Rep. 2022 Apr 28;12(1):6925. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10391-w.

Serrat F, Iglesias-Gónzalez M, Sanagustin D, Etxandi M, de Pablo J, Cuevas-Esteban J. Catatonia and Cognitive Impairments: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Jun 30;13:877566. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.877566.

Almodóvar-Payá C, Guardiola-Ripoll M, Giralt-López M, Gallego C, Salgado-Pineda P, Miret S, Salvador R, Muñoz MJ, Lázaro L, Guerrero-Pedraza A, Parellada M, Carrión MI, Cuesta MJ, Maristany T, Sarró S, Fañanás L, Callado LF, Arias B, Pomarol-Clotet E, Fatjó-Vilas M. NRN1 Gene as a Potential Marker of Early-Onset Schizophrenia: Evidence from Genetic and Neuroimaging Approaches. Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 5;23(13):7456. DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137456.

Harel D, Levis B, Sun Y, Fischer F, Ioannidis JPA, Cuijpers P, Patten SB, Ziegelstein RC, Markham S, Benedetti A, Thombs BD; DEPRESsion Screening Data DEPRESSD PHQ Collaboration. External validation of a shortened screening tool using individual participant data meta-analysis: A case study of the Patient Health Questionnaire-Dep-4. Methods. 2022 Aug;204:300-311. DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2021.11.005.

Etxandi M, Baenas I, Munguía L, Mestre-Bach G, Granero R, Gómez-Peña M, Moragas L, Del Pino-Gutiérrez A, Codina E, Mora-Maltas B, Valenciano-Mendoza E, Potenza MN, Gearhardt AN, Fernández-Aranda F, Jiménez-Murcia S. Clinical Features of Gambling Disorder Patients with and Without Food Addiction: Gender-Related Considerations. J Gambl Stud. 2022 Sep;38(3):843-862. DOI: 10.1007/s10899-021-10071-w.

Diago M, Vila-Badia R, Serra-Arumí C, Butjosa A, Del Cacho N, Esteban Sanjusto M, Colomer-Salvans A, Sánchez L, Dolz M, Muñoz-Samons D, Profep G, Usall J. Emotional abuse and perceived stress: The most relevant factors in suicide behavior in first-episode psychosis patients. Psychiatry Res. 2022 Sep;315:114699. DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114699.

Nicolás-López M, González-Álvarez P, Sala de la Concepción A, Giralt-López M, Lorente B, Velasco I, Wichner PSV, Ginovart G. Maternal mental health and breastfeeding amidst the Covid-19 pandemic: cross-sectional study in Catalonia (Spain). BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2022 Sep 26;22(1):733. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-05036-9.

Gonzalez-Aumatell A, Bovo MV, Carreras-Abad C, Cuso-Perez S, Domènech Marsal È, Coll-Fernández R, Goicoechea Calvo A, Giralt-López M, Enseñat Cantallops A, Moron-Lopez S, Martinez-Picado J, Sol Ventura P, Rodrigo C, Méndez Hernández M. Social, Academic, and Health Status Impact of Long COVID on Children and Young People: An Observational, Descriptive, and Longitudinal Cohort Study. Children (Basel). 2022 Oct 31;9(11):1677. DOI: 10.3390/children9111677.

Etxandi M, Baenas I, Mora-Maltas B, Granero R, Fernández-Aranda F, Tovar S, Solé-Morata N, Lucas I, Casado S, Gómez-Peña M, Moragas L, Pino-Gutiérrez AD, Codina E, Valenciano-Mendoza E, Potenza MN, Diéguez C, Jiménez-Murcia S. Are Signals Regulating Energy Homeostasis Related to Neuropsychological and Clinical Features of Gambling Disorder? A Case-Control Study. Nutrients. 2022 Nov 29;14(23):5084. DOI: 10.3390/nu14235084.

Vila-Badia R, Serra-Arumí C, Butjosa A, Del Cacho N, Abella M, Colomer-Salvans A, Cuevas-Esteban J, Alcalde R, Muñoz-Samons D, Bogas JL, Usall J; G. PROFEP. Risk and protective factors for the appearance of first-episode psychosis: The role of childhood trauma and coping strategies. Asian J Psychiatr. 2022 Dec;78:103284. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103284.

Lara-Huallipe ML, Granero R, Fernández-Aranda F, Gómez-Peña M, Moragas L, Del Pino-Gutierrez A, Valenciano-Mendoza E, Mora-Maltas B, Baenas I, Etxandi M, Menchón JM, Jiménez-Murcia S. Clustering Treatment Outcomes in Women with Gambling Disorder. J Gambl Stud. 2022 Dec;38(4):1469-1491. doi: 10.1007/s10899-021-10092-5.

Cuevas-Esteban J, Serra-Mestres J, Grover S, Jaimes-Albornoz W. Editorial: Catatonia across the lifespan. Front Psychiatry. 2022 Dec 12;13:1048715. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1048715.

Mental Health and Illness Group Publications

Contact

Crisanto Díez Quevedo