Luleå University of Technology helps shape the future of psychiatric care

When the National Board of Health and Welfare is now developing new national guidelines for the treatment of psychiatric conditions, Alexander Rozental, professor of psychology at Luleå University of Technology, is part of the project group. The work will last until 2028 and is expected to have a major impact on how care is organized and prioritized throughout the country.

The national guidelines are one of the National Board of Health and Welfare's most important tools for guiding decision-makers in the regions. They influence which treatment methods are recommended, how resources are allocated and which interventions should be prioritized.
“The purpose is that the care should be as effective, equitable and healthful as possible for as many people as possible,” says Alexander Rozental, Professor of Psychology at Luleå University of Technology.

Previously, the National Board of Health and Welfare has developed guidelines for individual diagnoses, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and schizophrenia. This time a change is made. Now a common framework is being developed that covers psychiatric conditions more comprehensively.
“Previously, there have been different guidelines and different priorities for different conditions, making it difficult to get an overall picture. The aim now is to harmonize the guidelines so that care can be prioritized in a fairer and more thoughtful way,” says Alexander Rozental.

The background is that research has progressed rapidly since the latest guidelines were published in 2018. New treatment methods have been added, while others have proved less effective. The update will therefore be an important step in ensuring that care is based on the latest scientific knowledge.
“Research is constantly evolving and so must the guidelines. We need to make sure that resources are used where they will do the most good,” says Alexander Rozental.

As a representative of Norrbotten and sparsely populated areas, he has a special task in the project group.
“The conditions for following the guidelines can be very different in the country. In northern Sweden, there are far fewer psychologists and it can be difficult to recruit staff. So we need to think about how treatments can be adapted, for example through digital solutions or internet-based therapy,” explains Alexander Rozental.

He hopes to contribute with concrete experiences from the northern healthcare region and raise issues that otherwise risk being overlooked.
“It is important that the guidelines reflect reality and work even where distances are great. It is important to create the conditions for them to be complied with in practice,” says Alexander Rozental.

That Luleå University of Technology is involved in the work, he sees as a clear signal that the university's research and knowledge play a role in the national context.
“It is valuable that the National Board of Health and Welfare wants to include us in the process. We have a close collaboration with Region Norrbotten and a good understanding of the needs that exist here. This means that we can contribute with perspectives that are otherwise easily forgotten in a country where much research and decision-making takes place in the big cities,” says Alexander Rozental.