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Psychiatry researcher receives talent award for his research into depression

Fredrik Hieronymus from Aarhus University conducts research into the effect of pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia. He has now received the Rafaelsen Young Investigators Award in recognition of his efforts and potential.

2019.10.15 | Sabina Bjerre Hansen

Professor and president of the CINP Siegfried Kasper from the Medical University of Vienna presented the award to Fredrik Hieronymus at The International College of Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP) annual conference, which was held in Athens this year. Photo: @Ryszarda Burmicz.

Professor and president of the CINP Siegfried Kasper from the Medical University of Vienna presented the award to Fredrik Hieronymus at The International College of Neuropsychopharmacology (CINP) annual conference, which was held in Athens this year. Photo: @Ryszarda Burmicz.

How can we assess the effects – both beneficial and detrimental – of the medication used to treat depression and schizophrenia? This is the question which Postdoc Fredrik Hieronymus from the Department of Clinical Medicine at Aarhus University has set out to answer.

When medical doctors need to measure the effect of treatment of e.g. diabetes or high blood pressure, they utilise easily measurable biological parameters. However, this is not the case when it comes to psychiatric disorders. Here, the medical doctors must measure the effect of treatment using structured interviews and observations, and this poses some particular challenges. Among these is the fact that the symptoms of depression and schizophrenia are similar to some of the side effects that may accompany treatment with antidepressant and antipsychotic medication. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the desired effects of the medication and their side effects.

Fredrik Hieronymus hopes that he – by analysing data from clinical trials in a new and more detailed way – will be able to contribute with greater insight into how antidepressant and antipsychotic medication works, and that this can in turn lead to improved treatment of patients suffering from psychiatric disorders.

Contact

Postdoc & PhD Fredrik Hieronymus
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine
Mobile: (+46) 707995859
Email: fredrik.hieronymus@clin.au.dk

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