Significant research collaboration

Child Morbidity

This study investigates the epidemiology, treatment, and factors associated with resilience and recovery in physical and mental health disorders among Finnish children and adolescents. The research data consists of a nationwide cohort including all children born in Finland between 2001 and 2006 (n = 340,000) and their biological parents.

The study examines a range of current and clinically relevant topics, including changes in the incidence of ADHD during the 2000s, the association between parental mental health disorders and childhood asthma, and the intergenerational transmission of eating disorders. The overarching aim is to improve understanding of the factors that influence the development, treatment, and outcomes of physical and mental health conditions among children and young people.

Website: Child Morbidity

Trauma–adapted yoga as complementary care intervention in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. A multicenter international study.

This study examines the benefits of trauma-adapted yoga as an adjunctive treatment for ADHD among adolescents aged 12–18 years receiving care at the Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital (TYKS). The study is part of an international multicenter research project coordinated by University West in Sweden. The university is also conducting broader research on the use of trauma-adapted yoga in various settings: Yoga to Care

Approximately 180 adolescents will be recruited for the study, including more than 40 participants from Finland. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an immediate-start group or a delayed-start group that begins the intervention after an eight-week waiting period. However, all participants will receive the same eight-week yoga intervention. Participation in the study does not affect any other treatment the adolescent may be receiving; rather, the yoga intervention is provided as an additional element that complements standard care.

The intervention aims to promote balance, calm the body through breathing techniques, and strengthen mental well-being. It seeks to improve self-regulation and enhance the connection between participants’ bodies and minds. The yoga group meets once a week, and the sessions include warm-up exercises, movement, balance training, and relaxation practices. Participation is voluntary, and no prior experience with yoga is required. Participants complete questionnaires on three occasions during the study, and a parent or guardian of each participant also completes a questionnaire as part of the research protocol.

Participant recruitment is about to begin, and the intervention groups will be conducted between 2026 and 2027.

Contact information: Researcher Tiina Alihanka (tiina.alihanka@varha.fi) ja Max Karukivi (max.karukivi@utu.fi)

FLT-Step

This study examines the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatments for depression and anxiety in primary health care. The psychosocial interventions under investigation are being delivered on a large scale across several wellbeing services counties in Finland.

The study is coordinated by Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), while the Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County (Varha) is responsible for coordinating activities within the Western Finland collaborative area. In addition to Varha, the study involves eight other wellbeing services counties, the City of Helsinki, and the Universities of Helsinki, Turku, and Tampere.

The research team at the University of Turku and Varha is particularly focused on evaluating the effectiveness of these interventions among adolescents. The aim is to generate evidence on both clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness to support the development and implementation of mental health services in primary care.

LANUPS and NEPSOS

Researchers in adolescent psychiatry have collaborated with researchers in social work and special education to study young people who are simultaneously involved with adolescent psychiatric services and child welfare services through multidisciplinary research projects.

In 2021–2022, we conducted the research project Joint Research and Development in Child Welfare Social Work and Adolescent Psychiatry (LANUPS). The collaboration continued in 2023–2024 through the project Adolescents with Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in the Service System: A Joint Study of Social Work, Adolescent Psychiatry, and Special Education (NEPSOS).

Both research projects were funded by the Finnish Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The findings from both projects continue to be actively disseminated through ongoing scientific reporting and publication activities.

FinnBrain

FinnBrain is a longitudinal research project launched in 2010 to investigate the effects of environmental and genetic factors on child development and health. Participating families were recruited during pregnancy, and the study adopts a highly multidisciplinary approach to examining how a wide range of factors influence the well-being of children and their families. The project is designed to continue over several decades, enabling the long-term study of developmental trajectories and health outcomes.

Our research collaboration has focused particularly on alexithymia, as well as more broadly on the relationships between psychological factors and both mental and physical well-being. The children participating in the FinnBrain cohort are now entering adolescence, creating new opportunities to investigate developmental processes and mental health during this important life stage.

Website: FinnBrain

PIPARI

PIPARI is a longitudinal follow-up study initiated in 2001 at the Department of Pediatrics of Turku University Hospital. The study follows the development of 478 children (232 very preterm infants and 246 full-term control participants) from birth into adulthood.

The primary objectives of the study are to investigate the impact of prenatal risk factors on long-term developmental outcomes and to examine how early developmental trajectories influence later development. The participants most recently took part in a follow-up assessment at the age of 17 years. In collaboration with our research partners, we are currently examining how the aforementioned factors are associated with adolescents’ well-being as they transition into adulthood.

Website: PIPARI

IMAGINE

The IMAGINE project aims to ensure equitable access to effective low-threshold mental health services for young people and to support their participation in society despite mental health challenges. The project implements and establishes evidence-based interventions designed for adolescents, with the goal of preventing mental health problems and providing early treatment.
The project also evaluates the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and implementation of these interventions within the Finnish service system. Our collaboration focuses particularly on investigating the effectiveness of Interpersonal Counselling for Adolescents (IPC-A) and supporting its implementation within the Southwest Finland Wellbeing Services County (Varha).

Website: IMAGINE