Progress in research at the cibersam's Affective disorders programme of the University of Barcelona Hospital Clinic.

Abstract

The affective disorders programme at the University of Barcelona Hospital Clinic involves two separate subgroups according to their research target: the Unipolar Depression subgroup and the Barcelona Bipolar Disorders Programme. Both are part of the Spanish "Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red en Salud Mental" (CIBERSAM), which is a Virtual Center of Network Research in Mental Health and Psychiatry, which has gathered the best research groups in Psychiatry and related disciplines in Spain. The Clinic-Affective Disorders research group has focused on the neurobiology (genetics, biomarkers, neuropsychology, neuroimaging), epidemiology (clinical subtypes, comorbidity, psychometric assessment, functionality), and treatment of bipolar and unipolar affective disorders (including pharmacological, biophysical, and psychosocial strategies). It has an outstanding and long tradition of collaborative research with national and international groups, and publishes over 60 original articles per year based on research findings, many of which have had significant impact on clinical practice.