title: Towards Horizon 2020: challenges and advances for clinical mental health research - outcome of an expert survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The size and increasing burden of disease due to mental disorders in Europe poses substantial challenges to its population and to the health policy of the European Union. This warrants a specific research agenda concerning clinical mental health research as one of the cornerstones of sustainable mental health research and health policy in Europe. The aim of this research was to identify the top priorities needed to address the main challenges in clinical research for mental disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research was conducted as an expert survey and expert panel discussion during a scientific workshop.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-nine experts in clinical research and representing most European countries participated in this survey. Identified top priorities were the need for new intervention studies, understanding the diagnostic and therapeutic implications of mechanisms of disease, and research in the field of somatic-psychiatric comorbidity. The "subjectivity gap" between basic neuroscience research and clinical reality for patients with mental disorders is considered the main challenge in psychiatric research, suggesting that a shift in research paradigms is required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Innovations in clinical mental health research should bridge the gap between mechanisms underlying novel therapeutic interventions and the patient experience of mental disorder and, if present, somatic comorbidity. Clinical mental health research is relatively underfunded and should receive specific attention in Horizon 2020 funding programs.
authors: Trimbos Instituut, Utrecht, the Netherlands ; Tilburg University, Tranzo Department, Tilburg, the Netherlands ; GGz Breburg, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
authors: Christina M
authors: CM
authors: van der Feltz-Cornelis
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, Euron, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands ; Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: Jim
authors: J
authors: van Os
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Knappe
authors: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: Gunter
authors: G
authors: Schumann
authors: Institute of Neuroscience, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: Eduard
authors: E
authors: Vieta
authors: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Center for Epidemiology and Longitudinal Studies, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors: Hans-Ulrich
authors: HU
authors: Wittchen
authors: Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors: Shôn W
authors: SW
authors: Lewis
authors: Tilburg University, Tranzo Department, Tilburg, the Netherlands ; Department of Health Promotion/School of Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors: Iman
authors: I
authors: Elfeddali
authors: The Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden ; National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.
authors: Kristian
authors: K
authors: Wahlbeck
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, Euron, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
authors: Donald
authors: D
authors: Linszen
authors: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain ; Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain.
authors: Carla
authors: C
authors: Obradors-Tarragó
authors: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental, Madrid, Spain ; Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain ; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors: Josep Maria
authors: JM
authors: Haro
keywords: Europe; Horizon 2020; challenge; clinical research; expert survey; mental health; randomized clinical trials; research agenda