Towards Horizon 2020: challenges and advances for clinical mental health research – outcome of an expert survey

Figures & data

Figure 1 European countries represented by the sample of respondents.

Table 1 General challenges for clinical mental health research

Challenges	Rating
1. Development of new treatment interventions (pharmacological, brain-related [eg, deep brain stimulation], psychotherapeutic, systemic, psychosocial, e-Health/m-Health approaches and virtual reality/gamification or a combination of these, for mental disorders	3.6
2. Exploring the mechanisms of diseases	3.5
3. Evaluation of treatment effects	3.4
4. Proof of concept clinical trials for innovative treatments	3.3
5. Role of comorbidity between mental disorders and somatic conditions for diagnoses, treatment decisions, and treatment and patient-related outcomes	3.3

Notes: Number of respondents: 87. Complete rating table experts first round: 23 items. Range 2.6–3.6.

Table 2 Methodological challenges for clinical mental health research

Challenges	Rating
1. Design of psychotherapeutic intervention studies	73%
2. Design of patient preference studies	51%
3. Design of psychopharmacological intervention studies	46%
4. Use of placebos in clinical research	41%
5. Performing cohort studies in clinical populations	41%

Notes: Number of respondents: 84. Complete methodological rating table experts first round: 11 items. Range 2%–73%.

Table 3 Top three policies needed to meet the gaps in clinical research in Europe

1. Funding for independent (multinational) clinical trials in Horizon 2020	2.77
2. National funding for independent clinical trials	2.68
3. Adoption of common outcome measures in line with the patients’ expectations	2.48

Notes: Number of respondents: 87. Complete rating table experts first round: 10 items. Range 2.2–2.77.