Centrum för Evidensbaserade Psykosociala Insatser, CEPI

CEPI activities 2007-2011

CEPI is a Swedish National centre, which started in 2007 and has a funding for five years, in total SEK 20 million. The centre is financed by the Swedish government and the Swedish Board of Health and Welfare and the main mission is to initiate and carry out research in the field of psychosocial interventions and life situation in the community for people with a severe mental illness.

Other aims and tasks within the field are to:
• Initiate and maintain a national network of researchers
• Promote dissemination of research
• Be a source of information for users, staff and researchers
• Promote an international exchange and collaboration in scientific studies
• Arrange seminars and national conferences
• Support education and further training of mental health staff
• Initiate and participate in implementation of evidence based psychosocial interventions
• Have a user orientation in research and implementation issues

CEPI has its organizational base at Lund University but is acting in cooperation with researchers at Kristianstad, Malmö, Umeå and Linné universities.

CEPI has an advisory board with representatives from Swedish Universities, the National Board of Health and Welfare, user organizations and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

CEPI has trained and organized a user panel consisting of people with personal experiences of mental illness, which is used as a support an important tool in developing and carrying through research projects.

CEPI has identified three prioritized research areas for the five year period. The first priority concerned areas with a well-developed practice, but where the scientific development was weak, Example of such areas are daily occupation for people with mental illness and supported housing

The second research priority concerned psychosocial interventions with good evidence but still a lacking dissemination into practice, which called for implementation research studies. Examples of such areas are work rehabilitation (supported employment), family interventions and assertive community treatment.

The third research priority concerned studies of the life situation in society for people with mental illness and in particular studies focusing on quality of life and stigma and discrimination.

The CEPI published during the period 2007-2010 around 120 scientific papers, and 13 doctoral dissertations where members of CEPI were acting as supervisors.

CEPI is arranging a yearly conference and several public seminars which have focused a number of the research fields which are in focus For CEPI. These conferences have contained both Swedish and international invited speakers. Members of CEPI have also contributed with around 50 lectures in international scientific conferences during the period.