Ditte Roth Hulgaard

Ditte Roth Hulgaard serves as a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, with dual appointments at IRS - Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark (Research Unit of Mental Health Services Aabenraa) and KI, Research Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Her clinical work focuses on pediatric psychiatric services at Kolding Sygehus.

Her research centers on functional disorders and medically unexplained symptoms in children and adolescents, employing qualitative methodologies including Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Key areas include functional seizures, abdominal pain disorders, and health anxiety manifestations. She integrates family therapy approaches and cognitive behavioral interventions in her clinical investigations.

Recent publications reveal a strong trend in digital mental health interventions for functional disorders and pandemic-related impacts on youth self-harm behaviors. Her work bridges clinical practice with rigorous systematic reviews, particularly in neurodevelopmental and psychosomatic conditions.

• Yngre Lægers Uddannelsespris (2023): Awarded for educational contributions to medical training

Hulgaard actively supervises research projects and delivers specialized teaching courses on functional symptoms in child psychiatry. Her external collaborations include media engagements discussing body image ideals in gymnastics and pediatric mental health advocacy. She leads community outreach initiatives addressing youth wellbeing through public lectures and institutional partnerships.