معرفی
Johan Bjureberg is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, holding this position from 2022 to 2028. Awarded Docent (Associate Professor) status by Karolinska Institutet in 2023, he leads the ESSI research group dedicated to studying emotion-regulation difficulties as root causes of self-injury, suicide, and aggression in youth and adults. His work uniquely bridges psychotherapeutic intervention design with epidemiological analysis to optimize treatments and prevent mental health disorders, violence, and suicide.
Education
Bjureberg's academic training combines clinical expertise with rigorous research methodology, culminating in a PhD focused on clinical neuroscience. His background enables dual perspectives on both theoretical and applied aspects of adolescent mental health.
- PhD, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet (2014-2018)
- Psychologist license (2011)
- Psychology program, Uppsala University (2006-2011)
Research Interests
Dr. Bjureberg investigates how emotion-regulation deficits drive maladaptive behaviors like nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal attempts, particularly in adolescents. His research employs registry-based epidemiological studies to identify risk factors and randomized controlled trials to evaluate digital interventions, emphasizing mechanisms of therapeutic change through mediation analysis. A central thrust involves developing accessible internet-delivered CBT protocols targeting self-harm and comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression, with a focus on scalability across Sweden's healthcare system.
Scientific Awards
- Research fellow financed by The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities and Stiftelsen Natur & Kultur
Advising and Grants
Though formal student advisees are unlisted, Bjureberg mentors through the ESSI group's active recruitment of research participants and collaboration with clinical supervisors. His funding includes a prestigious fellowship from The Royal Swedish Academy and Stiftelsen Natur & Kultur, supporting postdoctoral work. Current projects (iERITA, POET) represent grant-backed initiatives delivering free online therapies for adolescents aged 12-17 with self-harm or general mental illness, testing efficacy of structured six-week interventions with therapist support.
Laboratories and Teams
The ESSI group operates within Karolinska Institutet's Department of Clinical Neuroscience, developing and validating measurement scales (DERS-16, BERQ, BHS) for emotion-regulation constructs. It maintains robust collaborations with Stanford University, UCLA, Toledo University, Örebro University, and international institutions across Spain, Norway, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The team focuses on three core initiatives: iERITA (parent-adolescent online treatment for self-harm), POET (comparative effectiveness trial for youth mental illness), and pain-regulation studies targeting 11-15-year-olds in healthcare contact.
