The Research Group Personality Psychiatry (RG-PP) includes members with research competence within the field of personality disorder (PD) and clinical research. Our overall goal is to find answers to how PDs best can be understood and treated. PDs are prevalent mental health disorders with considerable personal and societal burden. Nonetheless, the research field is small. Though centred at the University of Oslo/Oslo University Hospital, RG-PP also aims to recruit clinical researchers across health regions and institutions. 

More nuanced understanding of PD is closely linked to PD classification and assessment. RG-PP engages in projects investigating dimensional assessment of personality functioning and specific aspects of emotionality, identity, empathy and intimacy. 

Effective treatments are best documented for borderline PD. By piloting treatment for less researched PD conditions (antisocial, avoidant, dual disorder PDs), RG-PP includes innovative research. In collaboration with the Norwegian Network for Personality Disorders RG-PP focuses on clinical and economic utility of PD treatments within specialist mental health services, PD treatment processes, and variation associated with PD type, severity and comorbidities. 

Translational research bridges different clinical expertise. RG-PP collaborates across disciplines. Research projects are established within adult psychiatry, adolescent psychiatry and child welfare, geriatric psychiatry, and fields of substance abuse and pain. Investigation of hospitalized patients with severe self-harm adds knowledge on complex comorbidity and collaboration across service levels. Biobank collaboration provides opportunity for genetic and immunological research. 

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See also: Research projects - Institute of Clinical Medicine

The RG-PP has regular, weekly, digital meetings. Contact group leader: Elfrida Hartveit Kvarstein