Diana Pascal

Diana Pascal

Affiliated to Research
Visiting address: M48, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Huddinge, 14186 Stockholm
Postal address: K8 Klinisk neurovetenskap, K8 CPF Rück, 171 77 Stockholm
Part of:

About me

  • OCD has been the central focus of my research for the last decade, pursuing the understanding of possible etiological and pathophysiological mechanism of the disorder as a base for future treatment methods such as deep brain stimulation (DBS).

Teaching

  • My teaching experience stretches over more than a decade, involving teaching at undergraduate courses for medical, psychology, occupational therapy, speech therapy and dental students as well as for graduate PhD courses, specialist courses for psychologists, residents in psychiatry and psychiatrists as well as for patients, next of kin and public. The focus of lectures and courses are mainly OCD, anxiety and related disorders, but also broader themes as psychopharmacology, drug dependency, cognitive behavioral therapy, nutrition and cognitive neuroscience focusing on treatment effects and combination treatments in psychiatry.

Selected publications

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • European study of life quality in patients with severe refractory obsessive compulsive disorder treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS) in nucleus subtalamicus (EQoLOC)
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2021 - 1 January 2023
  • MIO: Microbioma in OCD
    FRF-research foundation for rehabilitation and medical research
    1 January 2021 - 1 January 2023
  • Internet-based vs face-to-face Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Obsessive-compulsive disorder – a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2018 - 1 January 2020
  • Development, clinical trial and implementation of CBT-treatment with internet support for hoarding disorder
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2017 - 1 January 2018
  • Deep Brain Stimulation for severe, refractory obsessive compulsive disorder
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2014 - 1 January 2015
  • Deep Brain Stimulation in severe refractory obsessive compulsive disorder
    Söderström-Königska
    1 January 2013 - 1 January 2016
  • PET-studies of dopamine and serotonin systems in the brain in social phobia
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2013 - 1 January 2014
  • CBT as internet treatment compared to group treatment for panic disorder and social phobia
    Stockholm County Council
    1 January 2007 - 1 January 2009

Employments

  • Specialist in Psychiatry, senior consultation, Psykiatri Sydväst, OCD-Programmet, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2014-
  • Affiliated to Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2023-2026
  • Affiliated researcher in prof Christian Rücks research group, CPF/Karolinska Institutet, Neuroscience, psychiatry, Clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 2013-2023
  • Specialist in Psychiatry, seniour consultatnt, Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2010-2014
  • Affiliated researcher in prof Nils Lindefors research group, CPF/Karolinska Institutet, Clinical neuroscience, Clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 2005-2012
  • Residency in Psychiatry, Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2005-2010
  • General residency for medical licence at Capio S:t Görans Hospital, Stockholm, Capio S:t Görans Sjukhus, 2002-2004

Degrees and Education

  • Teaching and Learning in Higher Education for Health Care Professionals 7, 5 credits, Karolinska Institute, 2023
  • Preparative course for associate professor, Stockholm Health Care Services/Karolinska Institute, 2023
  • Clinical Trials and Good Clinical Practice - ICH GCP - upgrade, Karolinska Trial Alliance/Karolinska University Hospital, 2023
  • Psychological Models of Psilocybin Drug Administration, 1, 5 credits, Karolinska Institute, 2023
  • Psychedelic Science – Past, Present, Future, 1, 5 credits, Karolinska Institute, 2023
  • Danish, basic course 2, 7.5 credits, Language course in written and spoken Danish, Stockholm University, 2020
  • Danish, basic course 1, 15 credits, Language course in written and spoken Danish, Stockholm University, 2019
  • Psychopharmacology, CPD-course corresponding 3 CME credits, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2016
  • Psychosis, spice, and all things nice, 3 hours CPD-course corresponding 3 CME credits with Robin Murray, IOP, Kings Kollege, London, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2016
  • Web course for research supervisors, Karolinska Institute, 2016
  • Training course in Deep Brain Stimulation for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, European Continuing Medical Training ECMT-course, granting 6 European CME credits with UEMS/EACCME, Course Directors Bart Nuttin and Loes Gabrïels, , Medtronic training program, 2012
  • Course in Clinical trials and Good Clinical Practice (GCP), KTA-Prim and CeFAM, Karolinska Institute, 2011
  • An introduction to ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), IPULS-course corresponding 3 CME credits, Swedish Psychiatry Association, , 2011
  • The neuroanatomy of emotion, IPULS-course corresponding 3 CME credits, Swedish Psychiatry Association, 2011
  • Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for prevention of relapse/recurrence in depression with Mark Williams, University of Oxford, Dpt of Psychiatry, UK, , KBT i Utveckling, Stockholm, Sweden, 2011
  • Training course in Deep Brain Stimulation & Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, European Continuing Medical Training ECMT-course, granting 12 European CME credits with UEMS/EACCME, Course Directors Damiaan Denys and Rick Schuurman, , Medtronic training program, 2011
  • Seminar on medicines and environment, Environment department, Stockholm County Council, , 2010
  • Evidence based medicine, IPULS-course, Karolinska University Hospital, 2010
  • Cognitive neuroscience focusing on psychiatry, 10 credits, Clinical neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 2010
  • Practical Leadership, IPULS-course, NIKE Organisationspsykologi, Sigtuna, Sweden, 2009
  • To supervise the resident doctor – the ABC of supervisors, Psykiatri Nordväst and Swedish Psychiatry Association, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2009
  • BPBBPDADHD – clinical assessment in the complex field of affect regulation, IPULS-course granting 3 CME credits, , Swedish Psychiatry Association, Stockholm, Sweden, 2009
  • Electroconvulsive Therapy – state of the art, IPULS-course granting 3 CME credits, Swedish Psychiatry Association, Stockholm, Sweden, 2009
  • Karolinska OCD Master Class with Naomi Fineberg, visiting professor from University of Herdfordshire, UK, Center for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, 2009
  • Diploma in Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy granting 45 credits, Psykologpartners W&W AB, Stockholm, Sweden, 2008
  • Workshop on “Integrative Behavior Couple Therapy (IBCT)” with Andrew Christensen, dpt of Psychology, University of California, LA, course held in Stockholm, Sweden, 2008
  • Karolinska Anxiety seminars 2008: BDD, organizer Sergej Andréewitch, Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2008
  • Manualized CBT-treatment of gambling addiction, Beroendecentrum Stockholm, 2007
  • Unbound psychopharmacology, Danderyds Hospital, Psychiatry, Section for research and education FoUU, Stockholm Health Care Services, , 2006
  • Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 2005
  • ADHD in children and adults, IPULS-course granting 3 CME credits, Swedish Psychiatry Association, 2003
  • Anxiety disorders - from amygdala to the Health Center, IPULS-course, Psykiatri Karolinska, 2003
  • Neuropsychiatry: Assessment and treatment of ADHD, Autism and Aspergers Syndrom in adults, IPULS-course, Psykiatri Karolinska, 2003
  • Social insurance medicine – general insurance, Swedish Social Insurance Agency, 2003
  • Motivational Interviewing, IPULS-course, Karolinska Institute, 2003
  • Psychopharmacology, 4, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1999
  • Research school for clinically active researchers, total of 6 weeks theoretical education and 10 weeks of personalized laboratory practice under supervision, course for clinically active PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • mRNA in situ hybridization, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Basic course in medical statistics, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Writing science- How to write a scientific paper, 0, 8 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Introduction to analysis of variance ANOVA, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Functional anatomy of the human brain, 3 credits, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Philosophy of science, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Medical information technology, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1998
  • Molecular biology, part of research school, 3 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1997
  • Basal molecular biology for clinical researchers, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1997
  • Modern receptor pharmacology, 1, 5 credits, course for PhD students, Karolinska Institute, 1997
  • University Medical Degree, Karolinska Institutet, 1997

Leadership and responsibility assignments

  • Director of studies, Continuous education and professional development for specialists in Psychiatry at Psykiatri Sydväst, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2022-
  • Creating and implementing clinical flow charts and control codes for assessment, treatment and follow up for OCD- and related disorders, Process owner for the OCD-process, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, https://slsoinsidan.slso.sll.se/mitt-arbetssatt/psykiatrins-vardprocesser/vardprocessarbetet-slso-vuxenpsykiatri/testest/, 2020-
  • A supervised clinical scientific and quality project focusing in understanding and improving clinical practice, done during residency for 15 weeks full time work., Supervisor for clinical quality project for resident in psychiatry Katarina Nilsson "Tvångssyndrom och brist på vitaminerna B12 och D i ett svenskt patientmaterial – ett kliniskt kvalitetsprojekt med implikationer för klinikens provtagningsrutiner", Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2020-2022
  • Co-supervisor in 30-points examination essay in psychology studies., Project planning and supervisor of data collection for examination essay advanced level for Nina Keisu, "Behandlingsutfall för patienter med OCD i relation till medicinering och vitaminers påverkan – En retrospektiv longitudinell studie.", Mid Sweden University, 2017-2017
  • Part of the group publishing current treatment guidelines for affective and anxiety disorders, Invited member of the expert group on working with clinical guidelines for treatment of depression and anxiety disorders, wok published as national guidelines 2016, , Medical Products Agency, https://www.lakemedelsverket.se/48d7e6/globalassets/dokument/behandling-och-forskrivning/behandlingsrekommendationer/bakgrundsdokument/bakgrundsdokumentation-lakemedel-depression-angestsyndrom-tvangssyndrom.pdf, 2016-2016
  • Co-supervisor in 30-points examination essay in medicine, ethically approved project Dnr 2015/1236-31, Co-supervisor of examination essay advanced level for Edvard Nilsson, BA (30 credits) at Karolinska Institute, medical education, "Neuropsychiatric Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation and Levodopa-carbidopa Intestinal Gel in Advanced Parkinson’s Disease A comparative study ", Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institute, 2015-2016
  • Member of priority group for guidelines in depression and anxiety disorders, working according to the “national model for open prioritizing in health care”, National Board of Health and Welfare, 2015-2016
  • Course coordinator, Assistent, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services/Karolinska Institute, 2015-2017
  • Medical responsibility for health care given at the OCD-Program, OCD-department, PSV, Psykiatri Sydväst, OCD-Programmet, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2015-2018
  • Creating and implementing clinical flow charts and control codes for assessment, treatment and follow up for OCD- and related disorders, Process owner responsible for the OCD-process, Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, https://slsoinsidan.slso.sll.se/mitt-arbetssatt/psykiatrins-vardprocesser/vardprocessarbetet-slso-vuxenpsykiatri/testest/, 2015-2018
  • A supervised clinical scientific and quality project focusing in understanding and improving clinical practice, done during residency for 15 weeks full time work., Supervisor for clinical quality project for resident in psychiatry Sasa Markovic " Utvärdering av behandling med Responsprevention (ERP) för patienter med Tvångssyndrom", Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2013-2014
  • A supervised clinical scientific and quality project focusing in understanding and improving clinical practice, done during residency for 15 weeks full time work., Supervisor for clinical quality project for resident in psychiatry Sigrid Storetvedt "Projektplan vetenskapligt arbete och kvalitetsarbete- "På vilket sätt påverkar samtidig farmakologisk behandling utfallet av KBT vid OCD-spektrumstörning?", Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2012-2012
  • Co-supervisor in 30-points examination essay in medicine, ethically approved project Dnr 2015/1236-31, Co-supervisor of examination essay advanced level for Sara Gunnarsson & Michael Hoff"Karakteristik av och behandlingsutfall för patienter med tvångssyndrom (OCD) vid en specialiserad psykiatrisk klinik: Vad inverkar på effekten av behandling med responsprevention (ERP)?", Psychology departement, Uppsala University, 2011-2011
  • Creating flow charts for clinical assessment, treatment and follow up for anxiety and OCD-RT diagnoses., Coordinator for anxiety- and OCD-processes in specialized psychiatric healthcare, Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2010-2014
  • Main supervisor for Residents in Psychiatry Kim Gosai and Daniela Enache, Psykiatri Nordväst and Psykiatri Sydväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2010-2020
  • Head of department, Anxiety department, Psykiatri Nordväst, Anxiety department, Psykiatri Nordväst, Stockholm Health Care Services, 2010-2014
  • Responsible for a section, Course developer, leader and examiner for Psychiatry residency training courses in METIS-format, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Stockholm Health Care Services/Karolinska Institute, 2009-

Supervisor

Committee work

  • Member, Drug Therapeutic Committee and the Health and Medical Care Administration of the Region Stockholm, Sweden., rug Therapeutic Committee and the Health and Medical Care Administration, Stockholm Health Care Services, https://janusinfo.se/inenglish.4.7e3d365215ec82458644daab.html, 2013-2018
  • Member, Swedish Psychiatric Association, Swedish Psychiatric Association, 2012-2014
  • Member, Swedish Psychiatric Association, Swedish Psychiatric Association, 2010-2012

Conference/event participation

  • Oral presenter of own accepted abstract, The European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Congress 2023, https://essfncongress.org/, OP047 Genomics of severe and treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder treated with deep brain stimulation: a preliminary investigation. ABSTRACT: Individuals with severe and treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (trOCD) represent a small but severely disabled group of patients. Since trOCD cases eligible for deep brain stimulation (DBS) probably comprise the most severe end of the OCD spectrum, we hypothesize that they may be more likely to have substantial detectable genetic contributions. Therefore, while the worldwide population of DBS-treated cases may be small (~300), screening these individuals with modern genomic methods may accelerate gene discovery in OCD. As such, we have begun to collect DNA from trOCD cases who qualify for DBS, and here we report results from whole exome sequencing and microarray genotyping of our first five cases. All participants had previously received DBS in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST), with two patients responding to the surgery and one showing a partial response. Our analyses focused on gene-disruptive rare variants (GDRVs
  • rare, predicted-deleterious single-nucleotide variants or copy number variants overlapping protein-coding genes). Three of the five cases carried a GDRV, including a missense variant in the ion transporter domain of KCNB1, a deletion at 15q11.2, and a duplication at 15q26.1. The KCNB1 variant (hg19 chr20-47991077-C-T, NM_004975.3:c.1020G>A, p.Met340Ile) causes substitution of methionine for isoleucine in the trans-membrane region of neuronal potassium voltage-gated ion channel KV2.1. This KCNB1 substitution (Met340Ile) is located in a highly constrained region of the protein where other rare missense variants have previously been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. The patient carrying the Met340Ile variant responded to DBS, which suggests that genetic factors could potentially be predictors of treatment response in DBS for OCD. In sum, we have established a protocol for recruiting and genomically characterizing trOCD cases. Preliminary results suggest that this will be an informative strategy for finding risk genes in OCD., 2023
  • Participant, The 6th Maudsley Forum, Yearly psychiatry course held for international residents in Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings Kollege, London, 2006
  • Poster presenter of own accepted abstract, SCNP 42nd Annual and 1st Mediterranean Meeting. 0, 6 credits., Delayed stress-induced increase in tissue level of cholecystokinin in rat prefrontal cortex: Modulation by microdialysis probe implantation”, Radu, D
  • Brodin, E
  • (...)
  • Lindefors, N, 2001, 2001
  • Poster presenter of own accepted abstract, The society for neuroscience 2001 Annual Meeting. Poster presentation. San Diego, California, USA. November, 10-15, 2001, “Human CCKA receptor mRNA distribution in human and primate brain - alterations following schizophrenia ”Radu, D
  • Zachrisson, O
  • de Belleroche, J
  • Hirsh, S
  • Lindefors, 2001, 2001
  • Poster presenter of own accepted abstract, 0th Biennial Winter Workshop on SCHIZOPHRENIA. Abstract. Davos, Schweiz. February, 5-11, 2000 1.5 credits, 2000
  • Poster presenter of own accepted abstract, Conference on Neuronal cholecystokinin. Poster. Queens College, Oxford, England. August, 13-18, 2000, 0, 9 credits, 2000
  • Poster presenter of own accepted abstract, 39th Annual Meeting of the Scandinavian Society for. Psychopharmacology, Copenhagen, Denmark, Cholecystokinin involvement in environmental stress and psychosis”, Radu, D
  • Brodin, E and Lindefors, N, 1999, 1998

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