In this project we examine the effectiveness of different child psychiatric interventions (psychotherapy, CBT-based manualized treatments, and treatment as usual in inpatient and outpatient care). We further examine, whether the use of systematic feedback (feedback-informed treatment) improves intervention effectiveness. We also examine what type of patients are referred to which treatment group and what kind of child-, family- and treatment-related factors moderate treatment effectiveness. We are currently collecting data in Helsinki University Hospital child psychiatric clinics. The project is funded by Pediatric Research Foundation.
This is Marjo Flykt's research project, with main location in University of Tampere, where we have followed up on the effectiveness of different types of perinatal parenting interventions in Finnish primary care settings (therapeutic parent-infant work, psychological counselling in wellbaby clinics and practical help and guidance) and compared changes in parental wellbeing, parenting and child development between intervention groups and a normative control group from the same cohort. We are also interested in treatment moderators. The study was funded by City of Helsinki and Otto A.Malm Foundation.
In his thesis project, Veli-Matti Karhu develops and investigates trauma-informed approach to staff working in adolescent residential care. The study is funded by Lastentautien Tutkimussäätiö (Pediatric Research Foundation) and Gyllenberg Foundation.
We are currently collecting data in a research project investigating the effectiveness of short-term couple therapy and self-help interventions in collaboration with City of Helsinki couple therapy unit. We compare these to treatment-as-usual and wait-list controls in a randomized design. We further examine treatment moderators and systematic feedback use in treatment. The principal researchers are Marjo Flykt and PhD Petra Nyman-Salonen. The project is funded by the Collaborative area of Southern Finland committee for health research.
In this new project (started 1/2026) which received Research & Development grant from the Research Council of Finland, we will investigate adaptation and effectiveness of the parenting intervention OPPI aimed for children's behavioral symptoms in home-based family work for child welfare clients. The intervention will be adapted in a joint developmental work within child welfare services in City of Helsinki. We will also examine the use of systematic feedback in this context. The project is conducted by a consortium of researchers from Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), National Institute of Health and Welfare (THL), University of Helsinki and City of Helsinki.