Interview with Dejan Stevanovic - from cross-cultural ESSENCE research to being part of a pioneering EU initiative
Child psychiatrist Dejan Stevanovic talks about his research as a whole, his deep interest in cross-cultural research and being part of a pioneering initiative.
Dejan Stevanovic recently became an affiliated member of the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre. Over the years, Dejan has published a large number of scientific publications on a wide range of ESSENCE conditions. In this interview, Dejan meets with Anna Spyrou to discuss his important past, current and future research.
First of all, I wonder if you could tell us a bit about yourself Dejan?
-Of course, Anna! I have a background in child psychiatry and have been working in this field for 10 years, gaining extensive experience in various aspects related to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health issues in young people. However, my true passion lies in conducting research on child and youth mental health. Apart from my professional pursuits, I cherish spending quality time with my immediate family, exploring new destinations through travel, and finding solace in nature's embrace when I seek solitude.
How did you become interested in research? What issues interest you?
- My interest in research began to blossom when I was 12 years old, as we delved deeper into animal biology and chemistry during my school years. As time went by, I came to understand that the marvels of nature are constantly unfolding, and the knowledge we acquire has been patiently waiting for us to uncover it, whether for our personal growth or collective benefit. Throughout my medical school education, I became captivated by the intricate interplay between human beings, our environment, and the consequences of our actions. It was during this journey that I realized my true fascination lies within the realm of the human brain. As my curiosity deepened, I found myself drawn to the intricate world of child psychopathology, and this has become my primary area of interest.
we uncovered compelling findings that highlight the validity of the Theory of Mind Task Battery and the Strange Stories Test as effective tools for evaluating theory of mind in children with autism. Moreover, our results demonstrated that children with autism generally exhibit poorer performance compared to typically developing children.
You co-authored your latest paper with Richard Delorme, a GNC member from our French hub in Paris. Please tell me a bit about this paper?
-The most fascinating aspect of my work is the global collaboration I engage in with numerous individuals on various studies, many of whom I have never had the chance to meet face-to-face. Despite the physical distance, we actively exchange ideas and work closely together for extended periods, albeit without the opportunity for personal encounters, unfortunately. It was through my French colleague Corentin's invitation that I became involved in a psychometric study centered around the theory of mind, which explores the capacity to attribute mental states to oneself and others in order to predict and explain behaviours—an ability significantly impacted in individuals with autism. During the course of our collaboration on this research, I discovered that Richard Delorme is also a member of the Global Neurodevelopmental Consortium (GNC), which instilled a sense of uniqueness within our shared endeavour. In the study, we uncovered compelling findings that highlight the validity of the Theory of Mind Task Battery and the Strange Stories Test as effective tools for evaluating theory of mind in children with autism. Moreover, our results demonstrated that children with autism generally exhibit poorer performance compared to typically developing children.
You have authored many scientific publications. Tell us a bit about the one you are most proud of and why?
-Yes, there have been numerous publications and each publication has elicited the same exhilaration, although there have been certain publications that made me feel as if I were grasping clouds with my own hands. I firmly believe that the field of science and research requires more diverse representation beyond the confines of WEIRDos (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic societies) to ensure that true findings are brought forth and shared with the global community. With this in mind, several like-minded individuals and I organized the International Child Mental Health – Study Group (ICMH-SG) ten years ago. Our primary mission is to advance cross-cultural research across various aspects of child and adolescent mental health (CAMH). The ICMH-SG serves as a network of practitioners and researchers who think globally, act locally, and share a common belief in equality. We strive to inspire others to contribute to and promote better cross-cultural research and practice in CAMH. Throughout our journey, we have undertaken several projects, and I am proud to have led or co-led twenty publications in esteemed journals. It is these accomplishments that bring me the greatest sense of pride!
Do you have any other papers in the pipeline? If so, what are they about?
-Over the past few decades, accumulating evidence has strongly suggested that the structure of psychopathology is more appropriately understood as dimensional rather than categorical. Furthermore, it has become increasingly evident that the organization of psychopathology throughout one's lifespan follows a hierarchical structure. This hierarchical model encompasses a broad general dimension or factor of psychopathology, commonly referred to as the p factor, as well as more specific dimensions or factors of psychopathology. While there is a scarcity of studies focusing on youth, we aim to address this gap by leveraging data from a large multinational project that assesses community mid-to-late adolescents. Our study seeks to explore how various psychological symptoms and personality traits align with specific hierarchical dimensions of psychopathology during adolescence. It is worth noting that once again, we are delighted to collaborate with another esteemed member of the GNC, Rajna Knez!
Finally, you have some very exciting news, would you care to share this with us?
-Indeed, the Youth-GEMs project is an exciting endeavour. We continue to recognize the crucial role played by the interplay between genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors as the primary determinant of mental health and illness in young individuals. However, the availability of scientific evidence supporting this notion remains limited. As part of the Horizon Europe program Staying Healthy 2021, the funded project titled "Gene Environment interactions in Mental health trajectories of Youth - Youth-GEMs" will be led by Maastricht University in the Netherlands. This groundbreaking initiative aims to establish the world's first evidence-supported knowledge base on the functional (epi)genomics of the developing post-natal human brain in direct relation to developmental trajectories in youth.
-Over the course of five years, the Youth-GEMs project will bring together a multidisciplinary consortium. It will develop a comprehensive set of evidence-based tools that draw from behavioural, environmental, biological, and psychological insights to facilitate robust quantitative clinical assessments of mental health in young individuals aged 12 to 24 years. Leveraging artificial intelligence, the project will also establish reliable predictive models while identifying gene-environment interactions and actionable markers of mental health trajectories in youth.
-Among the 18 accepted institutions, my clinic in Serbia has been granted participation in this pioneering initiative. As the team leader, our responsibilities will involve the follow-up of approximately 200 adolescents, the development of quantitative clinical assessments of mental health, and the adoption of a "trans-syndromal" approach that addresses the continuum of mental phenotypes expressed across the population, which dynamically evolves over time. Our comprehensive approach will encompass clinical evaluations encompassing environmental, psychological, biological, and genetic factors, as well as digital phenotypic data. By doing so, we aim to provide the most robust evidence for informing mental health trajectories in youth.
6 interesting facts about Dejan
1. Had reading difficulties in school
2. Always on the go
3. Had more than 300 different co-authors in studies world-wide
4. Had never received any award for anything
5. A Rammstein fan
6. Believes that our genes drive our dreams and actions