Working in the Department of Psychiatry for Affective Disorders

The Unit for Affective Disorders is a sub-speciality outpatient clinic responsible for patients with various affective disorders. The following diagnosis categories are examined and treated: mood disorders, i e depression and anxiety disorders, OCD, and PTSD.

We work in teams

The unit is organised as follows: there are six affective disorder teams, each comprising two psychologists, two nurses, one counsellor, one physiotherapist, an occupational therapist and a rehab coordinator. There are also two teams devoted specifically to PTSD which are staffed in the same way as the affective disorder teams. In total, the unit employs 15 specialist doctors, 8 junior doctors and 8 specialist trainee doctors.

Our treatment methods are primarily medication, various forms of therapy such as psychodynamic therapy, IPT, ERGT, EMDR, and trauma-focused CBT. We also have different group treatments in physiotherapy and occupational therapy, as well as access to outpatient ECT and rTMS treatments. 

We collaborate closely with our colleagues in inpatient care at Östra Hospital and Sahlgrenska Hospital.

Who are you?

We are looking for people who want to work with patients with affective disorders and who are interested in continued sub-specialisation. With us you will have the opportunity to take part in local, regional, national and international training programmes and conferences.

Specialist doctors at the unit are offered regular training opportunities. We also hold joint doctors’ meetings every two weeks, and each spring and autumn we arrange joint doctors’ days. The latter are two-day conferences held at conference centres where various training sessions are provided.

Are you in research, or interested in getting into it? The unit offers good opportunities for research.

Research at the unit

Research conducted within the affective process: Medication for PTSD, SSRI for depression and suicidality, Anxiety effects of SSRI treatments for depression.

The unit also has three combined-employment professors with research teams, as well as two doctors with PhDs with their respective research teams.

Head of Unit – Anthonio Gonzales

Anthonio Gonzales is the Head of Unit. Email: anthonio.gonzales@vgregion.se 

”One of my most important tasks is to create good conditions for the specialist doctors, so that they can influence and participate in the governance and management of the unit. I also want to give them the opportunity to improve care for our patients, while also being able to develop within the profession and their own careers,” Anthonio says.

The Bipolar Disorder Unit at Sahlgrenska University Hospital is Sweden’s biggest specialist clinic for people with bipolar disorder. It opened in 2013 and currently has around 50 employees caring for approximately 1,850 patients.

Sweden’s biggest clinic for people undergoing lithium treatment

The unit employs psychiatrists (consultants and specialist doctors), nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation coordinators, social workers, physiotherapists, coordinators and medical secretaries.

The unit is Sweden’s biggest clinic for people undergoing lithium treatment. The range of evidence-based treatment methods applies a stepped-care model comprising three steps: examination phase, stabilisation phase and follow-up phase.  

We provide different types of psychological interventions, individually and for groups, family interventions with a child-perspective focus, occupational therapy methods, coordination of social-care measures, and similar. Additionally, the unit has a special care programme for bipolar disorder during pregnancy and postpartum bipolar disorder.

With us you are part of a quality improvement project

We apply quality-driven operational development in which we actively evaluate and improve our working methods on a continuous basis, as a natural part of our activity. All employees are part of different quality improvement projects at the unit, based on interests and expertise, with the emphasis on patient perspectives, evidence and sustainability.

The working climate at the unit is stimulating, and characterised by professionalism, structure and engagement, and allows newer employees to engage with and exchange knowledge with their most experienced colleagues.

The team of doctors represents a high level of excellence, with extensive experience and considerable continuity. We attach great importance to continuous training and knowledge sharing, which is actively promoted by holding clinical conferences every week where the entire team of doctors and psychologists discuss complex clinical matters. Additionally, we arrange internal training seminars every two weeks for all professional categories at the unit.

Research focus

The unit is a knowledge centre and the country’s leading centre for research on bipolar disorders, which has received attention both nationally and internationally. We regularly collaborate with the University of Gothenburg and the Sahlgrenska Academy.

Research is an important part of our activities. A number of our employees have researched bipolar disorder and have doctorates in the area, and several are involved in research collaborations with the Sahlgrenska Academy. We believe in the integration of research and clinical practice, as this increases the knowledge level and skills of employees and also means we can offer our patients up-to-date, evidence-based care. If you work at the unit you will be able to do part-time research within the framework of your job description, financed by the unit.  

Professor Mikael Landén, whose research domain is affective disorders, is tied to the clinic.

Head of Unit – Alina Karanti

Alina Karanti, consultant psychiatrist, MD, PhD, is the Head of Unit. Email: alina.karanti@vgregion.se

Alina has 20 years’ experience of public psychiatric care, both inpatient and outpatient, of which 15 years in affective disorders.

“I have researched bipolar disorder extensively, including as part of a doctorate, and regard the integration of research and clinical practice has an important element of improving patient care. It is also important that the work environment is stimulating for employees and that activities are scientifically assessed and supervised. As manager I look forward to collaborating with colleagues based on a shared curiosity and an engagement on behalf of our patients, as well as on an interest in developing together.”

Inpatient care of affective disorders at Sahlgrenska Hospital is made up of three inpatient care wards and the Diagnostics and Consultations Unit (abbreviated DOK in Swedish).

The staff team at the DOK Unit consists of four specialist nurses who manage standard ECT and rTMS treatments and three specialist doctors, none of whom is currently working full time. Each ward is overseen by a consultant.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a specialist doctor who wants a base position at our DOK Unit.

The DOK Unit has several tasks, including consultations in somatic inpatient care, ECT and rTMS treatments, as well as outpatient appointments for some patient categories – such as those before, during and after outpatient ECT and rTMS, and transplantation patients who are not in somatic inpatient care.

The unit’s specialist doctor may temporarily serve in place of the normal consultant on one of the three wards.

The desire and ambition to engage with development and research of ECT or rTMS will be viewed favourably. The unit’s doctors also take part in training students and doctors at all levels.

Head of Unit – Anders Bergstedt

Anders Bergstedt, Head of Unit for outpatient care at Sahlgrenska Hospital and Care Unit Consultant for the Diagnostics and Consultations Unit in Affective Disorders Care . Email: anders.bergstedt@vgregion.se

”My vision is for the unit’s inpatient care wards, the DOK Unit’s brain stimulation team and sub-specialist outpatient tasks to continue developing into a confidence-inspiring centre for diagnostics and treatment of mood disorders. This should always be in collaboration with the Bipolar Unit, the Affective Disorders Outpatient Unit and the Unit for Inpatient Care at Östra Hospital.”

Psychiatry Östra is part of inpatient care in Affective Disorders Care and consists of four care wards. The wards are sub-specialised and work in close collaboration with the respective sub-specialised outpatient units. 

We treat patients with bipolar disorder, neuropsychiatric functional impairments and mood disorders. We also have a national, highly specialised unit for patients with intractable self-harm problems.

The care wards’ close collaboration with the sub-specialised outpatient wards and the research and development unit creates a unique opportunity for clinical research, with several ongoing projects in the areas of bipolar disorder and self-harm.

A focus on research and development

We are looking for someone who is interested in research and development who would like to work alongside other experienced and engaged psychiatrists. With us, clinical work can always be combined with research and clinical trials.

We train future colleagues, collaborate with other university clinics, take part in international conferences and forums, and attach great importance to individual further training.

Our vision includes continuous improvement of the work environment, promoting interest in research and development that serves the entire activity and not just one’s own clinical work, and continuing to have fun at work.

Head of Unit – Zoltán Szabó 

Zoltán Szabó is the Head of Unit of inpatient care at Östra Hospital. Email:  zoltan.szabo@vgregion.se

”My ambition is to create an engaging working climate in which we consider our patients from psychiatry’s humanist perspective and treat them on the basis of the very best science and tried and tested experience.”  

The Lundström Clinic opened in 2007 and is Region Västra Götaland’s clinic for assessment, examination and diagnostics of gender dysphoria. The clinic’s tasks also include providing psychosocial support for people with gender dysphoria in preparation for possible gender reassignment treatment.

The clinic is part of Sahlgrenska University Hospital but is located in Alingsås. There are plans to move the clinic’s activities to Gothenburg at the end of this year. We already have premises in Gothenburg where we can carry out clinical and administrative work.

You enjoy working as part of a team

Are you a specialist in adult psychiatry or near the end of your specialty training? Are you interested in working with patients who have gender dysphoria? In continuing your sub-specialisation and participating in local, regional, national and international training programmes and conferences? Then we are looking for you.

As a person you are communicative and find it easy to collaborate with others. Knowledge of sexology and gender studies will be seen as an additional qualification but is not a requirement, as these are offered as on-the-job skills development.

At the clinic you take part in examination and diagnostic work through clinical psychiatric assessments. You are involved in the mapping of possible psychiatric comorbidities, the need for in-depth examination, case history taking, and in interviews about gender identity development. You also collaborate closely, through regular meetings, with the other specialities in the chain of treatment for gender dysphoria.

How we work at the clinic

The clinic employs a doctor, a social worker, a psychologist, a coordinator, a secretary and a head of unit [not sure if only one of each]. Since its opening, the clinic has collaborated closely with the other medical specialities involved in gender reassignment care at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, including endocrinology, gynaecology/reproduction, logopaedics and plastic surgery.

During the examination period, the various professions that make up the examination team collaborate on the examination and on providing support based on the patient’s needs. We are also involved in providing information and support to related persons. Patients and their guardians/related persons are in close contact with the doctor as well as the psychologist and social worker.

Research

The clinic’s tasks also include engaging in research with the Sahlgrenska Academy. The clinic’s Head of Unit is the registrar of the Gender Dysphoria Register, and there is a combined-employment professor tied to the clinic. An additional task for the clinic is to spread knowledge of gender dysphoria within the medical care services.

Head of Unit - Anthonio Gonzales

Anthonio Gonzales is Head of Unit at the clinic. Email: anthonio.gonzales@vgregion.se

”One of my most important tasks is to create good conditions for the specialist doctors, so that they can influence and participate in the governance and management of the unit. I also want to give them the opportunity to improve care for our patients, while also being able to develop within the profession and their own careers,” Anthonio says.

The unit was established at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in September 2022 and includes a highly specialised outpatient clinic for personality disorders.

The clinic is the biggest of its kind in Sweden, and the only one in Gothenburg tasked with providing treatments for personality disorder.

Care is divided into four steps

The unit offers a unique range of evidence-based treatment methods. These are integrated and structured on the basis of a stepped-care model, meaning that care is divided into four steps, from psychoeducation and high-intensity psychological treatments to aftercare.

In addition to established treatment methods such as mentalisation-based therapy (MBT) and dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), we continuously employ new and promising treatment methods. We are working on a catalogue of self-care measures and on introducing modern personality disorder diagnostics according to ICD-11 and DSM-5-AMPD.

Are you the engaged and curious type?

Our day-to-day work is characterised by intensity, advanced skills and professionalism. Our new colleagues must be doctors driven by engagement and curiosity who want to develop further, but who will also contribute to the realisation of our ambition of becoming a leading knowledge centre for personality disorders.

We are looking for people with qualifications and interest for working with psychotherapy, and we can offer theoretical and practical training programmes in evidence-based treatments of personality disorders. An interest in psychopharmacology will be regarded favourably, as considerations concerning complex medication are often an aspect of personality disorder treatments. Experience of other diagnosis categories and of working with multimorbid patients will be seen as additional qualifications.

Focus on research

Our research team is principally involved with innovation, implementation and biomedical projects. We are currently examining the clinical consequences of the introduction of dimensional models for personality disorder (PD), patient and staff perspectives on pharmacotherapy for PD, biological models for PD, and new neurobiological treatments (known as Noninvasive transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation, or tVNS). A research interest is something we are happy to provide for.

The unit has an outward-looking working method and participates in various forums and gatherings locally, regionally and nationally.

Head of Unit – Flavio Di Leone 

Flavio Di Leone is a consultant psychiatrist, psychotherapist and Head of Unit in Affective Disorders Care, Sahlgrenska University Hospital. Email: flavio.di.leone@vgregion.se

Are you interested in working with patients who have exhaustion disorder? We can offer you continued sub-specialisation and participation in local, regional, national and international conferences.

A sub-specialised clinic for patients with exhaustion syndrome, located in central Gothenburg.

The unit employs specialist doctors and junior doctors. We also receive specialist trainee doctors in psychiatry as part of their training, and foundation doctors.

The unit consists of three multiprofessional teams with a psychologist, a nurse, a physiotherapist, and occupational therapist, and a rehab coordinator, who examine and treat exhaustion syndrome. Each team has around 150 current patients.

Our treatment methods are made up mainly of individual psychotherapies, individual physiotherapy and occupational therapy treatments, group treatments and medication treatments. The rehab coordinators have an important role in the patients’ later treatment in preparation for their return to work.

We have regular training sessions for the specialist doctors, and doctors’ meetings every two weeks. At the end of each semester we arrange joint doctors’ days with different training sessions and lectures.

Good opportunities for research

Several of the unit’s employees are combined-employment professors with their own research teams. A combined-employment docent of psychiatry carries out active research. The current study is of patients with exhaustion syndrome and cognitive effects and development during and after treatment.  

Head of Unit – Anthonio Gonzales

Anthonio Gonzales is the Head of Unit. E-post: anthonio.gonzales@vgregion.se

The Neuropsychiatry Unit is one of the country’s largest. It consists of two sub-units, Neuropsychiatry Unit East and Neuropsychiatry Unit West. These are clinics that provide care and treatment to 4,800 patients aged between 18 and 70.

The unit is responsible for examination and treatment of ADHD and Tourette’s, as well as for more severe comorbidities in anxiety and depression disorders. We are also tasked with examination of ASD and ID. Together the clinics have around 100 employees, of which 25 are doctors. We work together with the patient in interprofessional teams and use treatment methods including CBT, DBT, psychoeducation, UP, and occupational therapy.

A pleasant work environment and flexible conditions

We are well-staffed and have a low staff turnover, meaning we can give our patients continuity – and have few patient complaints.

The work environment here is good, team and management efforts are highly appreciated, and there are good opportunities for research. We are nevertheless engaged in constant improvement and in developing our working methods.

At the clinics we work with several standardised processes in examination as well as treatment of patients with ADHD. An example of an area of improvement we are working on currently is fully digital reception of patients with ADHD, and stepped care. We are also working hard to further develop the unit’s research focus.

The clinics are among the few units in Sweden without waiting lists for both examination and treatment of ADHD.

The team of doctors is stable, inquisitive and ambitious. We consider clinical work in combination with either clinical research or clinical training tasks important.

Focus on research

Among current research projects are several of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of ADHD, including a comparative study of Methylphenidate and Lisdexamfetamine, and studies of treatment outcomes measured using various important parameters.

There is also a focus on studies related to the examination process, such as the validation of assessment scales and issues of insurance medicine.

Head of Unit – Katerina Trantou

Katerina Trantou, consultant and head of the Neuropsychiatry Unit, and acting Head of Unit of specialist and junior doctors on the Neuropsychiatry team. Email: aikaterini.trantou@vgregion.se

”For me as manager it is important that the team of doctors is the driving force behind the unit’s work and development. The possibility of individual skills development is central, as is having a good work environment and a sense of security throughout the entire team.”

We are a sub-specialised clinic for patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, located at Högsbo Hospital in Gothenburg.

The unit employs specialist doctors and one junior doctor. We also receive specialist trainee doctors in psychiatry as part of their training, and foundation doctors.

The unit consists of a team with four psychologists, two nurses, one counsellor, one physiotherapist, one occupational therapist, and rehab coordinators. The team has about 200 current patients.

Examines and treats various eating disorders, primarily anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Our treatment methods are principally various forms of therapy, including CBT, psychodynamic therapy, ERGT, other group treatments, and medication treatment.

We collaborate closely with our colleagues at the sub-specialised inpatient care ward, with eight beds for patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. We also provide outpatient medical care from Monday to Friday. From November 2023 our inpatient care ward will be permitted to provide national highly specialised care for patients with intractable eating disorders.

Are you interested in doing research?

If you are interested in working with patients who have eating disorders, we can offer you continued sub-specialisation and participation in local, regional, national and international training programmes and conferences.

If you are interested in doing research, or already doing it, we can offer good opportunities for this as a part of your job description. A combined-employment professor with ongoing research on patients with anorexia nervosa works at the unit.

We have regular training sessions for the specialist doctors, and a joint doctors’ meeting every two weeks. At the end of each semester we arrange joint doctors’ days with training programmes.

Head of Unit – Anthonio Gonzales

Anthonio Gonzales is the Head of Unit. Email: anthonio.gonzales@vgregion.se

”One of my most important tasks is to create good conditions for the specialist doctors, so that they can influence and participate in the governance and management of the unit. I also want to give them the opportunity to improve care for our patients, while also being able to develop within the profession and their own careers,” Anthonio says.