Javier García Campayo: “Research should be a way of life, a vision of the world.”

In this interview, the IIS Aragón researcher talks about his work leading the 'Mental Health in Primary Care' group (GIIS017) and the importance of involving patients in research.

Javier García Campayo He holds a PhD in Medicine and is a professor of Psychiatry at the University of Zaragoza. He has been dedicated to research for 32 years., where he has published more than 300 research papers, as well as books dedicated to psychiatric topics. He has also carried out research stays at the Universities of Manchester and Cambridge (Great Britain), on topics of Psychosomatics and Mindfulness, and McGill (Montreal, Canada), on Transcultural Psychiatry.

«To be a better clinician, it is necessary to ask research questions, review knowledge on the subject and, to the extent possible, try to contribute some grain of sand to better understand the suffering of our patients and try to alleviate it.«

Regarding the IIS Aragón, Javier García describes it as "The natural research institution in Aragon for healthcare professionals and for those of us who work in public healthcare.«. The researcher is the IP of the Mental Health Research Group in Primary Care (GIIS017), whose main objective is to investigate and evaluate the efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the area of ​​mental health, in the context of primary care.

What lines of research are being worked on in your group?

We can find several lines of research that are worked on in the group:

• Psychotherapies in general and third-generation psychotherapies specifically (mindfulness, compassion, deconstruction of the self)

• New technologies: computer-based psychotherapy

• Behavioral addictions with special attention to gambling

• Screening and treatment of common mental disorders in primary care: depression and anxiety

What is the main challenge your research group is currently facing?

The main challenge that my research group faces is the stabilization and career of postdoctoral researchers.

Any ongoing projects that you would like to highlight?

I would like to highlight that we are currently participating in a International Suicide Prevention Network through “big data”, genetics and biological variables.

What profiles make up your research team?

The profiles that make up our team establish us as a multidisciplinary group. We find from health professions (doctors of all specialties, psychologists or nurses) up to educators, engineers and statisticianss.

Why should companies bet on research, and specifically, on your group?

Companies should invest in research since it Technology can facilitate the detection and treatment of many mental disorders and that will offer an incredible economic return by reducing healthcare system costs.

Do you think it is important to involve patients in research?

Es essentialThey should be involved from the outset to better clarify their needs, objectives, sample type, facilitate recruitment, and confirm that the research has clinical relevance.

Advice for someone starting out in healthcare research?

One of the pieces of advice I would give to someone starting out in this field would be connect with a good research group, observe their lines of work and select a topic that you like. From there, make research a way of life, a vision of the world.