Christopher Gillberg awarded prize in the spirit of Arvid Carlsson
Christopher Gillberg is awarded the Arvid Carlsson Foundation's prize for his research in the field of ESSENCE.
On the afternoon of May 30, 2024, a prestigious ceremony took place at the Department of Neuroscience and Physiology at the University of Gothenburg.
In the Arvid Carlsson Hall, Professor Christopher Gillberg was awarded the Arvid Carlsson Foundation’s Grand Prize for his outstanding and extensive research contributions in Child Neuropsychiatry – in the spirit of Arvid Carlsson.
The prize was presented by Professor Elias Eriksson from the department’s section of pharmacology. Elias Eriksson emphasised Christopher Gillberg’s long-standing and significant research work in the field of child neuropsychiatry. Christopher Gillberg’s strong focus on patients was highlighted, as was the way his research has crucially contributed to both the development of knowledge and direct interventions for patients and their families. His research has increased the understanding of diagnoses such as autism, ADHD, intellectual disability, language disorder, tics, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, motor coordination disorder – and their connections to many child neurological conditions such as epilepsy and cerebral palsy and a multitude of syndromes.
Christopher Gillberg then delivered his lecture on the theme: “The essence of ESSENCE in clinics and research,” where the audience received a historical and contemporary overview of the current research status regarding the entire field of child neuropsychiatry.
The concept of ESSENCE (Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations) describes and summarises how various neuropsychiatric/developmental neurological functional problems and disabilities coexist. This is of great importance for the organisation of healthcare concerning the assessment, treatment, and follow-up of patient groups. Approximately 10% of children and adolescents are estimated to have difficulties within ESSENCE. This also has implications for adult psychiatry, as about 80% of those with ESSENCE in childhood have persistent difficulties in adulthood. Christopher Gillberg also mentioned that for about half to two-thirds of adults with psychiatric problems, the difficulties are rooted in ESSENCE.
Christopher Gillberg concluded his inspiring lecture by summarising:
“ESSENCE are lifetime syndromes that need a lifetime perspective from the start”
and
“MEET PEOPLE WITH RESPECT”!
Text by Elisabeth Fernell
Photos by Elias Eriksson