Mental health problems have increased worldwide in recent years, particularly among young people, and represent a major public health challenge in Europe. Psychotic disorders, although relatively rare, are among the leading causes of long-term disability. This immense burden is partly explained by the disorder’s early onset between late adolescence or early adulthood and can profoundly disrupt education, employment, and social participation. Importantly, individuals with psychotic disorders follow very different clinical trajectories: while some recover well after a first episode, others experience persistent symptoms and functional impairment. Currently, it remains difficult to predict these outcomes or to tailor interventions accordingly.
RISK-MATTER addresses this challenge by focusing on risk exposure profiles, i.e. combinations of genetic, social, and environmental factors that may shape both brain development and long-term clinical outcomes in psychosis. Rather than treating psychotic disorders as a single entity, the project aims to identify meaningful subgroups of individuals based on their exposure to different risk factors, such as early-life adversity or later environmental stressors. This approach aligns closely with recent European policy initiatives that emphasize prevention, and early intervention in mental health.
A central objective of RISK-MATTER is to understand how these risk exposure profiles relate to changes in white matter microstructure, a key component of brain connectivity that continues to develop during adolescence and early adulthood. White matter seems particularly relevant because abnormalities in white matter microstructure are consistently observed in affected individuals. By studying both static brain characteristics and changes over time, the project investigates whether white matter alterations may help explain why certain risk profiles are associated with poorer clinical outcomes.
To achieve these goals, RISK-MATTER integrates advanced neuroimaging, data-driven machine learning methods, and real-life outcome assessments, including smartphone-based measures that capture everyday functioning.
Ultimately, the project aims to contribute to more risk-informed and person-centered approaches to psychosis care. By improving the understanding of how social and environmental risks interact with brain development to influence outcomes, RISK-MATTER provides a basis for more risk-informed approaches to psychosis care, with the potential to inform future prevention strategies and personalized interventions.
