Research priorities for Indian psychiatry

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health Research
• Global Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• South Asia faces a significant treatment gap for mental disorders.
• Existing research capacity and resources in the region are limited.
• Priority setting exercises are crucial for guiding future research endeavors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize findings from priority setting exercises for psychiatric research in South Asia.
• To map the current research capacity and resources available in the region.
• To identify key research priorities for addressing mental health challenges in South Asia.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent priority setting exercises for psychiatric research.
• Mapping of research capacity and available resources in South Asia.
• Analysis of identified research priorities and resource limitations.

Main Results:

• Key research priorities include 'implementation' science and 'discovery' science.
• 'Implementation' science focuses on delivering effective mental health treatments.
• 'Discovery' science aims to enhance understanding of mental disorders and evaluate indigenous approaches.
• Research capacity and resources in South Asia are scarce.

Conclusions:

• Strengthening research capacity and resources is essential for advancing psychiatric research in South Asia.
• Collaborative action from diverse stakeholders, including the Indian Psychiatric Society, is needed.
• Addressing the treatment gap requires a dual focus on implementation and discovery research.