Regional and national register data also allows for long-term follow-up of diagnosis and relevant clinical outcomes of treatment interventions in addiction medicine. This, together with a better understanding of factors influencing implementation of clinical interventions in addiction care will help us to optimize and improve access to treatment for SUD patients.
We study how genetic and environmental factors affect the risk of developing substance use disorder (SUD) and its psychiatric comorbidities. Data linkage of national and regional registers using the Swedish personal number permits the follow-up over long-time with minimal attrition of the impacts of early-life risk factors on developing SUD and comorbidities. Registers also permit follow-up of clinical interventions over time.
Using register data in combination with qualitative and observational studies, we investigate how clinical use of new diagnostic tools and treatment methods affects healthcare and its outcomes for SUD patients. By increasing our understanding of how SUD patients and staff perceive clinical implementation of diagnostic and treatment interventions, and of how healthcare consumption, access to treatment and prognosis for individual SUD patients change over time, we hope to improve accessible healthcare for people with SUD.