National research programme Precision psychiatry (PEPR PROPSY)
Advancing the management of mental disorders through precision psychiatry
Psychiatric disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide. They are chronic, common and represent a major public health challenge. In response, the PROPSY research programme aims to deliver accurate diagnoses and tailored treatments for every patient. Its ambition is threefold: to dissect the heterogeneity of diagnostic categories, to galvanise French research in psychiatry, and to strengthen the attractiveness of careers in psychiatry.
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Supported by the Fondation FondaMental, PROPSY relies on a multidisciplinary approach combining neuroscience, genetics, imaging, artificial intelligence, and the humanities. It focuses on four major conditions: schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, treatment-resistant depression, and autism spectrum disorders without intellectual disability. The challenges are substantial: creating a multimodal database, identifying and validating biomarkers for homogeneous subgroups, developing targeted therapeutic strategies, and establishing a biomedical pipeline to implement innovations.
The expected outcomes include improved diagnostic precision and more personalized care. These advances could transform the daily lives of patients and their families by improving therapeutic response.
The socio-economic impact is equally significant. Improving the management of psychiatric disorders means reducing their burden on quality of life, life expectancy, and social integration. It should also help to limit the costs associated with disability and comorbidities, while fostering the emergence of a high-level mental health and psychiatry sector that should generate jobs and attracts talent. Ultimately, this momentum could help break taboos and reduce stigma associated with mental disorders.
