Research Marianne Destoop

Research team

• Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI)

Expertise

My research is situated at the intersection of complex psychiatric care, dual diagnosis, assertive outreach, and somatic comorbidity in people with severe mental illness. Starting from clinical challenges encountered in daily practice, my work focuses on the development, evaluation, and implementation of care models for hard-to-reach and highly complex patient populations, with particular attention to continuity of care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and societal embedding of mental health services. A first central research line addresses dual diagnosis and complex care needs, in which psychiatric disorders co-occur with substance use disorders, somatic conditions, and social vulnerability (such as homelessness, judicial involvement, or care avoidance). Within this line, I study clinical and organizational determinants of treatment outcomes, including research on contingency management, home-based detoxification, and care pathways within mobile and outreach teams. A second core research line focuses on assertive outreach and community-based mental health care. This work targets individuals who do not sufficiently engage with conventional mental health services. Using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies, I investigate engagement strategies, care processes, and collaboration between mental health, social care, and housing partners. This research aligns with international developments in public mental health and results in evidence-based recommendations for sustainable and context-sensitive care models. A third, closely interrelated research line concerns somatic comorbidity in severe mental illness. Addressing the well-documented health inequality affecting this population, my research examines the organization and effectiveness of integrated somatic care within mental health services. This includes studies on liaison care models, nursing-led interventions, and collaborative agreements between primary and secondary care. Outcomes of interest extend beyond physical health to include quality of life and global functioning. Methodologically, my research is explicitly positioned within implementation science. I combine clinical-epidemiological research, mixed-methods designs, and practice-oriented protocol development, with specific attention to feasibility, acceptability, and scalability. Through close collaboration with care organizations, policymakers, and professional networks, my work functions as a bridge between clinical practice, health policy, and implementation research, with the overarching aim of translating evidence-based innovations into routine mental health care. This integrated research approach aims to contribute to accessible, effective, and sustainable mental health care for individuals with the most complex needs, at both local and international levels.