Aim

The overall aim is to leverage pathophysiological knowledge and interactions with environmental factors in clinically relevant studies, including treatment studies and efforts to improve prevention, course prediction, and diagnostics. Organizationally, the group is affiliated with the Centre for Precision Psychiatry at the University of Oslo and the Section for Clinical Psychosis Research at Oslo University Hospital.

The research integrates biological, genetic, environmental, and clinical data in a translational approach, combining information from clinical samples, biobanks, and health registries. Several candidate pathways in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are examined, with a particular focus on infection and inflammation, metabolomics, and cardiovascular comorbidity.

Collaboration

To achieve these goals, the group collaborates closely with experts in immunology at the Research Institute of Internal Medicine and metabolomics specialists at the Metabolomics and Metabolic Molecular Biology group, both at Oslo University Hospital, as well as with international research groups, particularly in the context of the ECNP Immuno-NeuroPsychiatry Network.

Furthermore, the group engages with the Mohn Research Centre for Psychotic Disorders at Haukeland university hospital, University of Bergen, and the University of Oslo, related to research on reducing the risk of premature death. Additionally, the group is involved in studies of psychosis in adolescence through the Youth-TOP project at Oslo university hospital, University of Oslo, and Diakonhjemmet hospital.

Main projects

  • Profiling vulnerability and resilience for mental illness following viral infections: translating epidemiology to deep-phenotyping (VIRAL-MI). Project funded through ERA-NET NEURON (Network of European Funding for Neuroscience Research): by the Research Council of Norway for the Norwegian site (partner).

  • Metabolomics profiling of severe mental disorders. A collaboration with Metabolomics and Metabolic Molecular Biology research group, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, and Centre for Precision Psychiatry, University of Oslo.

  • Immune profiles and links to phenotypic features and psychotropic treatment in severe mental disorders (phd project)

  • Clinical and Cognitive aspects related to cardiometabolic risk in severe mental disorders - underlying mechanisms and prediction of outcome (phd project)

  • Youth-TOP project (Steen co-PI): Investigates causes of psychosis among young people. Project funded by the Research Council of Norway (funding obtained by prof. em. Ingrid Agartz). The project participates in the ENIGMA early-onset psychosis group (ENIGMA EOP). 

 

Selected publications

1. Hoffart Lunding S, Kreis IV, Rødevand L, Aas M, Frogner Werner MC, Torp Johansen I, Elkjær Greenwood Ormerod MB, Reponen E, Hjell G, Ringen PA, Vik Lagerberg T, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Simonsen C, Ueland T, Steen NE. Self-harming behavior linked to earlier onset of cardiovascular disease in severe mental disorders. Eur Psychiatry. 2025;68(1):e143. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10106

2. Ormerod M, Sheikh MA, Ueland T, Hjell G, Rødevand L, Sæther LS, Lunding SH, Johansen IT, Andreou D, Ueland T, Lagerberg TV, Melle I, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA, Steen NE. Minor immunomodulatory effects of psychotropics suggested in severe mental disorders: Associations of antipsychotics with beta defensin 2, antidepressants with C-reactive protein, and mood stabilizers with soluble interleukin 2 receptor. Eur Psychiatry. 2025;68(1):e140. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.10104

3. Kreis I, Fjelnseth Wold K, Åsbø G, Bärthel Flaaten C, Engen MJ, Lyngstad SH, Hustad Widing L, Sheikh MA, Frogner Werner MC, Bakken E, Ueland T, Steen NE, Melle I. Recent cannabis use affects the association between baseline immune markers and long-term outcomes in psychosis. Transl Psychiatry. 2025;15(1):282. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03498-x

4. Johansen IT, Steen NE, Rødevand L, Lunding SH, Hjell G, Ormerod M, Agartz I, Melle I, Lagerberg TV, Nerhus M, Andreassen OA. Sex differences in autonomic adverse effects related to antipsychotic treatment and associated hormone profiles. Schizophrenia (Heidelb). 2024;10(1):6. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41537-023-00430-4

5. Steen NE, Rahman Z, Szabo A, Hindley GFL, Parker N, Cheng W, Lin A, O'Connell KS, Sheikh MA, Shadrin A, Bahrami S, Karthikeyan S, Hoseth EZ, Dale AM, Aukrust P, Smeland OB, Ueland T, Frei O, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA. Shared Genetic Loci Between Schizophrenia and White Blood Cell Counts Suggest Genetically Determined Systemic Immune Abnormalities. Schizophr Bull. 2023;49(5):1345-1354. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbad082

6. Elkjaer Greenwood Ormerod MB, Ueland T, Frogner Werner MC, Hjell G, Rødevand L, Sæther LS, Lunding SH, Johansen IT, Ueland T, Lagerberg TV, Melle I, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA, Steen NE. Composite immune marker scores associated with severe mental disorders and illness course. Brain Behav Immun Health. 2022;24:100483. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100483

7. Werner MCF, Wirgenes KV, Shadrin AA, Lunding SH, Rødevand L, Hjell G, Ormerod M, Haram M, Agartz I, Djurovic S, Melle I, Aukrust P, Ueland T, Andreassen OA, Steen NE. Limited association between infections, autoimmune disease and genetic risk and immune activation in severe mental disorders. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 2022;116:110511. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2022.110511

8. Engh JA, Ueland T, Agartz I, Andreou D, Aukrust P, Boye B, Bøen E, Drange OK, Elvsåshagen T, Hope S, Høegh MC, Joa I, Johnsen E, Kroken RA, Lagerberg TV, Lekva T, Malt UF, Melle I, Morken G, Nærland T, Steen VM, Wedervang-Resell K, Weibell MA, Westlye LT, Djurovic S, Steen NE, Andreassen OA. Plasma Levels of the Cytokines B Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF) and A Proliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) in Schizophrenia, Bipolar, and Major Depressive Disorder: A Cross Sectional, Multisite Study. Schizophr Bull. 2022;48(1):37-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbab106

9. Johansen IT, Steen NE, Rødevand L, Werner MCF, Lunding SH, Hjell G, Ormerod M, Agartz I, Melle I, Lagerberg TV, Nerhus M, Andreassen OA. Sex-specific associations between metabolic hormones, severe mental disorders and antipsychotic treatment. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022;146:105927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105927

10. Lunding SH, Simonsen C, Aas M, Rødevand L, Werner MCF, Laskemoen JF, Hjell G, Ringen PA, Lagerberg TV, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Ueland T, Steen NE. Childhood trauma and cardiometabolic risk in severe mental disorders: The mediating role of cognitive control. Eur Psychiatry. 2021;64(1):e24. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.14

11. Bahrami S, Steen NE, Shadrin A, O'Connell K, Frei O, Bettella F, Wirgenes KV, Krull F, Fan CC, Dale AM, Smeland OB, Djurovic S, Andreassen OA. Shared Genetic Loci Between Body Mass Index and Major Psychiatric Disorders: A Genome-wide Association Study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2020;77(5):503-512. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.4188

12. Steen NE, Dieset I, Hope S, Vedal TSJ, Smeland OB, Matson W, Kaddurah-Daouk R, Agartz I, Melle I, Djurovic S, Jönsson EG, Bogdanov M, Andreassen OA. Metabolic dysfunctions in the kynurenine pathway, noradrenergic and purine metabolism in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders. Psychol Med. 2020;50(4):595-606. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291719000400

13. Werner MCF, Wirgenes KV, Haram M, Bettella F, Lunding SH, Rødevand L, Hjell G, Agartz I, Djurovic S, Melle I, Andreassen OA, Steen NE. Indicated association between polygenic risk score and treatment-resistance in a naturalistic sample of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophr Res. 2020;218:55-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.schres.2020.03.006