The fifth ETUDE Network-Wide Training Event took place in the scenic port city of Aarhus, Denmark, from May 13th to 17th. Focused on the “Treatment of Functional Somatic Disorders,” the event was hosted at Aarhus University Hospital, bringing together the ETUDE ESRs, external PhD students, supervisors, and leading clinicians and researchers from across Europe. The training event was held in conjunction with the EURONET-SOMA meeting and the Functional Disorders 25th Anniversary Symposium, which allowed for interdisciplinary exchange between the early-stage researchers and established clinicians and researchers in the field.
The week began with a welcome and group photo, followed by a series of presentations from ESRs within the treatment-focused work packages of our consortium. We were also pleased to welcome six external PhD students: Dr. Eva Skovslund Nielsen, Dr. Daruj Aniwattanapong, Dr. Catherine Bailey, Dr. Takamichi Kanbayashi, Dr. Charlotte Steen Duholm, and Thomas Tandrup Lamm, who each brought valuable insights from their research in Denmark and the UK. The initial ESR presentations covered a wide range of research topics. Caroline Rometsch shared her work on the prevalence and predictors of treatment success in functional disorders, while Aleksandra Kustra discussed the influence of healthcare-related factors on symptom persistence across Europe. After lunch, Chloe Saunders introduced bodysymptoms.org, highlighting its participatory design process, and Veronica Cabreira presented her research on the diagnosis and treatment of functional cognitive disorders, specifically focusing on an e-health application. The presentations concluded with Nick Mamo’s research on developing collaborative care networks for functional disorders, rounding out a day rich in ideas and discussion.
On Tuesday, leading clinician-researchers delivered lectures on key topics relating to the treatment of functional disorders. Prof. Michael Witthöft offered insights into the pathway from mechanisms to treatment in persistent somatic symptoms, followed by Prof. Patrick Onghena’s introduction to single-case experimental designs, an essential tool for assessing treatment outcomes in individual patients. The group also worked together to advance the ETUDE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), with guidance from Anna Ross of Grasshopper Kreativ. Evening activities included socializing over a farm-style dinner featuring organic local food, where the ESRs and external students had the chance to unwind and engage in conversation.
Midweek, the ESRs were invited to a series of insightful lectures as part of the EURONET-SOMA meeting, starting with presentations by Prof. Per Fink on the SCAN diagnostic interview version 3.0 and Prof. Lisbeth Frosthold on “My Symptoms,” an internet-based
intervention designed for persistent physical symptoms and prescribed by general practitioners. This was followed by Dr. Marianne Rosendal’s talk on complex interventions, where she introduced the MRC guideline through her work on the My Symptoms research. An engaging online lecture by Lia van der Maas then explored psychomotor interventions for patients with functional disorders, offering new perspectives on treatment approaches. The day concluded with Dr. Lineke Tak’s lecture on the multidisciplinary treatment of persistent somatic symptoms and somatic symptom disorders, with practical insights into clinical applications. That evening, the group enjoyed a city walk led by ESRs Chloe and Lina, followed by dinner at Cafe Mellemfolk.
A key highlight of the week was the 25th Functional Disorders Anniversary Symposium, titled “From Somatoform Disorders to Functional Somatic Disorder and Beyond,” held on May 16th at Aarhus University Hospital. This event brought together ESRs, supervisors, and renowned experts in the field to discuss current issues, foster collaboration, and celebrate the progress made over the past 25 years. The symposium featured a series of lectures, along with poster and flash presentations by both ESRs and local early-career researchers. The day concluded with a dinner held for symposium participants.
The final day featured an interactive lecture by Prof. Katleen Bogaerts from Hasselt University in Belgium, who shared her experiences translating scientific research into clinical practice, sparking meaningful questions and discussions. The week wrapped up with reflections on the Aarhus training experience, feedback sharing, and plans for the upcoming summer school in Lausanne. The group then took a memorable trip to Den Gamle By, an open-air museum, to enjoy a cultural tour through Danish history.
