The Mental Health Laboratory within the Center for Brain Health, an integral part of the Department of Mental Health, Medical Psychology and Psychotherapy at Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, was initially established as a narcology laboratory by Rector’s Order No. 365 of February 14, 1984, issued by the State Institute of Medicine in Chișinău (currently USMF “Nicolae Testemițanu”). Over time, the laboratory evolved, with its primary objectives focused on assessing the use of psychoactive substances, including alcohol, among young people.
Initially, research activities concentrated on evaluating psychoactive substance use—particularly alcohol consumption—among youth, employing standardized European methodologies. The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD), adapted to the context of the Republic of Moldova, served as the foundation for the first systematic studies. The findings were disseminated through key academic outputs, including two monographs, two methodological guidelines, two practice guides, twelve instructional manuals, and five informational brochures, contributing to the development of a prevention-oriented culture and to public awareness.
The Mental Health Laboratory has now developed into a complex research structure with international visibility, integrating applied research, clinical practice, and public policy development, contributing to improving population mental health through the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based interventions, modern methods of diagnosis, screening, and prevention of mental health disorders, as well as through the integration of research, clinical practice, and public policy. The laboratory implements and evaluates evidence-based psychological and psychiatric interventions in both clinical and community settings, while conducting interdisciplinary research aligned with population needs and national priorities.
The laboratory brings together a team of researchers actively engaged in international scientific activity, promoting national and international research collaborations, including competitive and bilateral projects, which represents one of its fundamental objectives.
The Mental Health Laboratory implemented 10 research projects, including 3 bilateral international projects, 4 institutional and national projects, and 2 additional international projects, with a total attracted budget of over EUR 800,000. Research activities included applied and interventional studies in the fields of diagnosis, screening, and prevention of mental health disorders, with systematic data collection and analysis. The results obtained were disseminated through scientific publications and more than eight presentations at national and international scientific events. The laboratory also contributed to the training and supervision of young researchers and doctoral students, strengthening research capacity in the field of mental health.
The laboratory’s scientific output demonstrates significant international visibility, with seven articles published in ISI-indexed journals, of which six have an impact factor ≥ 3 (including four articles in European Psychiatry – impact factor 7.2, one article in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe – impact factor 16.3, and one article in European Journal of Public Health – impact factor 3.9), and one article with an impact factor of 1.88, resulting in a cumulative impact factor of 50.88. Scientific activity also included three Scopus-indexed articles (Frontiers in Psychiatry, Frontiers in Public Health, Psychology Research and Behavior Management), as well as national contributions (Moldovan Journal of Health Sciences). The topics addressed include the socioeconomic correlates of mental health in the Republic of Moldova, mental health in Central and Eastern Europe, public attitudes toward stigma in mental health, interventions in gender-based violence, and the public health implications of alcohol use.
The laboratory’s activity includes Scopus-indexed publications (Archives of the Balkan Medical Union, Archives of Psychiatry Research, IFMBE Proceedings), articles in internationally recognized journals and national publications, as well as active participation with multiple oral presentations and posters at international conferences, including the European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA), the ECNP Congress, the World Congress of Psychiatry (WPA), the EFPT Forum (Maastricht), and the European Public Health Conference (Lisbon).
The laboratory’s innovative results have been recognized through distinctions at national and international innovation exhibitions, including contributions with clinical impact such as the national clinical protocol “Suicidal Behavior. National Clinical Protocol PCN-448” (approved by the Expert Council of the Ministry of Health and by Order No. 973/24.10.2025), as well as the revision of PCN-20 on mental disorders due to alcohol use (revised 2025). These results were further recognized through awards at exhibitions: two gold medals at national level (EXCELLENT IDEA 2025), as well as one gold and one silver medal internationally (EUROINVENT 2025), accompanied by diplomas of excellence.
Editorial output includes applied publications such as a Dialectical Behavior Therapy workbook and the practical guide “Integrated Psychological Intervention (IPI)”, as well as the development and promotion of the monographs “Schizophrenia. Pathobiological Mechanisms and Diagnostic Strategies”, “Medical Psychology: Theoretical Foundations and Research-Based Clinical Applications”, “Biological Mechanisms and Types of Interventions in Addictions”, and “Perinatal Mental Disorders: Strategies for Assessment and Integrated Care”, along with prevention guides and methodological works intended for specialists, students, and residents. These materials support university curricula and continuing education programs, contributing to the standardization and improvement of mental healthcare quality.
The laboratory’s research infrastructure currently includes virtual reality systems, ECG equipment, and an extensive set of standardized clinical instruments—diagnostic scales and assessment tools such as ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition), ADI-R (Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised), SCID-5, CDI, STAI-C, STAI-Y, DENVER II, QOLI, PANSS, MMSE-2, FPI-R, DDE-2, HiPIC, and BASC-2.
The Mental Health Laboratory supports the development of research and evidence-based practice in mental health by translating scientific results into applied interventions and public policy directions at national and international levels.