The Lundbeck Institute

The magnitude and impact of mental health problems have, to a great extent, been underestimated through out the World. Epidemiology studies have clearly demonstrated high prevalence of CNS diseases and the enormous burden they represent to the patients, their families and society. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that only half of the patients suffering from mental disorders are being recognized. Awareness and early recognition is of utmost importance in order to improve diagnosis and treatment, and consequently to improve the quality of life for patients and reduce costs for society.

H. Lundbeck A/S recognized the implications of mental disability and established the independent foundation, The Lundbeck International Neuroscience Foundation (LINF) and the Lundbeck Institute in 1997 to help fight the global burden of CNS diseases.

The EBC (European Brain Council) has shown that the burden of brain diseases constitutes 35% of the total burden of all diseases in Europe. There are an estimated 127 million Europeans currently living with a brain disorder out of a total population of 466 million. The total annual cost of brain disorders in Europe in 2004 was estimated to EUR 386 billion.

Our Vision
"Through educational activities to contribute to improve quality of life for patients suffering from psychiatric and neurological diseases".

Activities
The activities of the Lundbeck Institute are fully dedicated to non-product related activities of any kind, and there will never be advertising in favour of drugs from any medical company. All activities build upon objective and evidence-based knowledge.

At present, the Lundbeck Institute offers the following activities

• interactive and international seminars
• educational materials
• professional websites and resources for specialists (this site) as well as for GPs (CNSforum)
• online communities containing information for patients and relatives (depression and dementia)
• a psychiatry quality measurement programme (PQM)
• a presentation tool for facilitating local workshops (Workshop Manager)
• a comprehensive database of all psychotropic drugs

The Faculty
The Institute's educational activities are approved by the Institute Faculty consisting of more than 90 prominent psychiatrists and neurologists from all over the world. They take on a number of tasks and responsibilities such as

• advise on scientific contents
• involvement in production of the Lundbeck Institute material
• expert at the Lundbeck Institute seminars

The Lundbeck Institute has its own governing body, the Lundbeck International Neuroscience Foundation (LINF).

The initiative is supported by the following international organisations, who all have a seat in the board of LINF

• Association of European Psychiatrists (AEP)
• Collegium International Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum (CINP)
• European Collegium of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP)
• European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS)
• World Psychiatric Association (WPA)