LORENZO TARSITANI

CURRENT POSITIONS
– Associate Professor of Psychiatry (SSD MED/25 / MEDS-11/A), Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome (since 2022)
– Director, Psychiatric Unit (UOC di Psichiatria), AOU Policlinico Umberto I, Rome (since 2025)
– Clinical Coordinator, Psychiatric Inpatient Unit (SPDC), Policlinico Umberto I, Sapienza University of Rome (since 2020)
– Coordinator, Transcultural and Migration Psychiatry Service, Policlinico Umberto I (since 2008)

PREVIOUS POSITIONS

– Clinical Coordinator, Psychiatric Unit (UOC di Psichiatria), Policlinico Umberto I (2022–2025)
– Consultant Psychiatrist (permanent), Policlinico Umberto I, Rome (since December 2016)
– Assigned to Eating Disorders Unit, Policlinico Umberto I (2016–2019)
– Consultant Psychiatrist, Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Policlinico Umberto I (2006–2016)
– Research Fellow (Assegnista di Ricerca), Department of Psychiatric Sciences and Psychological Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (2004–2006)
– Internship, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland (2003)
– National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor of Psychiatry (Sector 06/D5), obtained in 2017

AWARDS
– Best Poster Award, V National Congress of the Italian Society of Psychopathology (SOPSI), Rome, February 2000. Awarded annually by the SOPSI Board of Directors.
– Special Mention, VIII National Congress of SOPSI, Rome, February–March 2003. Awarded by the SOPSI Board of Directors for the poster: Battisti F, Tarsitani L (corresponding author) et al. Dimensional assessment of personality and subjective stress in adolescents with headache.
– Best Poster Award, III National Congress of the Group for Research in Psychosomatics (GRP), Cesena, May 2006. Awarded by a panel of scientific experts.
– Best Poster Award, XII National Congress of SOPSI, Rome, February 2008. Awarded by a panel of scientific experts of the SOPSI Board.
– Invited Technical Expert, Mental Health Global Action Programme (mhGAP) Guideline Development Group Meeting, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, December 2014.

REASEARCH POSITIONS
– Internship, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland (March–August 2003). Research on comorbid depression in medical illness; systematic reviews, technical reports.
– Temporary Adviser, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland (2005). Updating of the WHO clinical and epidemiological databank on depression in comorbidity.
– Research Assignment (Agreement for Performance of Work), WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP), Geneva (2009). Development of the mhGAP Intervention Guide 1.0 for mental, neurological and substance use disorders.
– Research Assignment (Agreement for Performance of Work), WHO mhGAP, Geneva (2014–2016). Evidence synthesis (GRADE methodology) for the revision of the mhGAP Intervention Guide 2.0, section on Psychosis; participation as Reviewer at Expert Meeting (1–2 December 2014) and as Technical Expert at the mhGAP Guideline Development Group Meeting (3–5 December 2014), Geneva.
– Member, Technical Working Group, WHO Rehabilitation 2030 project — Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation for Schizophrenia (Module 8: Mental health conditions), WHO (April 2020 – December 2022).

Current teaching (since 2022)
– Coordinator of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology Courses, MD Programs A and F (International Medical School), Sapienza University of Rome
– Coordinator of the Psychiatry Course, Degree Program in Psychiatric Rehabilitation Techniques, Sapienza University of Rome
– Professor of Psychiatry, Degree Programs in Midwifery (B) and Nursing Sciences (B), Sapienza University of Rome
– Professor of Psychiatry, Degree Program in Medicine HT, Sapienza University of Rome (since 2024)
– Lecturer, Ethnopsychiatry, Global Humanities, Faculty of Humanities, Sapienza University of Rome (2023–2025)
– Lecturer, Master's Program in Emergency Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome (since 2022)
Previous teaching
– Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, International Medical School (Course F), Sapienza University of Rome (2016–2022)
– Lecturer in Psychiatry, MD Program D, Sapienza University of Rome (2017–2018)
– Adjunct Professor of General and Clinical Psychology, Nursing Sciences Degree Program (Z), Sapienza University of Rome, Pomezia campus (2012–2019)
– Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry, Degree Program in Psychological Sciences and Techniques, European University of Rome (2008–2012)
– Lecturer and Scientific Secretary, 2nd-Level Master's Program 'Diagnosis and Treatment of Eating Disorders', Sapienza University of Rome (2014–2017)
– Lecturer, Interfaculty 2nd-Level Master's Program 'Clinical Criminology, Forensic Psychology and Forensic Psychiatry' (2018–2020)
Doctoral teaching and supervision
– Lecture 'Introduction to systematic review studies', PhD Program in Clinical-Experimental Neurosciences and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome (a.y. 2025/2026)
– Supervisor and tutor for approximately 25 undergraduate and postgraduate dissertations, including 5 MD theses (International Medical School), and ongoing supervision of psychiatry residents and medical students as part of professionalising clinical training (since 2006)

6. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS
The following collaborations directly contribute to the scientific quality and feasibility of the proposed project, which focuses on scalable WHO psychological interventions, vulnerable populations, and stepped-care approaches:

World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva
Ongoing collaboration (since 2005) as Temporary Adviser and consultant with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, within the framework of the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (mhGAP). Active contribution to the development of the mhGAP Intervention Guide versions 1.0 and 2.0, and to the WHO Package of Interventions for Rehabilitation (schizophrenia module). Member of the WHO Guideline Development Group for Schizophrenia (2020–2023).
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam — Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences
Active collaboration, including participation in the RESPOND project (Horizon 2020, Grant No 101016127; 2020–2024) and the ADVANCE project (Horizon Europe, Grant No 101080323; since 2024), focusing on scalable WHO psychological interventions for migrants and other vulnerable populations.
KU Leuven University — Department of Neurosciences, Belgium
Active research collaboration on mental health interventions and psychopathology.
University of Verona — Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences
Ongoing collaboration as co-investigator in the REDEFINE (H2020, 2016–2021), RESPOND (H2020, 2020–2024) and ADVANCE (Horizon Europe, since 2024) projects. Sapienza serves as a partner site coordinated by Verona.
REDEFINE Consortium (H2020, Project ID 779255)
International consortium involving institutions from Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Finland, Turkey and Australia, coordinated by the University of Verona, for the development and evaluation of WHO psychological interventions for asylum seekers and refugees.

7. OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE
– Member (alternate), Medical Commission for Assessment of Psychophysical Fitness of Technical Personnel in Nuclear Facilities (Ministry of Health, D.P.R. 30.12.1970 n. 1450, as amended by D.L.gs 17.03.1995 n. 230) (2011–2013)
– Member, Ethics Advisory Board, REDEFINE international project funded by the European Commission and the World Health Organization (2016–2019)
– Participant, WHO 'Clinical Comorbidity' Project, in collaboration with the World Psychiatric Association, Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, WHO Geneva. Activities included systematic literature reviews, identification of critical areas, and preparation of technical reports and manuscripts (2004–2005)
– Researcher, SET-DEP Study (Screening and Enhanced Treatment of Depression in Primary Care) — ISS Ricerca Finalizzata 2006. Multicentre RCT on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a depression screening programme in 15 general practice settings, ASL RMA (2009–2011)
– Responsible Investigator, research on stereotypes of psychiatry in cinema; study on the quantitative and qualitative analysis of feature films for characterisation of mental health representations, commissioned by the Department of Psychiatric Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome (2003–2006)

MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES
– European Psychiatric Association (EPA) — since 2022
– Società Italiana di Psicopatologia (SOPSI) — since 2004
– Società Italiana di Psichiatria (SIP) — since 2019

Current projects
ADVANCE
Addressing mental health vulnerabilities from adolescence to older age: innovating prevention science for times of change
Funder: European Union, Horizon Europe — Grant No 101080323
Role: Co-investigator / Site coordinator (Rome, migrants' recruitment for RCT)
Duration: January 2024 – ongoing

Bando di Ateneo Sapienza 2023 — Fibromyalgia RCT
Effectiveness of an online WHO psychological intervention vs an alternative activity in pain perception and distress in fibromyalgia. A Randomized Controlled Study. Protocol RP123188F78F53C8
Funder: Sapienza University of Rome (competitive peer-reviewed call)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: March 2024 – ongoing
Bando di Ateneo Sapienza 2024 — Primary Headaches RCT
Efficacy of an online WHO psychological intervention (DWM) vs an alternative activity in pain perception and distress in Primary Headaches. A Randomized Controlled Study. Protocol RP1241907E9E4706
Funder: Sapienza University of Rome (competitive peer-reviewed call)
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: May 2025 – ongoing

Past projects
RESPOND
Preparedness of health systems to reduce mental health and psychosocial concerns resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic
Funder: European Union, Horizon 2020 — Grant No 101016127
Role: Co-investigator / Sapienza site coordinator (WP5, alongside University of Verona)
Duration: December 2020 – May 2024
COMET — COVID-19 Mental Health Survey
Mental health effects of the COVID-19 outbreak — a longitudinal international comparison
Funder: International consortium (13 nations)
Role: Director, Sapienza site
Duration: September 2020 – January 2024
VESPA
Assessing tolerability and efficacy of vortioxetine versus SSRIs in elderly patients with depression: a pragmatic, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, superiority, randomized trial
Funder: Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) — EudraCT: 2018-001444-66
Role: Sapienza site coordinator (11 Italian centres)
Duration: January 2017 – January 2024
REDEFINE
Refugee Emergency: DEFining and Implementing Novel Evidence-based psychosocial Interventions
Funder: European Commission / WHO, Horizon 2020 — SC1-HCO-07-2017, Project ID 779255; CUP B63C17000410006
Role: Principal Investigator, Sapienza unit coordinator
Duration: January 2016 – January 2021
PRIN 2005 (MIUR)
Longitudinal analysis of psychopathological, personality and stress-vulnerability variables in patients resistant vs. non-resistant to anti-H. pylori therapy
Funder: Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR), PRIN 2005
Role: Research Fellow (participant)
Duration: January 2006 – January 2007
SET-DEP (ISS Ricerca Finalizzata 2006)
Screening and Enhanced Treatment of Depression in Primary care
Funder: Italian National Institute of Health (ISS)
Role: Researcher / participant
Duration: January 2009 – December 2011

Scientific metrics (Scopus, May 2026): 115+ peer-reviewed publications · Total citations: ~2,900 · H-index: 24