Adolescence Clinical Psychology Unit

The Adolescence Clinical Psychology Unit (UPCA) is led by Martin Debbané.

Research Fields

Research projects carried out by the UPCA focus on interactions between cognitive processes and emotional regulation during adolescence. Our goal aim to better understand the raising of mental suffering of the adolescent, following an approach which postulate the existence of a continuum between "normal" and "pathological" outward signs.

The specificity of our work is structured on a longitudinal follow-up of adolescents aiming to study the development of cognitive processes and emotional regulation mechanisms which contribute to pathological expression.

With the help of methods combining the latest psychometrical instruments for clinical psychology, innovative experimental psychology paradigms (self and reality monitoring) as well as fonctional neuroimage, the Unit tackles the developmental psychopathology in a pluridisciplinary perspective.

Clinical reserches initiated by the UCPA are carried out in close collaboration with the Research Unit of the Medical Pedagogical Service of the canton of Geneva.