Prof. John de Figueiredo | Loneliness and Demoralization | Best Researcher Award

Yale University School of Medicine | United States

Prof. John de Figueiredo is a highly accomplished psychiatrist, educator, and researcher whose career bridges clinical excellence, academic leadership, and international recognition in psychiatry and public health. He earned his medical degree from the University of Bombay, followed by advanced training in mental health at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, and completed residency and fellowship training at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and School of Medicine. His academic career at Yale University School of Medicine has spanned decades, progressing from assistant professor to clinical professor, where he has supervised and mentored fellows, residents, medical students, and multidisciplinary teams. His research interests focus on cultural psychiatry, psychopathology, psychosomatic medicine, psychiatric epidemiology, and geriatric psychiatry, contributing significantly to understanding the interaction between culture, mental health, and clinical practice. He is recognized for skills in teaching, supervision, curriculum design, and cross-cultural clinical care, complemented by leadership roles in global psychiatric associations. Prof. de Figueiredo has been honored with numerous national and international awards, including recognition by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychopathological Association, and the Royal Society of Medicine, among others. In conclusion, his career reflects a lifelong commitment to advancing psychiatry, medical education, and patient care through scholarship, mentorship, and global collaboration.

Profile: Google scholar

Featured Publications

de Figueiredo, J. M. (1993). Depression and demoralization: Phenomenologic differences and research perspectives. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 34(5), 308–311. Citations: 314

de Figueiredo, J. M., & Frank, J. D. (1982). Subjective incompetence, the clinical hallmark of demoralization. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 23(4), 353–363. Citations: 238

Cockram, C. A., Doros, G., & de Figueiredo, J. M. (2009). Diagnosis and measurement of subjective incompetence: The clinical hallmark of demoralization. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 78(6), 342–345. Citations: 106

de Figueiredo, J. M. (2013). Distress, demoralization and psychopathology: Diagnostic boundaries. The European Journal of Psychiatry, 27(1), 61–73. Citations: 97

Manuelidis, E. E., de Figueiredo, J. M., Kim, J. H., Fritch, W. W., & Manuelidis, L. (1988). Transmission studies from blood of Alzheimer disease patients and healthy relatives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 85(13), 4898–4901.
Citations: 92

de Figueiredo, J. M. (2007). Demoralization and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 76(3), 129–133. Citations: 86

Dr. Sonia Cherpe | Psychology | Best Researcher Award

University of Coimbra | portugal

Dr. Sónia Cherpe is a dedicated researcher whose work has focused extensively on adolescent depression, trauma, and cognitive-behavioural interventions, contributing significantly to the field of psychology and mental health. She pursued her academic career at the University of Coimbra, where she has been affiliated with the Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognitive-Behavioural Intervention. Her education and training positioned her to explore preventive approaches to depression in Portuguese adolescents, supported by funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia. Professionally, she has contributed to multiple national and international projects examining the role of trauma, shame, and emotion regulation in depressive symptomatology, and has been actively involved in psychometric validation of assessment tools adapted for Portuguese populations. Her research interests include adolescent mental health, preventive interventions for depression, cognitive and emotional regulation, and the development of culturally adapted assessment instruments. Skilled in research design, longitudinal analysis, psychometric evaluation, and evidence-based interventions, Cherpe has collaborated with esteemed colleagues both nationally and internationally. She has received recognition through funded projects, conference presentations, and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Overall, Sónia Cherpe’s career reflects a strong commitment to advancing knowledge in adolescent mental health, with a focus on prevention and intervention strategies that address psychological vulnerabilities and promote well-being.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Cherpe, S., Cunha, M., Xavier, A. M., Matos, A. P., Arnarson, E. Ö., Craighead, W. E., & Pinto-Gouveia, J. (2025, August 25). Self-Compassion as a Mediator of the Longitudinal Link Between Parent and Adolescent Depressive Symptoms. Adolescents.

Azevedo, J., Castilho, P., Carreiras, D., Martins, M. J., Carvalho, C. B., Cherpe, S., Pereira, A. T., & Macedo, A. (2023, August 18). Development of the Clinical Interview for Bipolar Disorder (CIBD) – Rational and experts’ panel evaluation. Journal of Neurology, Neurological Science and Disorders.

Cunha, M., Almeida, R., Cherpe, S., Simões, S., & Marques, M. (2018, October 1). Uma abordagem longitudinal da contribuição do trauma e da vergonha nos sintomas depressivos em adolescentes. Revista Portuguesa de Investigação Comportamental e Social, 4(2), 49-59.

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