What is ESSENCE?

ESSENCE, the concept at the heart of our research, is an acronym for Early Symptomatic Syndromes Eliciting Neurodevelopmental Clinical Examinations and was coined by Professor Christopher Gillberg in 2010. It has garnered global attention, with numerous international studies now operating under this overarching framework.

Welcome to ESSENCE-i, we believe progression starts from within, that’s why we focus on gathering one of the most extensive research library.

About ESSENCE

ESSENCE encompasses a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders characterised by debilitating symptoms emerging in early childhood. This spectrum includes ADHD, ASD, DCD, IDD, DLD, Tourette syndrome, early-onset bipolar disorder, behavioural phenotype syndromes, and various neurological and seizure disorders manifesting significant behavioural and cognitive challenges from an early age. These disorders often coexist (“comorbid”) with each other, complicating their differentiation during early diagnostic evaluations. They share genetic and environmental risk factors, as well as clinical symptoms, leading to symptom overlap across the spectrum. Diagnostic criteria may be met for one or more disorders at different ages. ESSENCE itself is not a diagnosis; rather, it serves as a framework to emphasise the importance of recognising the diverse range of problems exhibited by individuals with early-onset neurodevelopmental issues. While precise diagnosis is crucial in the “ESSENCE era,” focusing solely on one type of problem is likely to result in inaccuracies, necessitating ongoing diagnostic reassessment in most cases.

Prevalence

ESSENCE affects approximately one in ten individuals globally, posing a significant public health challenge. It leads to a range of health, academic and adjustment problems, including psychiatric disorder, drug abuse, eating disorders and obesity, chronic fatigue and pain disorders, and, in some cases, criminality, accidents and premature death. There are promising intervention opportunities for many conditions within this spectrum, with interventions having a positive impact on outcomes. Early identification is paramount, but intervention remains beneficial even when diagnosis is delayed. The ESSENCE concept advocates against exclusively specialised services and instead calls for the establishment of neurodevelopmental ESSENCE centres catering to children, adolescents and adults.

You can delve deeper into the definitions, prevalence, symptoms, and interventions associated with different ESSENCE diagnoses on the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre website

  • ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Anorexia nervosa
  • CHARGE syndrome
  • Developmental Coordination Disorder
  • Dyslexia and other reading and writing difficulties
  • Foetal Alcohol Syndrome
  • Fragile X
  • Mild intellectual disability
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • PANS and PANDAS
  • Pathological demand avoidance (PDA)
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • Language disorder/DLD
  • Möbius syndrome
  • Reactive Attachment Disorder
  • Rett Syndrome
  • Schizophrenia
  • Sydenham’s chorea
  • Selective mutism

Who is Professor Christopher Gillberg?

Christopher Gillberg holds the esteemed position of Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, a role he has held since the mid-1980s. Since 2010, he has led the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, demonstrating his commitment to advancing research and treatment in the field. Additionally, he serves as a Chief Physician at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, solidifying his extensive experience and expertise in clinical practice.

With over 45 years of dedicated clinical work, Professor Gillberg is recognised globally as one of the foremost experts in child and adolescent psychiatry. Throughout his illustrious career, he has focused on addressing complex psychiatric and neurodevelopmental challenges facing patients and their families.

Professor Gillberg’s international influence is evidenced by his numerous appointments as Visiting or Honorary Professor at esteemed institutions such as the University of London, University College London (Institute of Child Health), University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, Pasteur Institute, and Kochi University, Japan. Notably, he contributed significantly to the initiation and leadership of the Bergen Child Study during his time as a Visiting Professor at the University of Bergen.

A prolific author and researcher, who coined the concept ESSENCE in 2010, Professor Gillberg has authored over 800 international peer-reviewed scientific papers, with 778 available on the NIH PubMed website. His research spans a wide spectrum of topics crucial to children’s and adolescents’ mental and neurological health, including autism, Asperger syndrome, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, intellectual disability, epilepsy and various behavioural phenotype syndromes. His scientific articles/books have been cited 50,228 times and as of October 2024 his H-index is 111 (Web of Science).

Furthermore, Professor Gillberg’s scholarly contributions extend to the realm of literature, with 37 published books translated into multiple languages, many of which serve as standard textbooks in the field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Autism.

In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Professor Gillberg has been honoured with prestigious national and international awards throughout his career, including

  • The Fernström Award for Young Scientists (1991)
  • Ingvar Prize (1995)
  • Ronald McDonald Pediatric Prize (1998)
  • Ågrenska Major Prize (2001)
  • Ambassador of Gothenburg (2001)
  • Philips Nordic Prize (2004)
  • King’s Medal of Seraphim Order (2009)
  • Niclas Oberg Life Watch Award (2010)
  • Dahlberg Gold Medal (2010)
  • The Söderberg Prize in Medicine in (2012)
  • Selected by the Swedish Psychiatric Association as Sweden’s most productive researcher within the discipline of Psychiatry (2013)
  • Listed on Thomson Reuter’s list of the world’s most influential researchers (all fields) (2014)
  • The INSAR Lifetime Achievement Award (2016)
  • The Psync Award in (2016)
  • Swede of the Year in Medicine (2019)
  • The Arvid Carlsson Prize (2024)
  • Hilda and Alfred Eriksson Prize (2024)

Professor Gillberg’s dedication to mentoring the next generation of researchers is evident through his supervision of over 50 PhD students at the Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre and other universities worldwide.