Per Carlbring

Per Carlbring, Ph.D., is a Professor of Clinical Psychology at Stockholm University, Sweden, and a world-renowned pioneer in the development and validation of digital psychological interventions. With a career dedicated to the "digital revolution" in mental healthcare, Professor Carlbring has been instrumental in shifting psychotherapy from traditional face-to-face settings to accessible, evidence-based digital platforms.

He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Internet Interventions and has authored more than 380 peer-reviewed articles. His research consistently focuses on leveraging modern technology—including smartphones, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR)—to enhance the reach and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Among his latest groundbreaking initiatives is the ZeroOCD project, an innovative smartphone-based treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). By utilizing Augmented Reality (AR), the application simulates triggers related to contamination fear—such as virtual germs or dirt—within the user's real-world environment. This allows patients to engage in exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in their own homes, making high-quality treatment more scalable and less resource-intensive.

Professor Carlbring is also leading the CHAI study, which evaluates the role of Artificial Intelligence in mental healthcare. This research investigates the concept of "digital empathy" by comparing AI-generated feedback with human support in internet-based treatment for social anxiety. A central focus of this work is understanding how AI influences the therapeutic alliance and whether it can emulate the complex nuances of human communication.

At the Re_mind Congress, Professor Carlbring brings his two decades of expertise to explore how the fusion of human clinical insight and technological innovation will define the next generation of psychological care.