Samuli Saarni
About me
I am professor of Psychiatry at Tampere University, with multidisciplinary background in research, development and healthcare management. Degrees comprising a MD with PhD in Quality of Life research, specialist in Psychiatry, certified psychotherapist; M.Soc.Sc with PhD in Health Technology Assessment, specialist in Healthcare, docent of Healthcare Ethics, EMBA.
My reseach interests focus on the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of mental health treatments. I have been involved in developing large-scale psychological treatment and digital service programmes, including leading the First-Line Therapies Initiative. My research uses pragmatic trials, real-world clinical data, and national health registers to study how evidence-based treatments can be delivered at scale within public health systems, in addition to more theoretical investigations of ethical, legal and policy issues within healthcare.
Responsibilities
Responsible for pre- and postgraduate education and research in Psychiatry.
Latest publications
Associations of prior treatment, waiting time, symptom severity, and session frequency with symptom change in CBT for depression and anxiety in primary care
Mikkonen, K., Lintula, S. J., Rosenström, T., Lahti, J., Helminen, E.-E., Saarni, S. I. & Saarni, S. E., 2026, In: Journal of Affective Disorders. 400, 121225.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Effectiveness of guided self-help, guided internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy, and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy for depression and anxiety: protocols of four parallel randomized controlled non-inferiority trials of the Finnish First-Line Therapies -Initiative (FLT-Step)
Helminen, E.-E., Saarni, S. E., Mikkonen, K., Mattila, M. K., Rosenström, T. H., Karukivi, M., Isometsä, E., Stenberg, J.-H., Ekelund, J. & Saarni, S. I., 11 Mar 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: BMC Psychiatry. 26, 1, 329.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
A competence framework for training cognitive behavioural therapy with children and adolescents: integration of existing models and comparison with national training programmes in Finland
Mikkonen, K., Laitala, S., Launistola, H., Wood, M., Santti, E., Fredriksson, J., Karukivi, M., Saarni, S. I. & Saarni, S. E., 2025, In: Psychiatria Fennica. 56, p. 288-297 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Construct validity, reliability and measurement invariance of the intervention usability scale - Insights from two psychological interventions in primary health care
Mikkonen, K., Hannukkala, M. S., Lahti, J., Saarni, S. I. & Saarni, S. E., 2025, Research Square.Research output: Working paper › Preprint › Scientific
Efficacy and effectiveness of therapist-guided internet versus face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy for depression via counterfactual inference using naturalistic registers and machine learning in Finland: a retrospective cohort study
Rosenström, T. H., Saarni, S. E., Saarni, S. I., Tammilehto, J. & Stenberg, J. H., Mar 2025, In: The Lancet Psychiatry. 12, 3, p. 189-197 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Hyvinvointialueen itsehallinnon rajoilla: Miten oikeus riittäviin terveyspalveluihin rajaa hyvinvointialueen paikallista itsehallintoa?
Tanner, L., Saarni, S. & Nykänen, E., 2025, In: Lakimies. 123, 2, p. 254-281 28 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review
Lääkärin etiikan perusperiaatteita
Saarni, S., 2025, Palliatiivinen hoito. Saarto, T., Lehto, J., Jämsen, E. & R. P. (eds.). Kustannus Oy Duodecim, pli00284 (027.015)Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Professional
Lääketieteellinen etiikka: periaatteita ja työkaluja
Saarni, S., 2025, Palliatiivinen hoito. Saarto, T., Lehto, J., Jämsen, E. & R. P. (eds.). Kustannus Oy Duodecim, pli00283 (027.010)Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › Professional
Technological maturity model for digital decision support systems in mental healthcare: A scoping review comparing the Finnish Therapy Navigator services to international alternatives
Karolaakso, T., Mikkonen, K., Tantarimäki, T. & Saarni, S. I., 22 Dec 2025, In: Finnish Journal of eHealth and eWelfare. 17, 4, p. 532-547Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › peer-review
Terapiat etulinjaan -toimintamalli työterveyden tukena
Räisänen, K., Roslund, P., Mikkonen, K., Koskiaho, I., Peitsara-Haataja, K. & Saarni, S., 2025, In: Työterveyslääkäri. 43, 3, p. 16-19 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Professional