The Behavioural Neuropsychiatry Unit (BNPU) is a clinical unit established in 2013 through the IHU-A-Institut du Cerveau – ICM in the framework of the “Investissements d’Avenir” in close cooperation with the APHP / Pitié Salpêtrière.
Behavioural disorders (apathy, disinhibition, emotional or eating disorders…) are very important symptoms in nervous system diseases. These behavioural disorders, still poorly understood, create difficulties in patients care and are often the cause of breakdowns in the care pathway.
In order to better understand the origin and mechanisms of these disorders, and address these with therapeutic solutions, neurologists, psychiatrists and researchers collaborate within the BNPU.
The unit is part of the nervous system diseases pole, and includes six weekly hospital beds. The BNPU has enabled:
• To open enrolment to patients with pathologies requiring neuropsychiatric approach;
• To set up clinical research projects, including on apathy and motivation within patient cohorts;
• To build up reflection on research programmes focused on neurobehavioural disorders in nervous system diseases.
The dialogue between neurologists and psychiatrists enables to better support patients and provide them with better diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic solutions.