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Gemma Nieva Rifa

I am a PhD psychologist at the Mental Health Service and a VHIR researcher. My interests are drug addiction and mental health, particularly tobacco use disorder, and the psychology of change behaviour in general. I enjoy helping patients to care for themselves, training professionals and research. In addition, I actively participate as a vicepresident in the Smoke Free Hospital Committee.

Institutions of which they are part

Research technician
Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca
Psychologist
Psychiatrics
General Hospital

Gemma Nieva Rifa

Institutions of which they are part

Research technician
Psychiatry, Mental Health and Addictions
Vall Hebron Institut de Recerca
Psychologist
Psychiatrics
General Hospital

I am a PhD psychologist at the Mental Health Service and a VHIR researcher. My interests are drug addiction and mental health, particularly tobacco use disorder, and the psychology of change behaviour in general. I enjoy helping patients to care for themselves, training professionals and research. In addition, I actively participate as a vicepresident in the Smoke Free Hospital Committee.

I began my career at Vall d’Hebron Hospital back in 2006 as a psychologist, focusing on specialized interventions for smoking cessation in both individual and group formats. Over the years, I have developed expertise in smoking cessation among patients with psychiatric disorders, including those with co-occurring addictions. My doctoral research centered on the relationship between tobacco use and mental health, and I also hold a Master’s degree as a Smoking Cessation Specialist (PIUFET, 2022). My commitment to Vall d’Hebron is reflected in my role as President of the Vall d’Hebron Smoke-Free Committee.

Currently, I am an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. I also teach in several university master’s programs and deliver lectures in both face-to-face and online courses. Beyond academia, I serve on the Board Committee of the Catalan Society for Attention and Treatment of Tobacco Consumption. I am also an active member of the Tobacco and Mental Health Group coordinated by the Catalan Network of Smoke-Free Hospitals, and lead the Tobacco Group of the CAS network of Catalonia.

In addition to my teaching and committee work, I am the author of numerous national and international publications. I have contributed as a researcher to several projects and clinical trials, and I have collaborated in the development of multiple clinical guidelines.

Related news

A large-scale study involving Vall d’Hebron confirms the genetic relatedness among 14 different psychiatric disorders and groups them into five new families, paving the way for new treatments targeting their shared underlying genetic causes

Funding has been obtained for 43 projects under the calls for Health R&D&I Projects, Health Technology Development, and Independent Clinical Research

The study, conducted with more than 1,400 people with addictive disorders, delves into the biological mechanisms that connect mental health, life trajectory and educational opportunities.

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