DIALOG

Understanding Disorganisation:
A Language-focused Global Initiative in Psychosis

DIALOG is an international, interdisciplinary research initiative investigating language and speech disorganization in people with severe mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Though often invisible and poorly understood, speech and language
disorganization can profoundly disrupt social interaction, contributing to isolation and hindering recovery.

Funded with approximately €6 million by the Wellcome Foundation, this five-year project – officially launched in April 2025 – is led by Lena Palaniyappan (McGill University, Canada).


The consortium includes leading researchers across Canada, UK, Germany, USA, Australia, Italy, and The Netherlands, as well as experts with lived experience, combining naturalistic speech analysis with cutting-edge neuroimaging, computational tools, and rehabilitative methods, involving a sample of over 3,000 individuals affected by psychosis.

NEPLab's role in DIALOG

Within DIALOG, the NEPLab will specifically co-lead Work Group 5 “Intervention & patient benefit” playing a central translational and clinical innovation role.

The NEPLab team will be responsible for:

  • Developing and co-designing a communication-based rehabilitative intervention for people experiencing language and thought disorganization, grounded in the predictive processing framework.
  • Enhancing sensitivity to linguistic and psychological context in conversation to support clearer expression and understanding.
  • Adapting and improving existing communication interventions, refined through direct partnership with people with lived experience to ensure accessibility, acceptability, and empowerment.
  • Integrating naturalistic speech analysis and co-designed materials to demonstrate how meaningful patient involvement leads to more effective interventions.

The NEPLab team will be responsible for:

  • Developing and co-designing a communication-based rehabilitative intervention for people experiencing language and thought disorganization, grounded in the predictive processing framework.
  • Enhancing sensitivity to linguistic and psychological context in conversation to support clearer expression and understanding.
  • Adapting and improving existing communication interventions, refined through direct partnership with people with lived experience to ensure accessibility, acceptability, and empowerment.
  • Integrating naturalistic speech analysis and co-designed materials to demonstrate how meaningful patient involvement leads to more effective interventions.
A doctor's hand points to a brain MRI scan on a lightbox, illustrating medical diagnosis.

NEPLab conducts this work in collaboration with clinical and scientific partners, including Marta Bosia at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Giorgio Di Lorenzo at the University of Rome Tor Vergata.

DIALOG reflects NEPLab’s commitment to high-impact, interdisciplinary, and person-centered research, placing language at the core of understanding psychosis, reducing stigma, and restoring voice to people facing communication difficulties.

Project website: https://dialog.discourseinpsychosis.org/