Francesco Saverio Bersani

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Francesco Saverio Bersani is a clinical psychiatrist and researcher whose work bridges the fields of neuropsychiatry, psychosomatic medicine, and the neurobiology of severe mental illness. His major contributions center on the intersection of medical illness and psychiatric syndromes, particularly delusional misidentification and catatonia. Notably, his 2013 paper on a Capgras-like syndrome triggered by an acute urinary tract infection—cited 19 times—is a landmark case report demonstrating how systemic infections can unmask complex psychotic symptoms, challenging the traditional boundary between organic and functional psychoses. This work exemplifies his broader impact: Bersani has published extensively on catatonia in medical settings, the role of inflammation in schizophrenia, and the psychopathological consequences of COVID-19. With over 1,500 total citations and an h-index of 22, his research has shaped clinical understanding of how physical illness alters psychiatric presentations. He is also known for his contributions to the psychosomatic approach in consultation-liaison psychiatry, advocating for integrated care models. Bersani’s work is essential reading for clinicians and researchers interested in the dynamic interface between mind, brain, and body.