The Problem
The global burden of brain disorders, which include mental health conditions, neurological disorders and cerebrovascular diseases (e.g., depression, dementia and stroke), is staggering.1 It is estimated that there will be 4.9 billion cases of brain disorders by 2050, a >20% increase from 2021.1 These disorders present significant challenges for patients, families, healthcare systems and communities. With this growing burden, health systems must develop tailored strategies for promoting brain health. They must provide unmitigated access to providers, therapies and innovative solutions to facilitate screening, identification and treatment of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. Behavioral health conditions are prevalent in more than 35% of individuals with chronic physical diseases in the US,2 making management increasingly complex and access to comprehensive care critical.
Moreover, in behavioral health assessment and treatment, a gap persists between current care and optimal practice due to limited scientific evidence for behavioral health quality measures, lack of provider training and support and cultural barriers to implementing behavioral healthcare within general care settings.3 The considerable investment that Petauri Kinect has made in brain health positions us to bridge this gap and drive the adoption of solutions to improve outcomes for behavioral health and neurological disorders.
The Complex Challenges
Health inequities intensify for patients with brain disorders due to the difficulties associated with accessing care for these conditions. Patients with brain health disorders, especially those with comorbidities, face significant barriers to accessing care due to healthcare fragmentation, shortages of brain and behavioral health providers and insurance obstacles. Stigma, diagnostic overshadowing and cognitive impairments can further hinder access, while financial instability and transportation challenges can compound these challenges.
The increased need for comprehensive brain and behavioral healthcare puts pressure on communities and systems that lack the necessary resources to meet the needs of large patient populations and manage the complexities of these disorders. As a result, many patients rely on emergency care rather than receiving consistent, integrated treatment.
Thus, developing a clear and deep understanding of the stakeholders and associated brain health entities that impact access, affordability and outcomes is imperative. Life science companies cannot afford to take a back seat in addressing these challenges.
The Success Factors
Life science companies that ultimately succeed in this market will adopt a proactive approach to understanding, engaging and collaborating with their brain and behavioral health customers, while identifying shared priorities and goals. The three critical factors that will drive success for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are:
Deep expertise in brain/behavioral healthcare and interventions
- Due to the complexity of brain and behavioral health, advanced knowledge of neurology, psychiatry, neuropsychology and primary care is required to improve screening, identification, care transitions and management of brain and behavioral disorders.
Best-in-class experience with health system archetypes and processes
- Given the nuances of brain and behavioral healthcare, life science companies must collaborate to understand care sites across various customer archetypes—from health systems and outpatient centers to long-term care institutions.
Top thought leader insights to enhance customer engagement and innovation
- Collaborating with diverse stakeholders—from providers to advocacy groups—enables the integration of the latest innovations and best practices, optimizing brain and behavioral healthcare while ensuring applicability to life science customers.
Expertise, experience and thought leadership are the 3 pillars defining our brain and behavioral health capabilities. In the future, Petauri Kinect will publish in-depth pieces on these topics. We encourage you to stay tuned to learn more about our experience in optimizing brain and behavioral care within health systems.
The Solution
Petauri Kinect is the only strategic advisory and marketing agency dedicated to health system and therapeutic area dynamics. With our proven process for uncovering opportunities, we act as an extension of your team to build markets and optimize adoption.
Reach out to our therapeutic teams here to schedule a capabilities meeting and take the next step with us!
References
- Lei J, Gillespie K. Projected global burden of brain disorders through 2050. Neurology. 2024;102(suppl). https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000205009.
- Dare LO, et al. Co-morbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical diseases in developing and emerging countries: a meta-analysis. BMC Public Health. 2019 Mar 13;19:304. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-6623-6.
- Kilbourne AM , et al. Measuring and improving the quality of mental health care: a global perspective. World Psychiatry. 2018;17:30–38.
- Modi H, Orgera K, Grover A. Exploring barriers to mental health care in the US. Association of American Medical Colleges. Available at: https://www.aamcresearchinstitute.org/our-work/issue-brief/exploring-barriers-mental-health-care-us. Accessed February 6, 2025.
- Mongelli F, Georgakopoulos P, Pato MT. Challenges and opportunities to meet the mental health needs of underserved and disenfranchised populations in the United States. Focus (Am Psychiatr Publ). 2020;18(1):16-24.