Research Overview
Research focuses on mental disorders, their etiology, biological pathophysiology, and therapy. The research group focuses on the biomolecular consequences of chronic and traumatic stress and their impact on mental and physical health, including their role in the etiology of stress and trauma sequelae and age-associated physical diseases. We believe that (further) development of therapies is possible through a better holistic understanding of the biological connections between the cause of disease and its expression. We see a key to better understanding the etiology of mental and comorbid physical illness in a better understanding of the interaction between the immune system and metabolism (immune metabolism), mitochondrial function and health, and orthomolecular factors.
Depression is accompanied by a variety of changes in different biological systems throughout the body. Reduced energy production, activation of the immune system, and altered oxygen supply to the cells, among other things, point to the involvement of mitochondria in the course of the disease. In order to identify biological changes as the cause of depression and to understand their significance for the treatability with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) of depression, we are currently conducting the study "MitO2Health".
Another important research area of the work group is the question of risk and resilience factors in the transgenerational transmission of abuse and maltreatment in childhood. Here, we conducted the collaborative research project "My Childhood - Your Childhood" funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
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The selection of the right therapy is of crucial importance for the treatment of traumatized individuals. To this end, the "ENHANCE" study will compare two therapies, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CT) and trauma-focused psychodynamic therapy (TPT), using subjects with PTSD. In addition, research is being conducted to determine whether the positive psychological effects of therapy also reverse the biological changes induced in PTSD.
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Promotion of holistic health after chronic stress and trauma
The selection of the right therapy is of crucial importance for the treatment of traumatized individuals. To this end, the "ENHANCE" study will compare two therapies, trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (CT) and trauma-focused psychodynamic therapy (TPT), using subjects with PTSD. In addition, research is being conducted to determine whether the positive psychological effects of therapy also reverse the biological changes induced in PTSD.
For more information, click here.
Chronic stress leads to multiple changes in our bodies. This can result in deterioration of mental health and chronic inflammation. The aim of the "HypnoTreat" study is therefore to explore methods to counteract these negative changes. Hypnosis will be used to reduce chronic stress and the resulting inflammatory processes. Furthermore, we investigate effects on parameters of the blood count and mitochondrial bioenergetics in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC).
Further information can be found here.