Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology

Head: PD Dr. Susanne Karch

The Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology is dedicated to the diagnostics of performance and personality of people with mental illnesses. Strengths and weaknesses in the area of cognition, emotional processes as well as abnormalities in the area of personality are identified and objectified.

The assumption is that mental illness is associated with often reversible structural and functional changes in the brain. These are reflected in the experience and behavior of patients and can be measured and quantified at the neural level using modern imaging techniques and at the behavioral level using psychological performance and personality tests.

In this context, there is a close cooperation with the Alzheimer's Therapy and Research Centre (Alzheimer Therapie- und Forschungszentrum), the special outpatient department for autism spectrum disorders (Spezialambulanz für Autismus-Spektrum Störungen) and the driving fitness consultation (Fahrtauglichkeitssprechstunde).

In the field of psychotherapy research, our department's research focuses on the ongoing evaluation of therapeutic programs of the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (e.g. day clinic). It has been shown that patients are less depressed and less anxious when discharged from the day clinic than when admitted. In addition, life satisfaction is higher and cognitive performance has partially improved.

In addition, the relationship between diagnosis, personality factors as well as course of therapy and neuropsychological functions is investigated. Therefor questionnaires and objective procedures, including measures of cognitive performance and emotional competence, are used.

In cooperation with the Department of Clinical Neurophysiology/EEG, the following research topics are being investigated:

• FMRI-based neurofeedback as a therapeutic approach in psychiatry
• Neurobiological correlates of psychotherapeutic interventions

We offer the opportunity to complete research internships in our department. In addition, thesis (bachelor or master) in psychology can be supervised by our employees.