Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie
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Psychotherapy and Social Neuroscience Research Unit

Section of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy

Heads:

  • Dr. Matthias Reinhard, M.Sc.
  • Dr. Richard Musil
  • Dr. Aline Übleis
  • PD Dr. Eva Hoch
  • PD Dr. Andrea Jobst-Heel
  • Prof. Dr. Frank Padberg

Our research focuses primarily on improving our understanding and treatment of complex affective disorders, in particular therapy-resistant or persistent depressive disorder (PDD), borderline personality disorder (BPD) and trauma-related disorders. Currently, we are running studies scrutinising psychological (trauma, attachment, loneliness, paranoia, resilience) and neurobiological factors (oxytocin, genetics, epigenetics) involved in the aetiology and maintenance of these disorders. For instance, we are conducting standardized behavioural experiments (e.g., ostracism/social exclusion) to better understand the interpersonal difficulties our patients often present with and which negatively affect their psychological well-being, quality of life and psychosocial functioning. As such, we modulate potential pathomechanisms such as the effect of the oxytocin system on both the experience of social exclusion and the capacity for social conflict resolution.

Further, we are testing the effects of state-of-the-art and novel psychotherapeutic approaches for these patient groups (Cognitive Behavioural Analysis System of Psychotherapy, CBASP; Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, DBT). As part of our studies, we are collecting clinical and biological data to make inferences on potential mechanisms and predictors of psychotherapeutic effects (e.g., changes in the oxytocin system at the genetic, epigenetic and physiological levels before and after psychotherapy). In addition, we are developing and investigating psychotherapeutic techniques to support patients’ abilities to use messenger-based communication. Finally, a large multicentre randomised controlled trial is currently prepared investigating different psychotherapies in the treatment of PDD (CBASP vs. Behavioural Activation, BA).

Main areas of interest:

  • Psychotherapy of complex affective disorders (persistent depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder, trauma-related disorders)

  • Interpersonal experience and behaviour
  • Social exclusion / Social rejection / Ostracism / Social conflict resolution
  • Loneliness
  • Paranoia
  • Psychosocial impact of the COVID-19-pandemic
  • Messenger-based communication
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology: Effects of Oxytocin on social interactions
  • Genetics and epigenetics of response to psychotherapy

  • Interpersonal behavior and experience of patients with chronic depression or borderline personality disorder: Examining the long-term effectiveness of disorder-specific psychotherapy regarding biological (oxytocin), (epi-)genetic and clinical variables

    • Naturalistic study to assess clinical and biological predictors, mediators and moderators of 10-week disorder-specific psychotherapy (CBASP, DBT)

    • Sponsor: LMU Klinikum
    • Registration: DRKS00019821

    CHANGE-PDD: Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP) vs. Behavioral Activation (BA) in persistently depressed treatment-resistant inpatients: Efficacy, moderators, and mediators of change

    • Randomized multicenter trial to compare CBASP conducted over 16 weeks (acute and continuation treatment) with BA (same dose and duration) in PDD inpatients with treatment resistance regarding efficacy, moderators and mediators of change

    • Funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
    • Start: March 2021 

    NEAR-Corona-Study: My network, the others and resilience

    • Study to better understand the psychosocial impact of the current corona pandemic in psychiatric inpatients and individuals from the general population

    • Sponsor: LMU Klinikum

    MEHIRA: Mental Health in Refugees and Asylum Seekers

    • Multicenter randomized controlled trial to evaluate a stepped and collaborative care model for the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers with affective disorders

    • Funded by the Innovationsfond and German Ministry of Health and carried out in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Malek Bajbouj, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
    • Evaluation of interpreter-assisted Empowerment group interventions for refugees and asylum seekers with depressive symptoms in our MEHIRA consultation hour, which is integrated in the outpatient department

    Study recruitment / Studienrekrutierung:

    For our psychotherapy studies, we are constantly recruiting patients with PDD and non-psychiatric participants (German language required). Please refer to our flyer for more information. Furthermore, we invite you to participate in our NEAR Corona study.

    Für unsere Psychotherapie-Studien suchen wir kontinuierlich Patient*innen mit chronischer Depression, Patient*innen mit Borderline Persönlichkeitsstörung und nicht-psychiatrische Kontroll-Proband*innen. Weitere Informationen entnehmen Sie bitte dem Flyer. Auch für unsere NEAR-Corona-Umfrage suchen wir noch Teilnehmer*innen.