About this Research Topic
Affective disorders and their differential diagnosis, which are the focus of the research, are among the most prevalent mental illnesses. There is still no satisfactory standard of clinical and biological markers of early detection, disease progression, and therapy response. With the establishment of a reliable methodology of structural analysis (high-resolution morphometry) of the hypothalamus as the central region of the diencephalon, the research focus aims to close a gap in the neurobiological characterization of affective disorders.
Future studies will elucidate the pathomechanisms of hypothalamic volume changes using diffusion imaging and expand the recognized portfolio of neurobiological traits and state markers of affective disorders. At the same time, the model of vasovagal balance is used to establish a non-invasive intervention of the autonomic nervous system in affective disorders taking into account the above-mentioned biomarkers.
The research focus is integrated into a broad concept of prevention of affective disorders, taking into account clinical and biological markers, and is considered to be suitable for representative population samples.
Based on the biopsychosocial model, the research focus represents a state-of-the-art methodological approach with the aim of better early diagnosis and personalized intervention of affective disorders and their differential diagnosis.
Specific research interests:
- Systemic neurobiology (MRI, EEG, PET, CSF) of hypothalamic dysfunction for affective disorders
- Non-invasive intervention methods of vasovagal balance
- Early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders across the lifespan
- Multimodal primary and secondary prevention of mental disorders
- Psychopathology and philosophy of mind in psychotic disorders
Academic clinical focus:
- Early detection and therapy of delusional depression
- Relapse prevention of bipolar disorder
- Diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenic prodrome
- Differential diagnosis and follow-up monitoring (telemedicine) of cognitive disorders
- Interdisciplinary prevention and treatment of paraphilic disorders
- "Minimally restrictive psychiatry" - community psychiatric care concepts for the treatment of aggressive behavioral disorders
The goal of the present Research Topic is an up-to-date collection of high-impact psychiatric research programs. To this end, a multidimensional, cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective of the psychiatric subject is to be presented by a variety of clinical investigations running from affective and psychotic to cognitive disorders. The diversity of research models will be enriched by the exploration of a transcultural dimension in order to refine the personalized neurobiology of psychiatric conditions.
Future studies will elucidate the pathomechanisms of hypothalamic volume changes using diffusion imaging and expand the recognized portfolio of neurobiological traits and state markers of affective disorders. At the same time, the model of vasovagal balance is used to establish a non-invasive intervention of the autonomic nervous system in affective disorders taking into account the above-mentioned biomarkers.
The research focus is integrated into a broad concept of prevention of affective disorders, taking into account clinical and biological markers, and is considered to be suitable for representative population samples.
Based on the biopsychosocial model, the research focus represents a state-of-the-art methodological approach with the aim of better early diagnosis and personalized intervention of affective disorders and their differential diagnosis.
Specific research interests:
- Systemic neurobiology (MRI, EEG, PET, CSF) of hypothalamic dysfunction for affective disorders
- Non-invasive intervention methods of vasovagal balance
- Early diagnosis of neurocognitive disorders across the lifespan
- Multimodal primary and secondary prevention of mental disorders
- Psychopathology and philosophy of mind in psychotic disorders
Academic clinical focus:
- Early detection and therapy of delusional depression
- Relapse prevention of bipolar disorder
- Diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenic prodrome
- Differential diagnosis and follow-up monitoring (telemedicine) of cognitive disorders
- Interdisciplinary prevention and treatment of paraphilic disorders
- "Minimally restrictive psychiatry" - community psychiatric care concepts for the treatment of aggressive behavioral disorders
The goal of the present Research Topic is an up-to-date collection of high-impact psychiatric research programs. To this end, a multidimensional, cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective of the psychiatric subject is to be presented by a variety of clinical investigations running from affective and psychotic to cognitive disorders. The diversity of research models will be enriched by the exploration of a transcultural dimension in order to refine the personalized neurobiology of psychiatric conditions.
Keywords: psychiatry clinical neuroscience psychopathology personalized neurobiology brainimaging vasovagal balance neurocognition
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