Reseach Foci of the Division of General Psychiatry
Systematic and continuous assessment and documentation of side effects and adverse events occurring under psychopharmacologic treatment, as well as cross-sectional assessments of prescribing patterns. This focus is in cooperation with the Österreichische Gesellschaft für Arzneimittelsicherheit in der Psychiatrie (ÖAMSP)
Quantification of levels of specific proteins in the brain (i.e., serotonin-1A-receptors, NMDA-receptors, dopamin-2/3-Receptors, monoamine transporters (SERT, NET), enzymes (MAOA) with PET in psychiatric disorders (i.e., depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, ADHD) as well as treatment-induced changes.
Quantification of the occupancy of psychopharmaceuticals at specific targets in the brain and assessment of the association with functional changes (i.e., neuronal network alterations)
Quantification of glucose and neurotransmitter metabolism in the brain (i.e., with the radioligands FDOPA and FDG), also simultaneously with fMRI
Assessment of perfusion (pcASL) with PET/MR for differentiation of glucose metabolism and neuronal activity during cognitive or emotional tasks or psychopharmacological stimulation
Imaging genetics: assessment of the relationship between genetic variants, epigenetics (i.e., mRNA, methylome), and protein levels in various psychiatric disorders and in association with functional and structural changes
Assessment and testing of neuroimaging-based prediction parameters for treatment and early detection
Assessment and testing of neuroimaging-based prediction parameters for differential diagnostics and subgroup-classification
fMRI for the assessment of neuronal activation patterns in psychiatric disorders and in accordance with emotional and cognitive tasks
FMRI for the assessment of neuronal connectivity patterns in psychiatric disorders and specific therapies (i.e, psychopharmacology, TMS, ECT)
MRI for the quantification of glutamate/glutamine and GABA in various psychiatric disorders and in association with various treatments (i.e., ketamine, TMS, SSRIs)
Brain morphometry (voxel- and parcellation-based) including assessment of hippocampus substructures, amygdala, thalamus, brainstem, and cortex in the context of psychiatric disorders and treatment
Assessment of the glymphatic system during sleep and under psychopharmacologic treatment utilizing PET/MR/EEG
The study of light therapy and therapeutic sleep deprivation as non-pharmacologic biologic treatment measures
Chronobiologic characteristics of psychiatric disorders, particularly affective disorders
Seasonal affective disorder
Study of antidepressants (i.e., SSRIs and ketamine) utilizing a broad array of imaging methods (i.e., PET, MRS, fMRI…)
Treatment optimization in TMS using imaging-supported stimulation based on structural and functional data
Research on light therapy and therapeutic sleep deprivation using imaging (i.e., MAOA PET, fMRI)
Study of seasonal affective disorder using methods for the assessment of brain structure and protein concentrations
Research to support the definition of treatment response, non-response, and resistance
Research to support the definition of pseudo-resistance
Algorithms for antidepressant therapy
Psychopharmacotherapeutic strategies in non-response and resistance
Clinical and genetic correlates of non-response and resistance
Clinical and genetic correlates of „difficult-to-treat depression" (DTD)“
Research on the impact of socio-demographic factors and clinical variables on treatment response
Efficacy and tolerability of psychopharmaceuticals
Assessment of study methodology in psychopharmacologic studies with a focus on placebo response
Meta-Analyses
Genetic and epigenetic studies in various neuropsychiatric disorders including affective disorders, schizophrenia, Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome, eating disorders, etc.
Genetic and epigenetic studies in suicidality in affective disorders
Studies on gene-environment interaction
Pharmacogenetic studies on response and side effects in various psychiatric disorders
Treatment concepts
Assessment of the toxicity of pschopharmaceuticals
The study of involuntary admission and treatment in the context of the “Unterbringungsgesetz”
Treatment response and imaging of electroconvulsive therapy with PET/MR (serotonin-1A-receptors, MAO-A, volumetric analysis) and plasma markers (BDNF)
Assessment of new psychopharmaceuticals in regards to their efficacy and tolerability
Assessment of clinical and biological treatment markers
Assessment of the relationship between genetic variables, response, and tolerability
Assessment of challenging clinical phenomena and treatment resistance as well as treatment strategies
Impact of sensitization, schizophrenia, and genetic parameters on dopamine metabolism
Sex differences in dopamine metabolism in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls
Structural characteristics of the cortex and their impact on dopamine release in schizophrenia, assessed with PET/MR
Impact of omega-3-fatty acids on dopamine metabolism and working memory in patients with first-episode psychosis, persons at high risk, and healthy controls
Assessment of amphetamine-induced sensitization on dopamine synthesis and release
Prediction studies in first-episode psychosis
Sex and gender aspects of auditory hallucinations in schizophrenic disorders
Translation and validation of the questionnaire „BAVQ-R"
Translation and validation of the questionnaire „VPD" (Voice Power Differential Scale)
The influence of ToM -disorders on reaching personal goals in patients with schizophrenia (Pilot study)
Studies on the diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders and non-substance use disorders
Influence of somatic and psychiatric comorbidities on the course of substance use disorders
Treatment accessibility studies for substance use disorders in incarceration
Impact of opiate substitution therapy on intrauterine development
Hotline for patients with gambling addiction
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