RG U. Schmidt: Molecular Psychotraumatology
Group leader
Contact
Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry
Kraepelinstrasse 2
80804 Munich
Phone: +49-(0)89-30622-0
Fax: +49-(0)89-30622-605
E-mail: uschmidt[a]mpipsykl.mpg.de
Scientific profile
Existence threatening experiences can lead to the severe psychiatric disorders. In fact only 5-15% of exposed individuals develop posttraumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder or the like, indicating that trauma-spectrum diseases do not represent inevitable consequences of traumatic events but maladaptive processes in response to them. The molecular correlates of these pathological adaptation processes are still mostly unknown.
Hence the research group, together with the outpatient clinic for trauma - spectrum disorders, headed by Dr. Schmidt, aims at elucidating the molecular underpinnings of posttraumatic stress disorder and related diseases employing a translational reaearch concept: By closely connecting molecular biological/biochemical analyses, clinical trials and animal studies we strive for the identification of biomarkers and pathomechanisms underlying psychotrauma - spectrum disorders – finally pursuing for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Clinical profile
Dr. med. Ulrike Schmidt is seniour psychiatrist and heading both the closed ward (ward No. 5) and the outpatient clinic for trauma-spectrum disorders.
Our closed ward is specially adapted for patients in need for an intensive psychiatric treatment. Here, any severe psychiatric disorder is treated with a focus on severe depressive syndroms, bipolar disorders, acute psychotic syndroms, suicidal patients and those needing an inpatient crisis intervention after a traumatic life event.
Our outpatient clinic for trauma-spectrum disorders offers a special and individualized combined pharmacological and trauma - psychotherapeutic treatment for patients suffering from acute or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We focus on PTSD - treatment but offer also crisis interventions in emergency cases.
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