Maximilian Pilhatsch
© Maximilian Pilhatsch
Prof. Dr. med.
NameMaximilian Pilhatsch
Chief of Psychiatry, Klinikum Dresden (Friedrichstadt)
Research Interests
I see myself first and foremost as a clinically active specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy. I am also active in research and teaching as a professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy. In order to combine both facets, I dedicate myself to research questions with clinical relevance.
As a clinical expert in addictive disorders, I research the mechanisms underlying the development of substance-related addictions. I am particularly interested in losing and regaining control over alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis. Therefor I am also engaged in developing and evaluating innovative treatment methods for the respective addictions.
My second clinical expertise is in the field of affective disorders. Here, too, I research mechanisms with a particular focus on stress and endocrine factors, as well as treatment options.
Curriculum Vitae
Employment and Functions
| Since 2025 |
Physician-in-chief, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Friedrichstadt), Klinikum Dresden |
| Since 2025 |
Head of the Clinical Addiction Research Group at the Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden together with PD Dr. Johannes Petzold |
| 2020 - 2025 |
Physician-in-chief academic teaching hospital of TU Dresden, Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, ELK Radebeul |
|
2020 - 2024 |
Head of outpatient clinic for addictive disorders, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, TU Dresden |
| 2018 - 2020 |
Head of Clinical Center for Addictive Disorders, Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, TU Dresden |
| 2013 - 2018 | Attending physician (Oberarzt), Dept. of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, TU Dresden |
| 2011 - 2013 |
Postdoctoral researcher, Neuroimaging Center, TU Dresden |
| 2007 - 2013 |
Residency in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, TU Dresden, Germany |
| 2005 - 2006 | Residency in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité Berlin, Germany |
Education and Qualifications
|
Since 2022 |
Professor for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at medical faculty of the TU Dresden |
|
2016 |
Habilitation, TU Dresden: “Identification and modulation of neural and endocrine biomarkers of depression” |
|
2011 |
Dissertation Dr. med., Charité Berlin & TU Dresden: “Increased learned helplessness in mice harboring the mutant thyroid hormone receptor alpha 1” |
|
1997 - 2005 |
Universities of Bonn and Berlin (medicine) |
Funding and Honors (selection)
|
2024 & 2025 |
Ranked by FOCUS among the Top Physicians for Addiction, Schizophrenia (2024, 2025), and Depression (2025) |
| 2023 |
Otsuka Award Psychiatry+ |
| 2023 |
DFG Funding as PI: Role of Pavlovian mechanisms for control over substance use |
| 2021 |
DFG Funding as PI: Human memory under acute stress: A glucocorticoid-glutamate mediation hypothesis |
| 2019 |
DFG Funding as PI: Cue effects in human addiction: Pavlovian to instrumental transfer |
| 2017 | “MeDDrive” Grant, TU Dresden |
| 2013 | Travel Grant (DAAD) SfN / San Diego |
| 2011 | Medical doctor thesis work with “summa cum laude” |