Current projects

The subproject P7 "Transfer of exposure-based interventions into routine psychotherapeutic practice" has set itself the goal of linking science and practice even more closely in order to comprehensively improve the therapeutic methods and the conditions under which established psychotherapists work in care achieve. To this end, possible barriers and bottlenecks in the treatment of anxiety disorders should be identified at all relevant levels (clinician / referring physician, patient, cost unit, system level). The development of new supply concepts is key to improving the comprehensive coverage of those affected. As practicing psychotherapists are subject to significantly different conditions than they are in controlled studies, first possible barriers to the treatment of anxiety disorders should be recorded directly by the treating psychotherapist. The results of this survey are to be translated immediately into actions that facilitate the implementation of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders in routine use. The findings thus flow directly into a co-operation of experienced practitioners, representatives of the health insurance funds, psychotherapists' professional associations, in order to create optimal conditions for practicing psychotherapists for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
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Contact: Dr. Andre Pittig and Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hoyer

Behavior-activating methods are among the most effective psychotherapeutic methods in the treatment of depression. They are well derived from a behavioral understanding of depression and have been refined in recent years by authors such as Dimidjian or Martell so that their testing and development seems promising. At the same time, they are hardly used in German-speaking countries or only in conjunction with other cognitive interventions, so that the relative contribution of behavior-activating methods to the overall success of therapy is not recognizable. Due to the strong emphasis on (simple) behavioral changes and the special role played by social reinforcement, we find the approach to be well suited to a group format. The aim of the project is therefore to test whether patients with unipolar mild to moderate depression can achieve a significant improvement in depression when they are treated with group therapy limited to eight sessions.

Contact: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hoyer

In addition to treatment in psychiatric hospitals, inpatient psychosomatic rehabilitation is the second most important inpatient care sector for mental illnesses in Germany (Steffanowsiki, Löschmann, Schmidt, Wittmann, & Nübling, 2007). Mental disorders are becoming increasingly important within rehabilitation. With a share of almost 40% since 2000, they are the most common reason for leaving the labor market prematurely (Dannenberg, Hofmann, Kaldybayeva, & Kruse, 2010). With 52%, mood disorders are the most common first diagnosis, followed by neurotic, stress and somatoform disorders with 40% (DRV, 2012). The VADIR project is a continuing project on behavior-activating methods. Based on the group therapy handbook (Behavioural Activation: Behavioural Therapy Techniques, Hoyer & Vogel, 2018), the efficacy and effectiveness in comparison to the standard treatment of depressive syndromes is compared and evaluated in several cooperating occupational rehabilitation clinics (e.g. Rehabilitation Center Seehof, Teltow: Prof. Dr. V. Köllner). In addition, acceptance and long-lasting effects on activity and participation will be examined.
Contact: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hoyer and M. Sc.-Psych. Tobias Schott

After a heart attack or a bypass operation, 20-25% of those affected develop a depression. In the long term, 15-20% of them still suffer from a clinically relevant depression. There are also anxiety disorders, but there are less good epidemiological data (Hoyer et al., 2008). Patients with the comorbidity of a mental and a cardiac disease therefore pose a special challenge for rehabilitation.

In November 2016, the Rehabilitation Center Seehof of the DRV Bund opened an interdisciplinary ward with 12 beds, in which patients suffering from both organic heart disease and a mental illness are treated interdisciplinary. The patients are looked after by a cardiological ward physician as well as by a psychotherapist, receive a complete cardiological and psychosomatic diagnosis on admission and are subsequently supervised on an interdisciplinary basis. The concept of collegially led by both disciplines station include joint visits and team discussions. This concept represents an increased effort compared to a monodisciplinary rehabilitation, because it is more personnel-intensive. The aim of this study is to examine whether this increased effort is reflected in a better result for the rehabilitees.

Contact: Dipl. Psych. Christoph Schmitz, ch.schmitz@ymail.com

Contact: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Hoyer