Virtual lecture series: Discover new paths in psychiatry!

Virtual lecture series: Discover new paths in psychiatry!

In the winter semester of 2025/26, an interdisciplinary lecture series on the exciting topic of “Computational Psychiatry” will start at several renowned universities in Germany. Among others, the MSH Medical School Hamburg, the MSB Medical School Berlin and the HMU Health and Medical University from Erfurt and Potsdam are involved. This free virtual lecture series is aimed at a broad audience and will host numerous experts from the fields of psychology, psychiatry and neuroscience. The aim is to promote understanding of complex processes in the brain in mental illnesses such as depression, compulsions and psychoses. Modern computer-aided models and artificial intelligence are used to provide deeper insights into the mechanisms of mental disorders.

The lecture series begins on October 23rd with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Philipp Sterzer from the University Psychiatric Clinics Basel on the topic “Predictive Processing: A neurocomputational approach to explaining psychoses”. All lectures are accredited by the Hamburg Chamber of Psychotherapists. Registration for the events is required via the organizers' homepage. Medical School Hamburg reports that The program includes comprehensively planned content that illuminates all aspects of computational psychiatry.

Theoretical foundations of computational psychiatry

Computational Psychiatry studies the relationship between the neurobiology of the brain, external influences and psychological symptoms. A mechanistic approach is pursued that avoids biological reductionisms and questions artificial categorizations. Mechanisms and computational models are used to develop new perspectives, particularly in disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Describes there research into how reinforcement learning influences decision-making in the brain and how this may be important in the treatment of mental illness.

A central element is predictive coding, which links the processing of sensory data and existing beliefs to enable more accurate inference about environmental conditions. Disturbances in this process, such as schizophrenia, can be caused by neurobiological abnormalities that affect precision in the inferential hierarchy and lead to distorted perceptions. These theoretical foundations are crucial for understanding mental illnesses and their treatment.

Application examples and research

An example that illustrates the complexity of research approaches is the hierarchical generative model that deals with decision-making. A scenario is described in which an observer sees a sequence of balls from different glasses and has to make predictions based on this. Uncertainty plays a central role here, especially with regard to sensory perceptions. The research shows that such insecurities can be particularly pronounced in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.

Understanding and analyzing these processes is important not only for research, but also for practical application in psychiatric care. The findings from computational psychiatry could sustainably improve psychiatric classification, diagnosis and treatment by using different perspectives and analytical approaches.

The upcoming lecture series in the winter semester will make a valuable contribution to the further development of knowledge about mental illnesses and their mechanistic causes. It offers a platform for interdisciplinary exchange and promotes the integration of modern technologies into psychological research.