Revolution in psychiatry: New center fights against psychological suffering!

Revolution in psychiatry: New center fights against psychological suffering!

The treatment of mental illnesses faces enormous challenges in Germany. According to Prof. Dr. According to Jan Richter, who works as a professor of experimental psychopathology at the University of Hildesheim, around a third of patients with mental illnesses do not receive effective treatment. Another third of those affected experience only limited or short-term treatment effects. This problem is worrying, especially since the diagnosis of mental illnesses is usually carried out using a classification system that describes symptoms and often does not adequately reflect comorbidity, i.e. the simultaneous occurrence of several illnesses. uni-hildesheim.de reports on the previous difficulties in diagnosis, which are largely due to the similarities in symptoms of different diseases.

To address these challenges, a research network was created that specializes in experimental psychopathology and psychotherapy. The approach is to understand the underlying psychological processes that lead to symptoms, rather than just treating the symptoms themselves. For example, it highlights the irrational fear of spiders, which can cause tremors. Here, therapy should focus on the fear itself and not just the physical symptoms. The network includes twenty sponsored members and numerous associated members. They meet twice a year to exchange experiences. Planned activities include workshops, lecture series and international reviews, all aimed at improving diagnostics and increasing the chances of effective treatments.

The role of the German Center for Mental Health

Mental illnesses often begin in childhood and adolescence and affect millions of people in Germany. Unfortunately, treatment is often inadequate, which leads to considerable suffering not only for those affected, but also for their relatives. This inadequate treatment can even increase mortality and incur billions of dollars in annual economic costs. dzpg.org highlights that, despite important knowledge about mental illness, this knowledge is often not integrated into routine care.

The federal government is responding to the need for better care for mental illnesses by establishing the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG) in 2018. Six locations were selected in 2021 and presented a joint research concept in 2022. The construction of the center began on May 1, 2023 with project funding. Long-term and structural support from the federal and state governments is aimed for by 2025 at the latest. These efforts are important because there is an urgent need for more effective prevention, diagnosis and therapy procedures that respond to the individual needs of those affected.

Focus on research and resilience

In addition to efforts to achieve structural improvements in mental health care, exchanges about research are a central element. Since 2020, Laura has been organizing the international online seminar series “Resilient Minds” in collaboration with the Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research in Mainz and the International Resilience Alliance (intresa). This initiative aims to promote dialogue about stress and resilience research. Participation in these seminars is open to anyone interested and includes young scientists as well as experienced academics.  psychology.uzh.ch emphasizes the importance of this platform for the exchange of ideas and research results.

The combination of improved diagnostic procedures, a deeper understanding of mental illnesses and the knowledge gained from resilience research could be crucial in the future to sustainably improve the quality of life of those affected.