Main research areas
In addition to offering diagnostics and psychotherapy, the tasks of the Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic also include research. The aim of our research is, on the one hand, the continuous evaluation and further development of psychotherapeutic services in general. On the other hand, we regularly conduct various studies on specific psychological issues.
Important: If one of our current research projects is of interest to you, please get in touch with the relevant contact person. You will then be informed in detail about the respective study. Furthermore, specific inclusion and exclusion criteria will be checked to see whether you are eligible to take part in the study. Participation in research projects is always voluntary and independent of the possibility of treatment at PHA. Participation in a study requires your written consent.
Scientific Steering Committee
Scientific management of the university outpatient clinic
Prof. Dr. Tim Klucken
Psychological psychotherapist
Research interests:
Substance-related and non-substance-related addictions; anxiety disorders; affective learning and stress processing; emotional and cognitive processes
To the website of the Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
Prof. Dr. Simon Forstmeier
Psychological psychotherapist
Research focus:
Psychotherapy for older people with depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, incipient Alzheimer's dementia and other challenges of ageing; life review and biographical work; self-regulation in psychotherapy
To the website of the Chair of Developmental Psychology and Clinical Psychology of the Lifespan
Prof. Dr. Julia Haberstroh
Psychological psychotherapist
Research interests:
Psychological and interdisciplinary research on ageing, care and nursing; resource-oriented diagnostics and psychological intervention to promote autonomy, quality of life and social inclusion in older age with and without dementia; interpersonal health communication, patient information and capacity for consent; psychological contributions to ecological gerontology and medical ethics
Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Kißgen
Child and adolescent psychotherapist
Research focus:
Clinical attachment research, developmental psychopathology of (early) childhood
To the website of the Chair of Developmental Science and Special Education (Inclusion)
Current research projects
Smoking and mental health
At the Psychotherapeutic University Outpatient Clinic, we are currently investigating the effects of smoking cessation on mental health. For this study, we are currently looking for people with a mental disorder (e.g. depression, anxiety disorders) or significant psychological stress who also smoke cigarettes regularly. Participation in the study includes a free smoking cessation program consisting of 6 appointments over 3 weeks.
New ways to quit smoking: retraining automatic smoking processes
Tobacco addiction is still one of the most common substance use disorders in Germany. Although the negative consequences of smoking are well known and many smokers wish to quit, relapse rates are high even after successful therapy.
Behavioral addictions: Internet sex addiction
So-called "behavioral addictions", such as computer game addiction, (internet) shopping addiction and/or internet sex addiction (internet pornography addiction) have hardly been researched to date and there is comparatively little knowledge about their development, maintenance and treatment.
