Innovative therapies within the framework of clinical trials

Since 2007, institutions of University Hospital Würzburg and University of Würzburg have been working on researching new, innovative, and individual therapeutic and preventive approaches for anxiety disorders within the framework of projects funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) or the German Research Foundation (DFG).

While the multi-center Panic-Net study looked for the most effective components in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in order to apply them systematically in the treatment of panic disorders and claustrophobia, the Protect-AD research network is investigating the so-called extinction learning process. This research – again in cooperation with several German universities – investigates changes in neuronal and cognitive structures during and after anxiety therapy.

Within the framework of the Collaborative Research Center "Fear, Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders", we aim to develop innovative and individual therapeutic and preventive approaches for anxiety disorders in several research projects and clinical studies. For example, we are investigating which stressful life events, environmental influences, or even genetic factors play a role in the development of anxiety disorders. Furthermore, we investigate the neurobiological mechanisms in the therapy of phobias, and we try to identify characteristics that allow a prediction of the success of treatment.

The focus of the CAC is to improve and develop highly effective behavioral short-term therapies and innovative approaches to symptom-oriented therapies  for specific phobias, such as spider phobia, or fear of heights. For this purpose, we use methods such as psychoeducation or exposure exercises, in which the patient is confronted with the fear-inducing object or situation one step at a time, as well as smartphone apps for monitoring progress or the use of virtual reality. We are also investigating whether exposure therapy for fear of heights can become more efficient by using non-invasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), which has already proven effective for depression.