Personalized pharmacotherapy

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Research area

Psychotropic drugs are a central component in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and are strongly recommended in clinical guidelines based on robust evidence. However, a substantial proportion of patients do not achieve remission following initial antidepressant treatment. Even after multiple treatment attempts, therapeutic outcomes remain insufficient in a subset of patients. This gap in care highlights the need for individualized treatment approaches. Precision medicine aims to tailor therapies to the individual patient. Without such an approach, treatment courses are often prolonged, involve repeated medication changes, and are associated with an increased risk of chronicity.

Our research group focuses on personalized psychopharmacotherapy with the goal of improving the effectiveness and safety of psychiatric treatments. A central research question is why patients respond differently to psychotropic drugs and which factors influence treatment outcomes.

Another key area of interest is drug safety. We investigate the causes of adverse drug reactions and develop strategies to minimize risks in clinical practice.

In addition, we analyze the impact of individual factors such as genetic background, age, sex, and comorbidities. Particular attention is given to specific life stages, especially pregnancy and breastfeeding.

A major objective of our research is the translation of scientific findings into clinical practice, with the aim of sustainably improving patient care.

Methods

Our research group employs modern, data-driven approaches to individualize psychopharmacotherapy. The goal is to identify the most effective and safest treatment for each individual patient.

A central component of our work is therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), which involves measuring drug concentrations in blood to enable individualized dose adjustments and optimize treatment.

In addition, we apply pharmacogenetic analyses to account for genetic differences in drug metabolism and to support individualized treatment decisions. Factors such as comedication and lifestyle, which may modify genetic effects, are also considered.

To predict drug effects, we use model-based approaches, particularly pharmacokinetic modeling. These methods allow us to systematically characterize physiological changes, for example during pregnancy or other specific life stages.

Our research is largely based on data from routine clinical care. The analysis of real-world treatment trajectories enables us to address clinically relevant questions and generate findings with high applicability to everyday practice.

A particular focus is placed on the development of clinical decision-support tools. These are designed to help physicians individualize treatments in an evidence-based manner and to sustainably improve patient outcomes.

Team

Head

• PD Dr. rer. nat. Maike Scherf-Clavel 
  Telefon: +49 931 201-76317
  E-Mail: Scherf_M@ ukw.de

Reserach associates

• Cand. Med. Janina Eiberger
• Cand. Med. Meike Kohler
• Cand. Med. Melike Kücükkarapinar
• Cand. Med. Lucia Mücke
• Cand. Med. Georgios Zioris

Current projects

• Influence of renal function as well as cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory comedication on risperidone serum concentrations
• Personalization of CYP2D6-mediated drug–drug interactions: impact of inhibitor strength, concentration, age, and sex on drug metabolism
• Risperidone in depression: what is the role of serum concentrations?
• Sex differences in drug metabolism: impact of sex on CYP2D6- and CYP2C19-mediated metabolism during psychotropic drug treatment
• Psychotropic drugs during pregnancy: changes in maternal drug concentrations
• Central nervous system exposure to psychotropic drugs: PBPK modeling incorporating pharmacogenetic variability

Publications

Publikationen der Arbeitsgruppe finden Sie auf pubmed oder im Publikationsverzeichnis der Klinik.