Personalized Treatment of Depression
Research areas
Depressive disorders are heterogeneous and highly individual; there is no single, uniform form of depression. They present with varying symptom profiles as well as diverse psychiatric and somatic comorbidities. Treatment decisions already take this heterogeneity into account, allowing a large proportion of depressive disorders to be treated successfully. However, approximately 20% of patients suffer from so-called treatment-resistant depression, in which the use of multiple therapeutic approaches fails to result in a satisfactory improvement of depressive symptoms. This is associated with substantial impairments in daily functioning and a markedly reduced quality of life.
We assume that a deeper understanding of individual psychological and neurobiological factors influencing the onset and course of depression will, in the long term, promote the development of more targeted and personalized treatment strategies. Following a translational research approach, our work therefore focuses both on the investigation of mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of depressive disorders and on the further advancement of therapeutic interventions.
Methods
In close collaboration with other research groups at our institution, including the Functional Imaging and non-invasive Brain Stimulation Group, the Personalized Pharmacotherapy Group, the Functional Genomics Group, and the Early Detection and Early Intervention for Mental Illness Group, we have access to a broad translational methodological spectrum. This ranges from genetic and systems neuroscience approaches to direct clinical application.
Team
Head
- Dr. med. Georg Ziegler
Telefon: +49 931 201-0
E-Mail: ziegler_g@ukw.de
Research associates
- Dr. Carolin Weiß
E-Mail: weiss_c2@ukw.de - Cand. med. Benedikt Ratzmann
E-Mail: ratzmann_b@ukw.de
Study Nurse
- Theresa Troll
E-Mail: troll_t@ukw.de - Stefanie Reim
E-Mail: reim_s@ukw.de - Christiane Rieß
E-Mail: riess_c@ukw.de
Current projects
- P4D study (funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research):
Personalized, predictive, precise, and preventive medicine for major depression.
Consortium coordination: PD Dr. Hannah Maier (Hannover Medical School)
- GREAT study:
Prediction of response to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in depressive disorders using the Göttingen Response to ECT Assessment Tool (GREAT), a prospective multicenter observational study.
Coordination: Prof. Dr. David Zilles-Wegner (Göttingen University Medical Center)
- DepRESsionsLOS study:
Factors associated with response and length of hospital stay in major depression.
A retrospective evaluation of clinical treatment data.
Publications
Publications of the working group can be found on pubmed and in the list of publications of our hospital.
