Mental disorders are among the most prevalent health conditions worldwide. In Germany, approximately 27.8% of the adult population experience a mental disorder each year.[1] They are a leading cause of disability and reduced quality of life and represent one of the most common reasons for inpatient treatment among children and adolescents. The prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders has increased substantially over recent decades, placing growing demands on healthcare systems.
Research at the Interface of the Brain, the Immune System and Society
The Central German DZPG partner site places particular emphasis on understanding the complex interactions between social experiences and biological processes, including inflammation and metabolic dysfunction. One important area of research investigates how psychosocial stress associated with multiple, concurrent societal crises, commonly referred to as polycrises, influences mental health.
Another major focus concerns the developmental trajectories of mental disorders during childhood and adolescence. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, psychological distress has increased considerably among young people. Researchers aim to identify risk profiles at an early stage and translate these findings into innovative strategies for prevention and early intervention. To support this translational approach, a new Day Clinic for Adolescent Psychiatry has recently been established in Jena, providing a setting in which research and clinical care are closely integrated.
Translating Research into Clinical Practice
Researchers across the participating universities and non-university research institutes collaborate on several interdisciplinary research priorities. These include investigating the long-term impact of adverse childhood experiences on later mental health, applying advanced neuroimaging methods to improve treatment decision making in depression, and elucidating the role of the immune system in persistent neuropsychiatric sequelae following infectious diseases.
Further projects examine the relationships between mental disorders and social connectedness, the links between obesity and mental disorders, and innovative approaches to the early identification of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and developmental reading and spelling disorders. Researchers are also developing and evaluating novel psychotherapeutic interventions for depression, including their combination with pharmacological treatment.
"The close collaboration between medicine, psychology and the basic sciences across the participating universities and Leibniz Institutes creates unique opportunities to advance research and achieve sustainable improvements in mental health. It also positions Central Germany, with its distinctive regional strengths, at the forefront of contemporary mental health research in Germany," says Professor Martin Walter, Speaker of the Halle, Jena and Magdeburg site and Director of the Department of Psychiatry at Jena University Hospital.
Involving People with Lived Experience in Research
The meaningful involvement of people with lived experience and their relatives is a defining feature of research at the DZPG. Through the site's Trialogue Advisory Board, researchers, people with lived experience and family members contribute their perspectives on an equal footing and actively shape research priorities and study design.
"What attracted me to the DZPG was the unique opportunity to contribute to mental health research at multiple levels while strengthening meaningful involvement for other people with lived experience and their families," says Dr Heike Stecklum, Speaker of the Trialogue Advisory Board.
Outlook
Between 2025 and 2030, the Central German DZPG site will receive a total of €20 million in funding to further expand its interdisciplinary research infrastructure. This investment will strengthen the integration of basic research, clinical research and participatory research, creating the conditions for sustained scientific innovation.
The long-term goal is to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of mental disorders in Germany and to ensure that research findings are translated effectively into routine clinical care.
