The Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Unit focuses on the question of how affective disorders—especially depression and bipolar disorder—develop and are maintained within the family context. Our goal is to better understand the risk and protective factors involved and, on this basis, to develop, further refine, and scientifically evaluate effective psychotherapeutic treatment approaches.

A particular focus lies on the reciprocal influences between parents and children: How do parental affective disorders affect the emotional and psychological development of children—and vice versa? In this context, we examine psychological as well as (neuro-)biological and genetic mechanisms in order to better understand the complex dynamics within families.

In addition to basic and applied research, the connection between science and practice is a central concern for us. In our family outpatient clinic, we implement scientifically grounded psychotherapeutic methods and test new family-oriented treatment approaches.

It is also especially important to us that current scientific findings are integrated into the teaching and training of future psychotherapists. Our aim is to train highly qualified scientist-practitioners who promote the mental health of children, adolescents, and their families in an evidence-based, responsible manner and with a focus on the family system.