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OMIS-1 RETROSPECTIVE STUDY
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH
Project runtime: 08.09.2019 - 19.04.2020
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
Topic:
  • gynecological oncology
Project leader:

Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH (roland.schlesinger@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Mag. Spanberger ESQH Vienna Office; Fr. Dr. Vogl BIOBANK GRAZ; Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. Institut für Health Care Engineering

Project runtime:

08.09.2019 - 19.04.2020

Grants:

Third-Party Sponsoring by Tumour Trace Ltd. London UK

Description:
The objectives to the study (primary / secondary target) are to determine the performance of QuickScan in characterizing low-grade precancerous abnormalities (HPV positive and/or CIN I), high-grade precancerous lesions (CIN 2 and CIN 3) and cervical cancer (stage pT1a and above) compared to cervical smear testing. Under laboratory conditions, the QuickScreen Device was able to perform on Cervical Cancer with an Accuracy >90% and Specivity between 86% - 93%. This retrospective study is the preparation of a Clinical Trial - Interventional Design (Multicenter in Europe and India).
The Usage of Artificial Networking and Quantum spectroscopy for cancer screening – Head and Neck Cancers
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH
Project runtime: 03.12.2017 - 30.03.2020
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
Topic:
  • oncology
Project leader:

Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH (roland.schlesinger@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Mag. Barbara Spanberger; Astrid Gantschacher (astrid.gantschacher@sfu.ac.at) 

Cooperation partners:

ESQH VIENNA OFFICE, TU GRAZ - INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH CARE ENGINEERING

Project runtime:

03.12.2017 - 30.03.2020

Grants:

Lancor Scientific Cancer Research Laboratory & TUMOUR TRACE Ltd.

Description:
Detection of precancerous and cancerous cells based on using photoelectric effects and AI Algorithms to detect magnetic fields that are typical for malignant tissues.
EUROPEAN NETWORK for CANCER Research in CHILDREN and ADOLESCENTS (ENCCA)
Project status: Completed
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH; Mag. Martina Gantschacher
Project runtime: 13.05.2011 - 01.05.2019
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
Topic:
  • pediatric oncology
Project leader:

Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH (roland.schlesinger@sfu.ac.at); Mag. Martina Gantschacher (astrid.gantschacher@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Mag. Barbara Spanberger; Dr. Nikola Lutsch; Astrid Gantschacher (astrid.gantschacher@sfu.ac.at) 

Cooperation partners:

ESQH VIENNA OFFICE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, SIOP EUROPE ASBL, AIT AUSTRIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY GMBH, CHARITE - UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN BERLIN, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

Project runtime:

13.05.2011 - 01.05.2019

Grants:

EU Grant / Grant agreement ID: 261474

Description:

ENCCA aims to establish a durable, European Virtual Institute clinical and translational research in childhood and adolescent cancers that will define and implement an integrated research strategy and will facilitate the necessary investigator-driven clinical trials to introduce the new generation of biologically targeted drugs into a standard of care for children and adolescents with cancer. This will lead to more efficacious and less toxic therapies that will maximize the quality of life of the increasing number of survivors of cancer at a young age in Europe and allow them to assume their proper place in society. This biologically-driven research agenda will improve the training of the clinical investigators and translational scientists of the future to spread excellence, increase capacity to participate in research and monitor outcomes across Europe. Patients and their families will be full partners and will be better informed about the need for and processes of clinical research. They will be in a better situation to care from their long term health risks for children. Drug development will be accelerated in partnership with industry through improved access to young patients with cancer, to academic expertise in care, clinical and biological research. All of this will be achieved with respect for the highest ethical and patient safety standards. ENCCA will bring all stakeholders to the table in a timely and efficacious manner. It will address the needs of all the current multinational clinical trial groups for the benefit of children with cancer. It will provide them with common tools and approaches to solve the bottlenecks in testing new therapeutic strategies for those rare diseases in a vulnerable age group and in running a competitive clinical research agenda. Ongoing efforts to coordinate EU and US clinical research will be reinforced. ENCCA will be led by the most active EU institutes in the field, recognized as being at the forefront of excellence.
Cancer Type Characterisation by Opto-Magnetic Spectroscopy Based on Digital Imaging and AI Algorithms on - Cervical Cancer
Verwendung von Künstlicher Intelligenz & Opto-magnetische Spektroskopie in der Krebsfrüherkennung am Beispiel „Cervical Karzinom“
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH; Mag. Martina Gantschacher; Prof. Dr. Djuro Koruga
Project runtime: 12.11.2017 - 30.09.2019
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
Topic:
  • gynecological oncology
Project leader:

Prof. Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH (roland.schlesinger@sfu.ac.at); Mag. Martina Gantschacher (martina.gantschacher@sfu.ac.at); Prof. Dr. Djuro Koruga 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

ESQH VIENNA OFFICE, MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE, DEPARTMENT OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AND NANOMEDICINE AT ECPD,

Project runtime:

12.11.2017 - 30.09.2019

Grants:

Tumour Trace Ltd.

Description:
Classification of cancerous cells by the usage of quantum physical effects and AI Algorithms as electromagnetic changes occur when cells translate from a healthy state to a cancerous state.
„Sprechende Gebrauchsinformation“ für Arzneimittel – speziell für blinde und stark sehbehinderte Personen
„Sprechende Gebrauchsinformation“ für Arzneimittel – speziell für blinde und stark sehbehinderte Personen
Project status: Completed
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Mag. Martina Gantschacher; Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH
Project runtime: 04.07.2010 - 28.10.2012
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
Topic:
  • visual impairment and blindness
Project leader:

Mag. Martina Gantschacher (astrid.gantschacher@sfu.ac.at); Dr. Roland Schlesinger, MBA, MPH (roland.schlesinger@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Mag. Barbara Operschall 

Cooperation partners:

ESQH VIENNA OFFICE, Blinden und Seh-behindertenverband Österreich

Project runtime:

04.07.2010 - 28.10.2012

Grants:

ESQH VIENNA OFFICE

Description:
Scientific evaluation of the application security of a novel system in blind and visually impaired persons, as well as opinion polls on consumer acceptance in Austria.
Mental health of children and adolescents: protective factors, resilience factors, vulnerability factors
Seelische Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen: Protektive Faktoren, Resilienzfaktoren, Vulnerabilitätsfaktoren
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Brigitte Sindelar
Project runtime: 01.11.2017 - 31.10.2019
Research Focus:
  • Children and Adolescent Psychotherapy and Development
Topic:
  • Clinical Research in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Brigitte Sindelar (b.sindelar@sindelar.at) 

Project team:

Team von Studierenden der SFU 

Cooperation partners:

psychotherapeutische Ambulanzen für Kinder und Jugendliche der SFU

Project runtime:

01.11.2017 - 31.10.2019

Grants:

keine

Description:
In the years 2011 to 2017 more than 2700 children and adolescents consulted the Sigmund Freud’s Private University psychotherapeutic outpatient clinics for children and adolescents in Vienna for psychotherapeutic treatment. The most common reasons for registration were learning problems and problems at school (over 53 percent), conduct disorders (over 50 percent), followed by anxiety (over 28 percent), aggression (over 23 percent) and depression (over 20 percent).These numbers substantiate a fact: somatic childhood diseases have lost their menace in the Western world. Instead, disorders of social, emotional and cognitive development have taken their place as "new childhood illnesses". International studies show that 15 to 22 percent of children and adolescents suffer from mental disorders. An epidemiological study in Austria on the mental health of children and adolescents aged 10 to 14 (MHAT study, 2014) has shown, that at least one in five adolescents is affected by a mental health problem requiring treatment, with 47 percent of them affected by more than one. In this research project, the available data on emotional, social and cognitive development, such as on pregnancy and childbirth, somatic illnesses, parental separation or divorce, somatic and / or mental illness of the parents as well as data on development, early third party childcare, migration, sibling position, education level and professional situation of the parents and many more are analyzed. The aim of this extensive research project is to identify risk factors and resilience-enhancing factors for the mental health of children and adolescents that allow to draw conclusions concerning preventive measures. There lies an eminently potential in the expected results of this particular research project: if these factors can be identified, they provide the basis for newly developing knowledge to stabilize the health of future generations. And that knowledge also offers the key to reduce the exploding costs of healthcare.
In den Jahren 2011 bis 2017 wurden an den psychotherapeutischen Ambulanzen für Kinder und Jugendliche der Sigmund Freud PrivatUniversität in Wien mehr als 2700 Kinder und Jugendliche zur psychotherapeutischen Behandlung vorgestellt. Die häufigsten Gründe für die Anmeldung waren Lern- und Schulschwierigkeiten (über 53 Prozent), Störungen des Sozialverhaltens (über 50 Prozent), gefolgt von Angst (über 28 Prozent), Aggression (über 23 Prozent) und Depression (über 20 Prozent). Diese Zahlen untermauern ein Faktum:  körperliche Kinderkrankheiten haben in der westlichen Welt ihre Bedrohlichkeit verloren, Störungen der sozialen, emotionalen und kognitiven Entwicklung als „neue Kinderkrankheiten“ deren Platz eingenommen. Internationale Studien zeigen, dass zwischen 15 und 22 Prozent der Kinder und Jugendlichen unter psychischen Störungen leiden (Barkmann & Schulte-Marktwort 2004; 2010). Eine epidemiologische Studie in Österreich zur psychischen Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen im Alter von 10 bis 14 Jahren (MHAT-Studie, 2014) ergab, dass auch hierzulande mindestens jeder fünfte Jugendliche von einem behandlungsbedürftigen psychischen Problem, 47 Prozent davon von mehr als einem, betroffen ist. In diesem Forschungsprojekt wird das vorliegende  Datenmaterial zur emotionalen, sozialen und kognitiven Entwicklung, wie z.B. zu Schwangerschaft und Geburt, körperlichen Erkrankungen, Trennung bzw. Scheidung der Eltern, körperlicher und/oder psychischer Erkrankung der Eltern sowie Daten zu Entwicklung, früher Fremdbetreuung, Migration, Geschwisterposition, Bildungsniveau und beruflicher Situation der Eltern u.v.m.  analysiert. Ziel dieses umfangreichen Forschungsprojekts ist es, Risikofaktoren bzw. die Resilienz fördernde Faktoren für die psychische Gesundheit von Kindern und Jugendlichen herauszuarbeiten, die Schlussfolgerungen für präventive Maßnahmen ermöglichen.  Damit liegt ein ganz besonderes Potenzial in den zu erwartenden Ergebnissen dieses speziellen Forschungsprojektes: Denn wenn es gelingt, diese Faktoren zu identifizieren, so liefern diese die Grundlage für ein neu zu entwickelndes Wissen zur Stabilisierung der Gesundheit künftiger Generationen. Und in diesem Wissen liegt auch der Schlüssel zu einer Reduzierung explodierender Kosten für ein Gesundheitswesen.
The threatening patient
Bedrohung Patient
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Brigitte Sindelar
Project runtime: 01.01.2015 - 31.10.2019
Research Focus:
  • Applied Psychotherapy Science Research
Topic:
  • Research on the Psychotherapeutic Process
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Brigitte Sindelar (brigitte.sindelar@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Carmen Auer, BA 

Cooperation partners:

keine

Project runtime:

01.01.2015 - 31.10.2019

Grants:

keine

Description:
Empirical study on aggressive patient behaviour in psychotherapeutic settings.
Empirische Untersuchung zu aggressivem Patientenverhalten im psychotherapeutischen Einzelsetting.
Italian validation of the Preschool Anxiety Scale - Revised (PAS-R, Edwards et al., 2010)
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychology
Project leader: Prof. Simona Scaini; Prof. Marcella Caputi; Prof. Barbara Forresi, Ph.D
Project runtime: 14.02.2019 - 01.12.2021
Research Focus:
  • Developmental Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology, Child- and Adolescent Psychology
Topic:
  • diagnostics
  • anxiety
Project leader:

Prof. Simona Scaini (s.scaini@milano-sfu.it); Prof. Marcella Caputi; Prof. Barbara Forresi, Ph.D (b.forresi@milano-sfu.it) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

-

Project runtime:

14.02.2019 - 01.12.2021

Grants:

-

Description:
STUDY DESCRIPTION:
Objective: The purpose of the study is to validate the Italian version of the Preschool Anxiety Scale Revised (PAS, Edwards et al., 2010). Anxiety disorders are the most common class of childhood psychopathology, with point-prevalence estimates averaging around 2.5 to 5% in community samples (Rapee, Schniering, & Hudson, 2009). Across the lifespan, anxiety disorders demonstrate some of the strongest stability of any disorders, have an early age of onset, and are associated with moderate to marked life impairment (Rapee et al., 2009). In the last years research have greatly increased our understanding of the prevalence, impact, and treatment of anxiety in older children, however very little is known about the nature of anxiety in the preschool age group (Campbell, 1995; Egger & Angold, 2006; Eley et al.,2003). To our knowledge, we have no questionnaire validated in Italian populations to measure anxiety in preschoolers. Thus, the Italian version of this measure could help assessment of these difficulties in general and clinical populations.
Methods: 450 children and adolescents (age 3–6) will be recruited in school settings. Parents will fill-in several self-report questionnaires (see measures section), in addition to PAS, in order to assess construct validity. Statistical analysis, such as explorative and confirmatory factorial analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation, will be used to investigate factorial structure and psychometric properties. The questionnaire will be readministered one month later in order to test the test-retest reliability.
Parents will be informed about the aims of the research and will sign an informed consent in order to allow their children’s participation in the study in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki.
Instagram and body image: a longitudinal study
Instagram e immagine corporea: uno studio longitudinale
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychology
Project leader: Prof. Simona Scaini, PhD; Prof. Barbara Forresi, PhD; Prof Marcella Caputi
Project runtime: 15.11.2018 - 12.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • Developmental Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology, Child- and Adolescent Psychology
Topic:
  • social media
Project leader:

Prof. Simona Scaini, PhD (s.scaini@milano-sfu.it); Prof. Barbara Forresi, PhD (b.forresi@milano-sfu.it); Prof Marcella Caputi 

Project team:

Mr. Marco Codenotti (codenottimarco@gmail.com); Mr. Sasha Mattia Criscuolo (sasha.mattia.criscuolo@gmail.com) 

Cooperation partners:

keine

Project runtime:

15.11.2018 - 12.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Introduction
Decades of research have documented the negative influence that traditional media (e.g. magazines and television) has on people’s body image concerns (Groesz et al., 2002; Grabe et al., 2008; Bartlett et al., 2008).The growing body of literature that is beginning to investigate the consequences of new forms of social media on body image, indicates that social network usage (various studies specifically examine Facebook usage) is associated with increased body dissatisfaction (Holland and Tiggemann, 2016; Fardouly et a., 2015; Tiggemann and Slater, 2013). Although most of the research done on body dissatisfaction has been done on females, it has become a pervasive problem also for men (Jung, Forbes, & Chan, 2010; Mishkind et al. 1986; Neighbors & Sobal, 2007). Dissatisfaction with muscle size and desire to increase it is widespread in men, as reported in both qualitative (Ridgeway and Tylka, 2005) and quantitative studies (Frederick et al., 2007; Tiggemann, Martins, & Churchett, 2008).A longitudinal study (De Vries et al., 2016) done on male and female high school students  showed that greater social media usage predicted greater body dissatisfaction, but body dissatisfaction did not predict social media usage. This suggested that social media negatively impacts people’s body image, rather than social media being sought out by who has high body dissatisfaction.According to Thompson’s socio cultural model, thinness-ideal internalization in women and muscularity-ideal internalization in men are thought to directly foster body dissatisfaction because these ideals are virtually unattainable for most (1999, 2001). Social comparison, peer appearance-related feedback and thinness-ideal internalization have been identified as mediators in the relationship between Social Network Usage and Body Dissatisfaction/body image concerns (Fardouly and Vartanian, 2015; Vries et al., 2016; Lawler and Nixon, 2011). In a detailed study of different Facebook activities, Meier and Gray (2014) determined that time on Facebook wasn’t directly related to body image concerns. Instead, engaging in photo-related activities (e.g. sharing and posting photos of oneself and friends) was.McLean et al. (2015) showed how girls that often shared self-images on socialmedia, compared to those who did not, reported significantly higher body dissatisfaction,and internalization of the thin ideal. Furthermore, editing photos more often and higher “photo investment” were found to be highly associated with body dissatisfaction.Facebook has been the focus of most of the research on social media and body image. However, Instagram is more image-based than Facebook, and thus may provide moreopportunities for users to compare their appearance to Others. (Fardouly and Vartanian, 2016).  The current study aims to investigate the relationship between instagram usage, photo manipulation and investment (McLean et al, 2015) and body image concerns in both male and female adolescents.The main goal of this study is to test two proposed hypothesis’ that have not yet been examined in a longitudinal study:
  • Low self-esteem and high internalization of societal ideals of beauty will lead to increased media use which, in turn, will lead to higher body dissatisfaction through social comparison. This would be in line with Perfloff’s model (2014).
  • Photo manipulation predicts body image concerns through body surveillance (i.e. body surveillance is a mediator in the relationship between photo manipulation and body image concerns), as proposed by McLean et al (2015)
To our knowledge, this would be the first study done in Italy on Instagram use and body image concerns/satisfaction 

Procedure
The study will consist in a three wave panel study, with approximately six months between waves. This will allow to test also for mediating variables. Participants who accept to participate will be asked to complete a self-report questionnaire in italian with questions regarding Instagram usage, self-photo related activities and body satisfaction. The administered questionnaire will be the same in all three waves. 

Participants Around 500 italian high-school students (both male and female) attending grades 9th through 12th in the first wave. Students attending grade 13 (last year) will be excluded since it would not be possible to collect their data in the third wave. The study will be conducted on adolescents (13-19 years old), given the pivotal role that body image plays in adolescent development and wellbeing (Markey 2010).
Italian validation of the Anger Regulation and Expression Scale (ARES, DiGiuseppe & Tafrate, 2011) and the Anger Cognition Scale (ACS, Martin & Dahlen, 2017).
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychology
Project leader: Dr Simona Scaini
Project runtime: 14.02.2019 - 01.12.2019
Research Focus:
  • Developmental Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology, Child- and Adolescent Psychology
Topic:
  • diagnostics
  • aggression
Project leader:

Dr Simona Scaini (s.scaini@milano-sfu.it) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Studi Cognitivi

Project runtime:

14.02.2019 - 01.12.2019

Grants:

-

Description:
STUDY DESCRIPTION:Objective: The purpose of the study was to validate Italian version of the Anger Regulation and Expression Scale (ARES, DiGiuseppe & Tafrate, 2011) and the Anger Cognition Scale (ACS, Martin & Dahlen, 2017). A number of CBT interventions have been used to treat clinically disturbed anger and aggressive expression of anger. However, to our knowledge, we have no Italian scales to measure anger in childhood and adolescence. Thus, the Italian version of these two measures could help assessment of these difficulties in clinical practice. Methods: 500 children and adolescents (age 11–18) will be recruited in school settings. Children and adolescents will fill-in several self-report questionnaires (see measures section), in addition to ARES and ACS, in order to assess construct validity. Statistical analysis, such as explorative and confirmatory factorial analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation, will be used to investigate factorial structure and psychometric properties. Parents will be informed about the aims of the research and will sign an informed consent in order to allow their children’s participation in the study in accordance with Declaration of Helsinki.
An exploratory study on meta-cognition, worry and anxious symptoms in children.
Project status: Completed
Faculty: Psychology
Project leader: Dr Simona Scaini
Project runtime: 14.02.2019 - 14.02.2019
Research Focus:
  • Developmental Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology, Child- and Adolescent Psychology
Topic:
  • anxiety
  • diagnostics
Project leader:

Dr Simona Scaini (s.scaini@milano-sfu.it) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Prof.ssa Benedetto, University of Messina

Project runtime:

14.02.2019 - 14.02.2019

Grants:

-

Description:
Short Study Description: Meta-cognition refers to the “stable knowledge or beliefs about one’s own cognitive system, and knowledge about factors that affect the functioning of the system; the regulation and awareness of the current state of cognition, and appraisal of the significance of thought and memories” (Wells, 1995, p. 302). Wells and Matthews (1994, 1996) developed the self-regulatory executive function (S-REF) model in which meta-cognitive beliefs play a role in the persistence of maladaptive forms of coping (e.g. heightened self-focused attention, rumination and worry, and threat monitoring; termed the cognitive attentional syndrome - CAS), which in turn contribute to the development and maintenance of psychological disturbances and distress. Meta-cognitive beliefs can be divided in: 1) positive meta-cognitive beliefs about control strategies that impact on inner events and 2) negative meta-cognitive beliefs concerning the significance, controllability, and danger of inner events (Wells, 2000).
Coherently with the S-REF model, meta-cognition has been investigated as a feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive and panic disorder, and depression on adult populations (Cucchi et al., 2012; Holeva, Tarrier, &Wells, 2001; Papageorgiou & Wells, 2003). Recent studies have extended the meta-cognitive model to a different target age, evaluating its applicability to children and adolescents (Ellis & Hudson, 2010; Esbjørn, Normann, & Reinholdt-Dunne, 2015; Simons, Schneider, & Herpertz-Dahlmann, 2006).
Previous research suggests that children as young as 7 years of age endorse both positive and negative beliefs about worry, and that these beliefs are positively associated with emotional symptoms. Moreover, emerging research supports the extension of metacognitive model of anxiety to developmental age populations. Thus, studies on worry and metacognition in children affected by anxious and depressive symptoms can help in determining whether the metacognitive model can be applied to children. Moreover, no study, to our knowledge, has so far compared worry and positive/negative beliefs about worry in different types of anxiety symptoms. In addition, the role of depressive symptoms in moderating the relationship between worry/metacognition and anxiety is actually unclear. Evaluating whether metacognitive processes contribute to the development and maintenance of anxiety symptoms can guide the development of specific training for the treatment of anxiety disorders, as well as the elaboration of preventive programs.
Interestingly, studies conducted on both adults and adolescents found that low emotion identification skills and emotional awareness are able to predict poor emotion regulation strategies and higher rates of anxiety/depression (Ciarrochi et al., 2008; Taylor & Bagby, 2004). Therefore, such constructs also deserve to be investigated in the present work.

The main purpose of the study is to evaluate metacognitive processes (worry and rumination) and metacognitive beliefs in children presenting different types of anxiety symptoms (somatic anxiety, separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety) and depressive symptoms, considering the moderation effect of emotional status, emotional awareness and meta-emotive competence. In addition, considering the tight (and variable) relation among theory of mind, executive functions and metacognition, relevant measures assessing such abilities will be administered to children. Finally, the relationship between children’s and parents’ metacognition will be analysed.
Italian validation of the FilmStim database
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychology
Project leader: D S Scaini
Project runtime: 14.02.2019 - 01.12.2020
Research Focus:
  • Developmental Psychology; Developmental Psychopathology, Child- and Adolescent Psychology
Topic:
  • diagnostics
Project leader:

D S Scaini (s.scaini@milano-sfu.it) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Vita-Salute San Raffaele University Milan

Project runtime:

14.02.2019 - 01.12.2020

Grants:

-

Description:
Short Study Description: Objective: The present study aims to validate the Italian version of FilmStim (Schaefer, Nils, Sanchez, & Philippot, 2010), a large database of emotion-eliciting films. Actually, FilmStim includes 70 brief video clips that could be used in psychological research to elicit 7 emotional categories (anger, happiness, fear, disgust, sadness, tenderness and neutral). FilmStim is quite used in experimental research on emotion and affect as it has been shown to be effective in eliciting participants' emotions, as also indicated by the quite number of citations the paper validating the database has received until now (467 citations on Google Scholar at October, 12th, 2018). Currently, the database has been validated in French and with Belgian adult participants (364 undergraduate students were recruited in the original study). An English version of the stimuli tested by Schaefer et al. (2010) have been made available by the Authors themselves without being validated.
In this study we aim at examining the effectiveness of the Italian version of the FilmStim stimuli. The selection of appropriate and effective emotional stimuli is crucial in affective sciences. Despite the widespread use of static pictures for inducing emotions, it has been showed that videos are even more effective than pictures; their dynamic nature and the co-occurrence of visual and auditory information allow to involve participants in more realistic situations (e.g., Gross & Levenson, 1995).
Indeed, emotion expression and perception may be also affected by the linguistic content of the message and the socio-cultural environment (e.g., Elfenbein & Ambady, 2002; Kitayama, Mesquita, & Karasawa, 2006); thus, before being properly used in Italian, FilmStim needs validation with Italian-speaking participants who live in Italy. Moreover, to further extend the database usability, we aim at investigating emotional reactivity to FilmStim stimuli in a sample of adolescents (age 14-18). The study of emotions in adolescents is of interest since deficits in emotion recognition could lead to poor social functioning and to the development and maintenance of psychopathologies. Several studies in literature, using affectively valent stimuli, established that there are important differences between typical and atypical groups of individuals in the recognition and processing of emotionally valent information. Different relationships between the valence (pleasant or unpleasant) and the reaction (levels of arousal or intensity) to an emotional stimulus have been found. Moreover, also in young patients, it has been showed a dissociation between the psychological reporting and the autonomic change in the recognition, appraisal and response to emotions of differing valences (e.g. Blair, 2003; Bylsma, Morris, & Rottenberg, 2008). Thus, identifying and measuring subjective emotional reactivity could be particularly important in young patients. Adequate expression and interpretation of emotions are important steps to a successful social performance. The identification of processes underling the development and maintenance of deficit in these abilities is important not only from a diagnostic point of view and for determining trait complexity but will also offer the base for a correct assessment and treatment of psychological disorders in adolescence.
Serious Games: Prevention of Stress for the Medical Staff of the German Federal Armed Forces
Machbarkeitsuntersuchung für die wissenschaftliche Entwicklung einer psychoedukativen E-Mental Health Komponente zur Stressprävention für ein bestehendes simulationsbasiertes sanitätsdienstliches Training für Nicht-Sanitätspersonal und Sanitätspersonal de
Project status: Completed
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: PD Dr. Marko Hofmann
Project runtime: 01.01.2019 - 30.04.2019
Research Focus:
  • E-Mental-Health and digital media
Topic:
  • Stress prevention
Project leader:

PD Dr. Marko Hofmann (marko.hofmann@unibw.de) 

Project team:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Cooperation partners:

Universität der Bundeswehr München, Fakultät für Informatik

Project runtime:

01.01.2019 - 30.04.2019

Grants:

Sanitätsakademie der Bundeswehr in München, Deutschland

Description:
It will be investigated under which conditions psychological learning content for stress prevention can be integrated into a virtual learning environment for non-medical personnel and medical personnel.
Es soll erforscht werden, unter welchen Bedingungen psychologische Lerninhalte zur Stressprävention in eine virtuelle Lernumgebung für Nicht-Sanitätspersonal und Sanitätspersonal integriert werden können.
BARBQTCM (BARiatric Basic Questionnairy for Traditional Chinese Medicine): Prospective multicenter study for evaluation of the acceptance of TCM among overweight & obese patients
BARBQTCM: Prospektive Multicenterstudie zur Evaluierung der TCM Akzeptanz bei ÜbergewichtspatientInnen
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.Prof. PD Dr. Peter Panhofer, MBA
Project runtime: 01.04.2017 - 31.12.2020
Research Focus:
  • TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine)
  • Acupuncture
  • Obesity & Overweight
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Traditional European & Asian Medicine
Topic:
  • Metabolic Medicine
Project leader:

Univ.Prof. PD Dr. Peter Panhofer, MBA (peter.panhofer@med.sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Steffi Rothe MBA/MedOstWest Zentrum; Univ.Prof. Dr. Nicole Heussen/SFU MED; Dr. Brigitte Obermayer/KH Göttlicher Heiland; Prim. Univ.Prof. Dr. Johannes Zacherl/SFU MED, St. Josef Spital; Dr. Said Albinni/St. Josef Spital; Dr. Christoph Sperker/KH Rudolfstiftung; Dr. Martin Schermann/KH Rudolfstiftung; Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Alexander Klaus/KH Barmherzige Schwestern Wien; Dr. Georg Tentschert/KH Barmherzige Schwestern Wien, Prim.Dr. Franz Hoffer/KH Hollabrunn, Dr. Philipp Beckerhinn/KH Hollabrunn, Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Stephan Kriwanek/Donauspital, Dr. Sonja Chiapetta/Sana Klinikum Offenbach; Univ.Prof.Dr. Rudolf Weiner/Sana Klinikum Offenbach; Univ.Prof.Dr. Marco Bueter/Universitätsklinik Zürich; Priv.Doz.Dr. Christian Denecke/Universitätsklinik Charité Berlin, Dr. Benjamin Grote/ Johanniter Klinikum Bonn, KH Wesseling Bonn; Univ.Prof.Dr. Andreas Türler/Johanniter Klinikum Bonn; Univ.Prof.Dr. Christoph Jacobi/KH Wesseling Bonn; Prof.Dr. Jörg Zehetner/Klinik Beau Site Bern; Priv.Doz.Dr. Rudolf Steffen/Klinik Beau Site Bern, Dr. Andreas Melmer/Universitätsklinik Inselspital Bern; Priv.Doz.Dr. Markus Laimer/Universitätsklinik Inselspital Bern; Priv.Doz.Dr. Philipp Nett/Universitätsklinik Inselspital Bern

Project runtime:

01.04.2017 - 31.12.2020

Grants:

Keine Drittmittel

Description:
Introduction: Obesity is a risk factor for heart disease, diabetes mellitus, liver and joint disorders, and cancer. The WHO estimates that 1.5 billion people worldwide are overweight and 500 million are obese. The obesity problem is no longer limited to industrialized countries.Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a form of complementary medicine and has a holistic view of humans. It focuses on strengthening the affected organ systems (element earth and wood) and the reduction of pathogenic factors (moisture, phlegm, stagnation). From the point of view of TCM, all complaints and diseases are caused by an imbalance between body and soul, as well as the 5 organ systems that are also assigned to specific elements (5 element theory). The primary goal of TCM is to strengthen the immune system and restore the inner balance.For several reasons, including reduction of pharmacological treatment, TCM can make a significant contribution to health care and quality of life. The combination of conventional medicine and concomitant TCM treatment has been accepted and increasingly established in Asian culture and Western society.
Design: Prospective multicentric questionnaire study
Study cohort: 15 German-speaking D-A-CH centers: 5000 respondents
Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate the acceptance of visitors to the obesity outpatient clinics for an accompanying TCM treatment using a questionnaire. The question is, whether the patients have already used bariatric treatments, including conventional Western and / or Complementary medicine, what kind of complaints they have, and whether they would treat them with TCM. Furthermore, the type of TCM treatments they would choose, the frequency of outpatient visits and the amount of money they would be willing to pay for various TCM therapies are evaluated. In a TCM outpatient clinic, herbal therapy prescriptions and acupuncture treatments are prescribed. In addition, training, nutritional advice and cooking classes are recommended. For the effective workflow of a TCM outpatient clinic, it is essential to evaluate the funds available to patients so that the prescribed additional therapies are actually used.

Einleitung: Fettleibigkeit ist ein Risikofaktor für Herzerkrankungen, Diabetes mellitus, Leber und Gelenksstörungen und Krebs. Die WHO schätzt, dass 1,5 Milliarden Menschen weltweit übergewichtig und 500 Millionen adipös sind. Das Fettleibigkeitsproblem ist nicht mehr nur auf die Industrieländer beschränkt.Die Traditionelle Chinesische Medizin (TCM) ist eine Form der Komplementärmedizin und hat eine ganzheitliche Sicht auf den Menschen. Sie fokussiert auf die Stärkung der betroffenen Organsysteme (Element Erde und Holz) und der Reduktion von pathogenen Faktoren (Feuchtigkeit, Schleim, Stagnation). Aus Sicht der TCM entstehen sämtliche Beschwerden und Erkrankungen durch ein Ungleichgewicht zwischen Körper und Seele, sowie den 5 Organsystemen, die auch spezifischen Elementen zugeordnet werden (5 Elemente Theorie). Die TCM zielt primär darauf ab, das Immunsystem zu stärken und die innere Balance wieder herzustellen. Aus mehreren Gründen einschließlich Verringerung der pharmakologischen Behandlung kann TCM einen bedeutenden Beitrag zur Gesundheitspflege und zur Lebensqualität leisten. Die Kombination von konventioneller Medizin und begleitender TCM-Behandlung wurde akzeptiert und zunehmend in der asiatischen Kultur sowie in der westlichen Gesellschaft etabliert.
Design: Prospektive multizentrische Fragebogenstudie
Studienkohorte: 15 deutschsprachige D-A-CH Zentren: 5000 Befragte
Ziel: Ziel der Studie ist, die Akzeptanz von BesucherInnen / PatientInnen der Adipositas-Ambulanzen bezüglich einer begleitenden TCM Behandlung anhand eines Fragebogens zu evaluieren. Gefragt wird, ob die PatientInnen bereits bariatrische Behandlungen einschließlich konventioneller westlicher und/oder komplementärer Medizin in Anspruch genommen haben, welche Art von Beschwerden sie haben, und ob sie die mit TCM behandeln würden. Weiters wird die Art der TCM Behandlungen, die sie wählen würden, die Häufigkeit der Ambulanzbesuche und die Menge an Geld, die sie bereit wären, für verschiedene TCM-Therapien zu zahlen, evaluiert. In einer TCM-Ambulanz werden Kräutertherapie-Rezepte und Akupunkturbehandlungen verordnet. Zusätzlich werden Schulungen, Ernährungsberatungen sowie Kochkurse empfohlen. Für den effektiven Betrieb einer TCM-Ambulanz ist es wesentlich, zu evaluieren, welche Geldmittel den Ambulanz-PatientInnen zur Verfügung stehen, damit die verordneten zusätzlichen Therapien auch wirklich in Anspruch genommen werden.
BACULIFE (Bariatric ACUpuncture & LIver Fasting for Excess weight): Prospective randomised study for preoperative weight loss with acupuncture, liver fasting and meal substitution for bariatric patients
BACULIFE: Prospektiv randomisierte Studie zur präoperativen Gewichtsabnahme mithilfe von Akupunktur, Leberfasten und Mahlzeitenersatz bei bariatrischen PatientInnen
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.Prof. PD. Dr. Peter Panhofer, MBA
Project runtime: 20.01.2019 - 01.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • Traditional European & Asian Medicine
  • Metabolic Syndrome
  • Obesity & Overweight
  • Acupuncture
Topic:
  • Metabolic Medicine
Project leader:

Univ.Prof. PD. Dr. Peter Panhofer, MBA (peter.panhofer@med.sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Steffi Rothe MBA/MedOstWest Zentrum; Univ.Prof. Dr. Nicole Heussen/SFU MED; Dr. Brigitte Obermayer/KH Göttlicher Heiland; Prim. Univ.Prof. Dr. Johannes Zacherl/SFU MED, St. Josef Spital; Dr. Said Albinni/St. Josef Spital; Dr. Christoph Sperker/KH Rudolfstiftung; Martin Schermann/KH Rudolfstiftung; Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Alexander Klaus/KH Barmherzige Schwestern Wien; Dr. Georg Tentschert/KH Barmherzige Schwestern Wien, Prim.Dr. Franz Hoffer/KH Hollabrunn, Dr. Philipp Beckerhinn/KH Hollabrunn, Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Stephan Kriwanek/Donauspital, Dr. Karin Stockert/Österreichische Gesellschaft für Akupunktur, Prim.Univ.Prof.Dr. Manuela Födinger/SFU MED, Kaiser Franz Josef Spital

Project runtime:

20.01.2019 - 01.06.2020

Grants:

Österreichische Gesellschaft für Akupunktur, BODYMED

Description:
Introduction: Abdominal obesity, insulin resistance with diabetes mellitus 2, lipid metabolism disorders and high blood pressure form the quartet of the metabolic syndrome. Heart diseases, fatty liver, musculoskeletal disorders, depression and cancer are serious consequences of metabolic derailment. The WHO estimates that nearly 2 billion people worldwide are overweight (39% of the world's population) and 650 million are obese (13% of the world's population). Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and works by stimulating the autonomic nervous system and release of neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus and several cranial nerve nuclei. These effects could be proven in countless studies. The WHO has published a clear indication list for acupuncture and thus confirmed the effect. Liver fasting according to Dr. Worm is an essential life style measure to improve liver metabolism. This helps to reduce and maintain weight in the long term.
Design: Prospective Randomized Monocentric Study
Study cohort: 141 patients
Group A (Acupuncture & Liver fasting): 49 patients; Group B (Liver fasting): 49 patients; Group C (Control): 42 patients
Aim: The study aims to study the effect of acupuncture (body and ear acupuncture) in combination with preoperative liver fasting according to Dr. Worm with subsequent meal replacement to evaluate a weight reduction before bariatric surgery. Using objective metric parameters (body mass index - BMI, body weight, bio-impedance analysis, etc.), laboratory parameters (liver function parameters, HbA1c, etc.) and the subjective quality of life (questionnaires: WHOQOL-BREF, BAROS, BARAQOL) the effect should be reliably mapped.
Einleitung: Abdominelle Fettleibigkeit, Insulinresistenz mit Diabetes mellitus 2, Fettstoffwechselstörungen sowie Bluthochdruck bilden das Quartett des Metabolischen Syndroms. Herzerkrankungen, Leberverfettung, Erkrankungen des Bewegungsapparates, Depressionen und Krebs sind schwerwiegende Folgen der metablischen Entgleisung. Die WHO schätzt, dass knapp 2 Milliarden Menschen weltweit übergewichtig (39% der Weltbevölkerung) und 650 Millionen adipös (13% der Weltbevölkerung) sind.Die Akupunktur ist Teil der Traditionellen Chinesischen Medizin (TCM) und wirkt unter anderem durch Stimulation des vegetativen Nervensystem und Freisetzung von Neurotransmittern im Hypothalamus und mehreren Hirnnervenkernen. Die WHO hat eine klare Indikationsliste für die Akupunktur herausgebracht und somit die Wirkung bestätigt. Das Leberfasten nach Dr. Worm ist eine  Maßnahme, um den Leberstoffwechsel zu verbessern. Dadurch lässt sich langfristig das Gewicht reduzieren und auch halten.
Design: Prospektive randomisierte monozentrische Studie
Studienkohorte: 141 PatientInnen
Gruppe A (Akupunktur & Leberfasten): 49 Pat.; Gruppe B (Leberfasten): 49 Pat.; Gruppe C (Kontrolle): 42 Pat.
Ziel: Ziel der Studie ist, den Effekt von Akupunktur (Körper- und Ohr-Akupunktur) in Kombination mit präoperativem Leberfasten nach Dr. Worm mit nachfolgendem Mahlzeitenersatz auf eine Gewichtsreduktion vor einem bariatrischen operativen Eingriff zu evaluieren. Anhand von objektiven metrischen Parametern (Body Mass Index - BMI, Körpergewicht, Bio- Impedanz-Analysen, etc.), Laborparametern (Leberfunktionsparameter, HbA1c, etc.) und der subjektiven Lebensqualität (Fragebögen: WHOQOL-BREF, BAROS, BARAQOL) soll der Effekt zuverlässig abgebildet werden.
Changes in couple and family relationships in the age of digital media
Veränderungen von Paar- und Familienbeziehungen im Zeitalter digitaler Medien
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • E-Mental-Health and digital media
Topic:
  • Relationsship
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Mag. Cornelia Küsel (kuesel.cornelia@gmail.com); Jessica Huss (jessi_huss@web.de) 

Cooperation partners:

s.u.

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
The development of digital media in the last 20 years has led to changes in many areas of daily life. This also includes family relationships: From the very early stages of initiating relationships to separations, the Internet has the potential to influence family relationships. The project systematizes and discusses these influences along the typical course of relationships (relationship initiation, development, family formation, separation) and focuses on intergenerational opportunities and conflicts associated with modern media use. Against the background of psychological as well as media and communication theories and empirical findings, answers will be given to the following questions.
  1. Initiating and developing relationships: How do you get to know new partners in the modern media age? Who uses online dating platforms for which motives? Do online partnerships differ from offline ones in terms of relationship development and satisfaction? What options does digital networking offer with regard to modern forms of starting a family? What are the negative trends in the context of online dating (e.g. love scamming, ghosting, cyberstalking, etc.)?
  2. Relationship development and existing partnerships: What influence does modern media use have on existing partnerships? How do couples design their internal communication using the Internet and smartphones? What new options are opening up, but also what Internet-related challenges do couples have to face today? How effective are online intervention services for partnership problems?
  3. Separations: What influence does the Internet have on separations? Can separations and divorces also be carried out online and what options do the (separated) couples use.
The problems associated with modern media use are increasingly becoming the subject of counselling and psychotherapy. It is therefore important that psychosocial professionals are also familiar with the trends in digital media and online dating.


Die Entwicklung der digitalen Medien in den letzten 20 Jahren hat in vielen Bereichen des täglichen Lebens zu Veränderungen. Dazu gehören auch die familiärer Beziehungen: Von den sehr frühen Stadien der Anbahnung von Beziehungen bis hin zu Trennungen hat das Internet das Potenzial, Familienbeziehungen stark zu beeinflussen. Im Projekt werden diese Einflüsse entlang des typischen Beziehungsverlaufs systematisiert und diskutiert (Beziehungsanbahnung, -entwicklung, Familiengründung, Trennung), und es wird ein besonderer Fokus auf mit der modernen Mediennutzung zusammenhängende intergenerationale Chancen aber auch Konflikten gelegt. Auf dem Hintergrund sowohl psychologischer als auch medien- und kommunikationswissenschaftlicher Theorien sowie empirischer Befunde werden Antworten auf Fragen gegeben wie:
  1. Beziehungsanbahnung und -aufbau: Wie gestaltet sich das Kennenlernen neuer Partner im modernen Medienzeitalter? Wer nutzt aus welchen Motiven Online-Dating Plattformen? Unterscheiden sich online von offline angebahnte Partnerschaften in Merkmalen der Beziehungsentwicklung und -zufriedenheit? Welche Optionen bietet die digitale Vernetzung in Bezug auf moderne Formen der Familiengründung? Was sind die negativen Trends im Kontext des Online-Datings (z.B. Love Scamming, Ghosting, Cyberstalking, etc.)?
  2. Beziehungsentwicklung und bestehende Partnerschaften: Welchen Einfluss hat die moderne Mediennutzung auf bestehende Partnerschaften? Wie gestalten Paare ihre Binnenkommunikation mittels Internet und Smartphone? Welche neuen Spielräume eröffnen sich, aber auch welchen internetassoziierten Herausforderungen müssen sich Paare heute stellen? Wie effektiv sind Online-Interventionsangebote bei Partnerschaftsproblemen?
  3. Trennungen: Welchen Einfluss hat das Internet auf Trennungen? Können Trennungen und Scheidungen auch online durchgeführt werden und welche Möglichkeiten werden dabei von den (getrennten) Paaren in Anspruch genommen.
Die mit der modernen Mediennutzung zusammenhängenden Probleme werden zunehmend häufiger auch zum Thema in Beratungen und Psychotherapien. Somit ist wichtig, dass auch psychosozial Tätige mit den Trends digitaler Medien und Online Dating vertraut sind.
Sexual abuse in psychotherapy
Sexueller Missbrauch in der Psychotherapie
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • Psychotherapy
Topic:
  • Abuse
Project leader:

Univ-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Studentin

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Sexual abuse committed by psychotherapists within psychotherapy is discussed and the experiences of therapists who treat those sexually abused patients in Austria will be collected.


Im Rahmen eines Forschunpsrojekts wird sich mit sexuellem Missbrauch, der von Psychotherapeutinnen und Psychotherapeuten im Kontext der psychotherapeutischen Behandlung begangen wird, auseinandgesetzt und hierfür die Erfahrungen von Folgetherapeutinnen und Folgetherapeuten betroffener PatientInnen in Österreich erhoben.
E-Mental Health: Success and Risks
E-Mental Health: Erfolgs- und Misserfolgsforschung
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • E-Mental-Health and digital media
Topic:
  • Online-Counseling
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Studierende

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Although the effectiveness of psychological online help services has been proven, there are still open questions regarding the process. The so-called "online disinhibition effect" (Suler, 2004) describes the phenomenon of people revealing more of themselves online than in personal conversations. However, this effect is considered as theoretically and empirically controversial. There are no research results that prove that self-opening in the online context would be better. In this context, the present study examines self-opening in the context of online and face-to-face counselling. In an additional project, the risks of e-mental health are investigated, e.g. potential violations by both counsellors and people who are seeking advice due to the special features of the online setting.


Wenngleich die Wirksamkeit von psychologischen Online-Hilfsangeboten belegt ist, bestehen offene Fragen bezüglich der Prozessforschung. Der sogenannte „Online-Enthemmungseffekt“ (Suler, 2004) beschreibt das Phänomen, dass Personen online mehr von sich preisgeben als in persönlichen Gesprächen. Dieser Effekt gilt jedoch als theoretisch und empirisch umstritten. Es gibt keine einheitlichen Forschungsergebnisse von Studien, die belegen, dass die Selbstöffnung im Online-Kontext größer wäre. In diesem Zusammenhang wird in der vorliegenden Studie die Selbstöffnung im Rahmen der Online- und „Face-to-Face“-Beratung untersucht. 
In einem weiteren Projekt werden die Risiken von E-Mental Health untersucht, so z.B. potenzielle Grenzverletzungen von Seiten der Berater wie auch der Ratsuchenden, die sich aus den Besonderheiten des Online-Settings ergeben.
Robotics in psychotherapy and psychosomatics
Robotik in der Psychotherapie und Psychosomatik
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • E-Mental-Health and digital media
Topic:
  • Robotik
Project leader:

Univ.Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

siehe oben 

Cooperation partners:

Studierende; Univ. des Saarlandes; Dr. Nikos Green, Berlin

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Robotics as an interdisciplinary field of research is also relevant for psychotherapeutic and psychiatric approaches due to the possibilities of human-machine interactions. In a comprehensive research project, these latest applications in the field of e-mental health will be empirically investigated (e.g. systematic review, survey about the acceptance of AI applications among physicians and patients, attitudes towards sex robotics in the population and among sex therapists as a potential therapeutic tool).

Robotik als interdisziplinäres Forschungsfeld ist vor allem aufgrund der Möglichkeiten, die Mensch-Maschine-Interaktionen bieten, auch von Relevanz für psychotherapeutische und psychiatrische Ansätze. In einem umfassenden Forschungsprojekte sollen diese neuesten Anwendungen im Bereich von E-Mental empirisch untersucht werden (u.a. system. Review, Befragung von Ärzten und Patienten zu Vertrauen in KI-Anwendungen, Einstellungen zu Sex-Robotik in der Bevölkerung sowie unter Sexualtherapeuten als potenzielles therapeutisches Tool).
Psychoanalysis online
Psychoanalyse online
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • E-Mental-Health and digital media
Topic:
  • Psychoanalysis
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.a.t) 

Project team:

MSc Lisa Hübner (lisa.huebner@sfu.ac.at) 

Cooperation partners:

s.u.

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Psychoanalytical theory and practice as well as social relations and mental health are influenced by the development of modern media. In particular, Internet-supported psychoanalytic treatment among psychoanalytic experts opens up an ambivalence between doubt and criticism regarding the use of new media in psychoanalysis, while at the same time a fascination about this topic exists due to new setting options. Discussions about the chances and limits of an "online psychoanalysis" is not sufficient. Furthermore, psychoanalytic processes within Internet communication should be investigated.

Die psychoanalytische Theorie und Praxis steht ebenso wie soziale Beziehungen und die Bereiche der psychischen Gesundheit unter dem Einfluss der Entwicklung moderner Medien. So eröffnet insbesondere eine internet-gestützte psychoanalytische Behandlung im psychoanalytischen Fachkreis eine Ambivalenz zwischen Zweifel und Kritik an der Verwendung neuer Medien in der Psychoanalyse, bei  gleichzeitiger Faszination für dieses Thema aufgrund sich neu bietender Settingoptionen. Hilfreicher als einseitig geführte Diskussionen um die Chancen und Grenzen einer „Online-Psychoanalyse“, ist es, psychoanalytische Prozesse in der Internet-Kommunikation empirisch fundiert zu beleuchten.
Internet addiction
Internetsucht
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • behavioural addictions
Topic:
  • Internet addiction
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Dr. Jan van Loh/ Berlin

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
The prevalence of Internet addiction is significantly higher among young people than among adults. For instance, 1% of 14- to 64-year-old Germans are considered to be addictive to the Internet use and 4.6% of this age group are classified as problematic Internet users. Adolescents (between the age of 14 and 24 years) have the highest prevalence: 2.4% of this group are addictive Internet users and 13.6% are considered to be problematic ones. Experts agree that this target group requires special treatment strategies. Therefore, the project aims to look at these patients from different therapeutic perspectives as well as along the spectrum of clinical-psychological interventions (from prevention to therapy).Among other things, we carry out a survey of child and adolescent psychotherapists by asking if and how media addiction is documented in the anamnesis.


Die Prävalenz der Internetsucht liegt bei jungen Menschen deutlich höher als bei Erwachsenen. So gelten 1% der 14- bis 64-jährigen Deutschen als internetabhängig, 4,6% dieser Altersgruppe werden als problematische Internetnutzer eingestuft. Bei Jugendlichen und Adoleszenten (14-24 Jährige) ist die Verbreitung am größten: 2,4% dieser Gruppe stellen abhängige und 13,6% problematische Internetnutzer dar. In Fachkreisen konsensuell ist, dass diese Patientengruppe besondere Behandlungsstrategien erfordern. Daher hat das Projekt zum Ziel, diese Betroffenen in den Blick zu nehmen und dies einerseits aus verschiedene therapeutischen Richtungen, andererseits entlang des Spektrum klinisch-psychologischer Interventionen (von Prävention bis Therapie).
U.a. führen wir eine Befragungsstudie an Kinder- und Jugendlichenpsychotherapeuten durch verbunden mit der Frage, ob und wenn je wie Mediensucht in der Anamnese erhoben wird.
Psychosomatic aspects of fertility treatments
Psychosomatische Aspekte von Kinderwunschbehandlungen
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science, Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • psychosomatic
Topic:
  • fertility
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Univ. Prof. Dr. Jutta Fiegl (jutta.fiegl@sfu.ac.at) 

Cooperation partners:

Studierende

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
Psychosomatic aspects of fertility and fertility treatment are of high importance. In this context, the Internet is also playing an essential role.In a series of studies, the two psychosomatic institutes of the SFU Vienna are examining the following questions:
  • Single mothers by choice: mothers' motives
  • Single women who want to have children on the Internet: Content analysis of the exchange on the Internet
  • Social egg freezing (no medical indications): women's motives and personality 
  • Fertility treatments: media discourse analysis


Psychosomatische Aspekte des Kinderwunsches und der Kinderwunschbehandlung sind von hoher Bedeutung. In diesem Zusammenhang nimmt auch das Internet eine immer zentralere Stellung ein.
Die beiden Psychosomatischen Institute der SFU Wien untersuchen in einer Studienserien Fragestellungen wie z.B.:

  • Single mothers by choice: Motive der Mütter
  • Single Frauen mit Kinderwunsch im Internet: Inhaltsanalyse des Austauschs im Internet
  • Social Egg Freezing bei nicht-med. Indikationen: Motive der Frauen und Persönlichkeit 
  • Kinderwunschbehandlungen: Mediendiskursanalyse
Attachement Styles and Babies with Feeding Disorders
Aspekte der Bindungsverhalten bei Babys mit Fütterungsstörungen
Project status: Running
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg
Project runtime: 21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020
Research Focus:
  • psychosomatic
Topic:
  • psychosomatics in children and adolescents
Project leader:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christiane Eichenberg (eichenberg@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Frischer, Wilhelminenspital und Team

Project runtime:

21.06.2018 - 21.06.2020

Grants:

keine

Description:
The relationship between mothers' attachment styles and the attachment behavior of infants with feeding disorders is empirically investigated.


Der Zusammenhang zwischen Bindungsstilen der Mütter und Bindungsverhalten von Babys mit Fütterungsstörungen wird empirisch untersucht.
Research Group Neuropsychiatry
Forschungsgruppe Neuropsychiatrie
Project status: Running
Faculty: Psychotherapy Science
Project leader: Univ.-Doz. Dr.med.Dr.Scient. Raphael Bonelli
Project runtime: 30.09.2011 - 30.09.2037
Research Focus:
  • Clinical research
  • Applied Psychotherapy Science Research
Topic:
  • Neuropsychiatry/Huntington´s Disease
Project leader:

Univ.-Doz. Dr.med.Dr.Scient. Raphael Bonelli (raphael.bonelli@sfu.ac.at) 

Project team:

Dr. Stefan Lakonig; Dr. Lene Stabel; Mag. Johannes Wunsch; Dr. Katrin Fölhs 

Cooperation partners:

George Huntington Institut Münster; Enroll-HD

Project runtime:

30.09.2011 - 30.09.2037

Grants:

Enroll-HD

Description:
Focus of this research group’s work is Huntington’s disease (HD). HD is an autosomal-dominant transmitted, neurodegenerative disease with a prevalence of 6-12 affected/100.000 persons in Austria. Cause is a mutation of the Huntington-genome on Chromosome 4, leading to an increase in apoptosis of neural cells. HD leads to a trias of symptoms with neurological malfunctions (chorea, dystonia, motility disorder (eyes), gait disorder), psychiatric symptoms (depression, delusion, change of personality,…) and subcortical dementia. There is no causal therapy of HD existing so far. A symptomatic treatment of HD is possible to a limited extent, without stopping HD to progress. Recently published studies were not very significant due to low incidence. Our research focus is the psychology and psychiatry of HD.
Forschungsschwerpunkt der Arbeitsgruppe ist die Erkrankung Chorea Huntington (Huntington’s disease, HD). HD ist eine autosomal-dominat vererbte, neurodegenerative Erkrankung mit einer Prävalenz von 6 - 12 Betroffenen /100.000 Personen in Österreich. Die Ursache der HD ist eine Mutation im Huntingtin-Gen am Chromosom 4, durch die es zu einer vermehrten Apoptose von Nervenzellen kommt. Bei HD kommt es zu einer Symptomtrias mit neurologischen Ausfällen (Chorea, Dystonie, Augenmotilitätsstörungen, Gangstörungen,…), psychiatrischen Symptomen (Depressionen, Wahnvorstellungen, Veränderungen der Persönlichkeit,…) und einer subkortikalen Demenz. Eine kausale Therapie der HD existiert bisher nicht, eine symptomatische Behandlung der HD ist nur begrenzt möglich, das Voranschreiten der Erkrankung ist damit jedoch nicht zu verhindern. Bis vor kurzem waren die Studien zu HD wegen zu kleiner Fallzahl nur mangelhaft aussagekräftig. Aus diesem Grund sind wir wissenschaftlich europaweit vernetzt: die SFU Forschungsgruppe Neuropsychiatrie ist Mitglied des European HD Networks (EHDN) (www.euro-hd.net) und Mitarbeiter unserer Arbeitsgruppe sind aktiv im REGISTRY Steering Comittee und im Scientific and Bioethics Advisory Committee (SBAC) dieses weltweit größten wissenschaftlichen Netzwerkes für HD tätig. Außerdem kooperieren wir engmaschig mit der Österreichischen Huntingtonhilfe (ÖHH) (www.huntington.at) und der weltweit agierenden Enroll-HD. In den Jahren 2011 und 2017 hat die SFU Forschungsgruppe an den „Leitlinien Chorea“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurologie mitgearbeitet.
Obstetricians – second victims of trauma in the delivery room as well as in the court room? Who cares?
Sekundäre Traumatisierung von GeburtshelferInnen - eine Fragebogenstudie in Deutschland und Österreich
Project status: Completed
Faculty: Medicine
Project leader: Univ.Prof. Dr.med.Dr.phil. Barbara Maier
Project runtime: 17.09.2016 - 17.09.2018
Research Focus:
  • Gestation and Delivery
Topic:
  • Obstetrics
Project leader:

Univ.Prof. Dr.med.Dr.phil. Barbara Maier (barbara.maier.mab@wienkav.at) 

Project team:

 

Cooperation partners:

DGPFG Dt. Ges. für Psychosomatische Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe

Project runtime:

17.09.2016 - 17.09.2018

Grants:

keine

Description:
Introduction Professional suffering is a taboo in medicine. Dramatic deliveries may cause traumatisation of obstetricians by confrontation and direct involvement in adverse events.This trauma experience is accompanied by feelings of failure, fault, and guilt and may cause intrusion (flashbacks, nightmares), numbing (emotional anaesthesia), hyperarousal (irritability, poor sleep, failure to concentrate) of obstetricians concerned and result in inferior patient care. Obstetricians may become so-called “Second Victims”.Although working conditions (understaffed departments, time pressure and overwork, lack of expertise and experience) contribute to the emotional burdening of physicians, critique of the system is rare.

Method An online-survey was sent out by the German and Austrian Societies of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) with epidemiologic questions, semi-structured interviews, elements from the Essener Trauma-Questionnaire and free text passages.

Subjects adressed:
  • personal and professional demographics/obstetrical settings
  • participant recount of adverse event circumstances
  • physical, psychosocial symptoms developed after trauma experience
  • obstetrics left?
  • recommendations for improvement given by the professionals

Preliminary Results already available

Discussion The individualisation of responsibility of the obstetrician produces 4th Victims in future patients, because: patient safety = physicians health = improvements of institutional working conditions.

Conclusion Fast track referral processes in cases of traumatization should be part of proactive institutional response in terms of “Second Victim Rights”.