Previous research of the division’s head has focused on the investigation of neurobiological and psychological mechanisms that relate to resilience in healthy individuals and to the etiology of mental disorders, such as depression or posttraumatic stress disorder. Using neuroscientific and behavioral experimental research methods, this research revealed emotion regulation and perceived controllability of stressful events as promising candidates for resilience mechanisms and have also been identified to be transdiagnostically relevant for mental disorders. During the last years, the division built upon these results and those from other research groups to develop evidence-based psychological interventions aimed at fostering individual resilience and to evaluate their effectiveness in different target groups. In line with a primary prevention approach, we also deal with the promotion of mental health literacy among children and young people in the school context and has developed a corresponding and evidence-based school program for pupils in years 5 to 10 (BEWARE).
The described research focus of the Division will be expanded to target the specific research gaps in cancer patients and cancer survivors. The future research program will include experimental studies using neurobiological and behavioral methods (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging, stress hormones, behavior) to identify specific resilience mechanisms in cancer survivors alongside longitudinal studies to develop causal models of mental health and resilience in cancer survivors. In this regard, we will also develop new and specific self-report measures to assess resilience and stressor exposure in cancer patients and cancer survivors. Based on the results of these studies we will develop face-to-face and digital interventions and personalized offers for the prevention and psychological care of cancer survivors, including target-group specific educational programs on mental health literacy. Finally, in collaboration with other divisions at DKFZ and related institutions, the dissemination of these results for the promotion of mental health skills among cancer survivors will play an important role.
