Katja Beesdo-Baum

Prof. Dr. Katja Beesdo-Baum is a Full Professor of Behavioral Epidemiology at the Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Science, Technical University of Dresden. Her research focuses on the epidemiology and clinical aspects of mental disorders, integrating neurobiological, developmental, and environmental factors through large-scale observational and experimental studies. She holds editorial roles at journals like Child Psychiatry & Human Development and contributes to global initiatives such as the WHO’s ICD-11 clinical practice network. Her work spans anxiety disorders, depression, and prevention strategies in youth, with a strong emphasis on translational research and healthcare system integration.

Education includes a Diploma in Psychology (2000) and a Dr. rer. nat. (2006), both from TU Dresden, followed by Habilitation in 2010. Professional experience includes postdoctoral training at the National Institute of Mental Health (USA) and leadership roles in clinical and research groups. Awards include the ECNP Fellowship and Dr.-Walter-Seipp Dissertation Award.

Her research explores mechanisms linking stress, neuroendocrine systems, and mental disorders, with recent studies focusing on brain structure alterations in anxiety disorders (ENIGMA collaborations) and the efficacy of prevention programs. She investigates digital health tools, stigma reduction, and sociodemographic barriers to mental healthcare access in adolescents and young adults.

• Key Research Themes: Behavioral epidemiology, developmental psychopathology, neuroimaging, prevention science.
• Recent Trends: Machine learning in brain-based classification of anxiety disorders, longitudinal studies on stress biomarkers (e.g., cortisol, androgens), and implementation science for pediatric mental health services.

Awards highlight her contributions to clinical guidelines (DSM-5 Task Force) and global mental health policy. Her grants and collaborations span European and international funding bodies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to mental health challenges.

Labs/Teams: Active in the ENIGMA Anxiety Working Group, BeMIND study (behavioral-mind health cohort), and Dresden-based clinical research networks.