معرفی
Prof. Dr. Christian Schmahl is a Professor at Heidelberg University's Medical Faculty Mannheim, affiliated with the Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI Mannheim). His research focuses on the psychopathology of stress-related disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with emphasis on dysfunctional emotional regulation, neurobiological mechanisms of self-injury, and neurofeedback interventions. He leads experimental studies using neuroimaging (fMRI), peripheral physiology, and neurochemistry to model pathomechanisms.
Key projects include the BMBF-funded 'Self-Injury: Treatment, Assessment, Recovery' consortium and the BrainBoost neurofeedback therapy initiative with Yale University. He co-directs Heidelberg-Mannheim's Graduiertenkolleg 2350 investigating adverse childhood experiences' lifelong impacts.
His work demonstrates improved amygdala-prefrontal connectivity through real-time fMRI neurofeedback, correlating with reduced dissociation in BPD patients. Neurochemical studies reveal disrupted glutamate/GABA balances in BPD patients' insular cortex affecting pain perception. Longitudinal psychotherapy studies track structural brain changes post-treatment.
Prof. Schmahl's research bridges clinical neuroscience and translational medicine, developing evidence-based therapies for emotion dysregulation disorders.
