Gerhard Bühringer

Prof. Gerhard Bühringer is a Senior Professor and Director of the Work Group Addictive Behaviors, Risk Analysis, and Risk Management at the Technical University of Dresden. He holds a Dr. rer. soc. from Eberhard Karls University Tübingen (1981) and a Diploma in Psychology from Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich (1973). His research focuses on addiction etiology, epidemiology, and public health interventions, with a particular emphasis on cognitive control mechanisms in addictive behaviors.

Professional roles include leadership positions such as President of the International Organisation of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Behavioral Addictions Research Association (ICARA, 2014–2016) and Director of the European Graduate School in Addiction Research (ESADD, 2008–2015). He has authored over 200 publications, including seminal works on gambling disorder regulation and self-control deficits in addiction.

Research interests span substance use disorders, behavioral addictions (e.g., gambling), treatment systems analysis, and policy advocacy. His work bridges clinical practice and public health, emphasizing risk stratification for vulnerable populations. Notable contributions include developing Germany’s methadone maintenance standards and advising the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).

Recent studies highlight impulsive decision-making as a key predictor of addiction trajectories and explore brain mechanisms underlying self-control failures. His team’s longitudinal research underscores the interplay between cognitive traits (e.g., action/state orientation) and addictive behaviors.

Honors include the 2017 Diotima Award for contributions to psychotherapy and addiction science. He remains active in global policy forums, advocating for evidence-based gambling regulations and ethical research practices.