Kerstin Paschke

Kerstin Paschke serves as Head of the Drug Abuse Department and Medical Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Medical Center Hamburg (UKE), operating within the German Center for Addiction Research in Childhood and Adolescence under the Faculty of Medicine. Her clinical and research leadership focuses on pediatric addiction medicine.

Her primary research interests encompass developmental aspects of substance abuse disorders, evidence-based interventions for youth addiction, and the intersection of mental health comorbidities with substance use in adolescent populations. This work addresses critical gaps in early intervention strategies and neurodevelopmental impacts of addiction.

Dr. Paschke maintains active clinical responsibilities while directing departmental research initiatives, utilizing her dual expertise in psychiatry and addiction medicine to shape treatment protocols. Her position bridges clinical practice with translational research through the German Center for Addiction Research framework.

Proficient in both German (native) and English, she operates from the W29 Erika-Haus facility on the UKE campus, where her department conducts specialized assessments and therapeutic programs for pediatric substance abuse cases.