PD Dr. med. Stefan Kaiser

 

Main Goals, Keywords

Main topic: negative and cognitive symptoms in psychotic disorders

Concepts: goal-directed behavior, reward processing, executive functions

Methods: psychopathology, behavioral experiments, functional magnetic resonance imaging

Group Members

1 group leader, 2 PhD students, 1 psychologist, 2 resident psychiatrists

Previous and Current Research

Negative and cognitive symptoms determine functional outcome in patients with psychotic disorders to a large extent. The group employs an experimental-psychopathologic approach, which encompasses all levels from the development of psychopathological scales to the investigation of neural mechanisms underlying these symptoms. We understand symptoms mainly as impairments in the processes subserving goal-directed behavior. Our focus is on reward processing, executive functions and option generation.

Current projects focus on the processes underlying value coding, effort-based decision making and option generation in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. These studies mainly employ behavioral methods as well as functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Future Projects

The long-term goal of our research is to improve treatment for negative symptoms. Two research tracks will serve this purpose. First, we will develop and test methods for training the processes mentioned above. Second, we are currently establishing cooperations with preclinical laboratories to develop a translational framework for addressing negative symptoms, which is a condition for targeted drug development.

Techniques and Equipment

Methodological competence exists for neuropsychological and psychopathological assessment, electroencephalography and event-related potentials, functional magnetic resonance imaging and conduct of clinical trials.

Selected Publications

• Rentrop M, Roth A, Rodewald K, Simon J, Metzler S, Walther S, Weisbrod M, Kaiser S (2011): Temporal variability and spatial diffusion of the N2 event-related potential in high-functioning patients with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research 131:206-213.
• Simon JJ, Walther S, Fiebach CJ, Friederich HC, Stippich C, Weisbrod M, Kaiser S (2010): Neural reward processing is modulated by approach- and avoidance related personality traits. NeuroImage 49:1868-1874.
• Simon JJ, Biller A, Walther S, Rösch-Ely D, Stippich C, Weisbrod M, Kaiser S (2010): Neural correlates of reward processing in schizophrenia – relationship to apathy and depression. Schizophrenia Research 118:154-161.

Funding

Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), Volkswagen Foundation

URL

http://www.puk-west.uzh.ch/aboutus/people/kaiserstefan_en.html