Collaborative Research Center Transregio 379: Neuropsychobiology of Aggression

Why do some people with mental disorders display aggressive behavior – and how can we better understand and treat it? The new Collaborative Research Center Transregio 379 entitled “Neuropsychobiology of Aggression: A Transdiagnostic Approach in Mental Disorders”, which is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), is dedicated to this question.

Aggressive behavior can occur in various mental illnesses and poses major challenges for those affected, relatives and specialist staff. However, the biological, cognitive and environmental causes have not yet been sufficiently researched. The aim of the research network is therefore to better understand the complex neurobiological and neurocognitive mechanisms underlying aggression in mental disorders (AMD).

The interdisciplinary network brings together scientists from various universities and research institutions. Together, they pursue a multidimensional, transdiagnostic and longitudinal approach. Genetic, molecular, hormonal and neuronal factors as well as behavior and environmental conditions are investigated in order to gain a holistic picture of the development of aggressive behavior in mental illnesses.

A central goal of TRR 379 is the identification of transdiagnostic biosignatures. These biological markers should help to develop more targeted prevention and treatment strategies in the future – individually adapted to the respective risk profiles and disease patterns.

By participating in TRR 379, the researchers at the CIMH are making an important contribution to a better understanding and more effective treatment of aggressive behavior in mental illnesses.

Subproject A03 is concerned with the use of state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques to explore aggression and acute threat processing. Find out more in the following video:

https://www.trr379.de