Outpatient Clinic for the Early Detection of Psychiatric Illnesses in Young Adults
The transition from adolescence to adulthood involves numerous challenges. This can lead to a variety of psychological complaints, which are often unfamiliar, stressful and unsettling for those affected. In our special outpatient clinic, we offer comprehensive diagnostics as well as scientifically based therapy that is specifically tailored to the needs of young adults.
The Special Outpatient Clinic for the Early Detection of Psychiatric Illnesses in Young Adults (SAFE) is our central point of contact for those seeking help between the ages of 18 and 30. We offer help to young adults who are suffering from mental health problems, whether their symptoms are new or have been present for some time. Our aim is to help young people as early as possible with diagnostic, psychotherapeutic, medicinal and socio-educational measures. Early detection and, if necessary, prompt treatment can often mitigate the course of illness or even prevent it from breaking out.
In the special outpatient clinic, we work with our patients to assess their personal psychological risk patterns and can thus identify individual preventive and supportive measures. In addition to medical and psychological consultations, we use the entire spectrum of neuropsychiatric diagnostics, for example to better differentiate between physical and psychological causes. If, after careful consideration of all biological and psychological factors, a psychiatric illness is already present in an individual case and treatment is desired, advice is given on further in-house therapeutic options in our outpatient clinic, day clinic or on the ward, as required. The special outpatient clinic also offers the opportunity to take part in ongoing studies within the Max Planck Institute and thus actively contribute to a better understanding of psychological symptoms. For example, via our Biobank or the BeCOME study, which aims to identify biomarkers for mental illness: https://www.psych.mpg.de/become
Our consultation hours are also available in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, English and Greek.
Early warning signs
- Reduced pleasure or loss of interest in everyday life
- Feelings of depression or hopelessness
- Reduced need for sleep or sleep disturbances
- Increase in risky behavior (such as excessive financial spending)
- Stressful or distressing nervousness, anxiety, fear or worry
- Panic attacks without a recognizable trigger
- Increasing avoidance of situations that cause severe anxiety
- Thoughts of hurting or harming yourself
- New sensory impressions (seeing, hearing, feeling, etc.) that cause anxiety or are very stressful
- The feeling of losing control over your own thoughts
- The feeling of no longer being able to trust other people (family, friends, acquaintances)
Our diagnostic services
- Clinical and psychological consultations
- Laboratory chemical tests (blood and cerebrospinal fluid)
- Neuropsychological tests (classic in paper form and digital on the computer)
- Neuroradiological examinations (e.g. MRI)
- Neurophysiological examinations (e.g. EEG, sleep laboratory)
- If required and as part of studies, we also offer further additional diagnostics, including actigraphy, genetic analyses and many other options
Our therapy options
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Pharmacotherapy
- Neurostimulation procedures (e.g. rTMS, ECT)
- Occupational therapy
- Psychosocial counseling
- Socio-educational support
Procedure
- The first contact takes place via our telephone consultation, email or online contact form
- The first consultation lasts approx. 60 minutes; this is followed by a detailed discussion of the current symptoms and the progress to date
- Additional neuropsychological or instrumental examinations (e.g. blood tests, ECG/EEG, MRI) will take place at a subsequent appointment
- In a final consultation, you will receive feedback on the collected results. We will determine the further procedure together.