Nutritional psychosomatics, gut-brain axis, nutrition and the psyche

Our Nutritional Psychosomatics research group focuses on exploring the interactions between nutrition, the gut-brain axis and mental health. Combining biopsychosocial research and salutogenesis, we investigate the influence of probiotics on psychological resilience and the role of heart rate variability as an indicator of stress. Our goal is to promote a holistic understanding of the creation and preservation of health through interdisciplinary approaches and develop innovative strategies for mental health prevention. Our special Psychosomatics and Nutritional Psychosomatics clinic, which is conceived of as a care and research clinic, incorporates the latest findings directly into patient care. Care is also available in our gut-directed hypnosis group, which meets once a week.

Contact

Sabrina Leal Garcia

T: +43 316 385 83040

E: sabrina.moerkl(at)medunigraz.at

Research profile

Our focus

Psychosomatic disorders, autonomic nervous system disorders (sleep disorders, anxiety, depression, pain, gastrointestinal disease, psychological stress due to severe or chronic disease)
Health impacts of nutritional deficiencies, optimization of nutrient supply
Psychoneuroimmunological relationships, inflammation
Concepts of integrative biopsychosocial therapy in psychosomatics, nutritional assessment for mental health disorders
Education and teaching

Our goals

To conduct clinical trials to optimize diagnostics, prevention and therapy of psychosomatic disorders and to expand interdisciplinary cooperation in this area
To develop functional therapeutic concepts for psychosomatic disorders and set up appropriate treatment guidelines in the area of metabolic psychosomatics and nutritional psychiatry
To provide structured training for patients and individualized and improved treatment strategies as well as to promote salutogenesis
To conduct clinical trials on the implementation of psychophysiological measuring techniques
To introduce a structured psychosomatic nutritional assessment into diagnostics and therapy planning

Projects

ProBioHRV

This study investigates the influence of a probiotic on vagus nerve functioning in healthy and depressed subjects.
Period: Ongoing
Funded by: Allergosan, City of Graz

NutriMental Screener

This study investigates the feasibility of a dietary screening tool in inpatient and outpatient care for people with mental health disorders.
Period: Ongoing

Evaluation of the "Nutritional Psychiatry―Nutrition and Psyche" elective

In this study, students assess their knowledge of nutrition objectively and subjectively before and after they complete the elective and instruction is adapted and optimized based on the findings.

IP study

This study compares how video-based interventions of a new body-oriented psychotherapy method have an impact on mental health and resilience as opposed to nutritional training.
Period: In planning

EMS study

This study investigates how existential analysis-oriented nutrition workshops have a biopsychosocial impact on people with chronic mental illness who are being treated at psychosocial centers in Styria.