Research Projects

Triggers Online Resulting in Non-suicidal self-injury (TORN)

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represents a major worldwide mental health concern in adolescents. One of the underlying mechanisms of NSSI are the negative biases in processing social feedback from others. Especially the friendship groups in which peers engage in NSSI and experiences of social rejection are discussed as significant predictors for NSSI behavior. Both are prominent phenomena in digital social media, but only little is known about the triggering factors for NSSI behavior in online interactions (e.g. pictures, words, social dynamics). The three main objectives of this research project are (1) to investigate the purposes, risks, and benefits of social media related to NSSI in an everyday context using a 7-days real-life assessment, (2) to understand whether the presentation of wounds, scars, materials used for NSSI or words related to NSSI provoke arousal, behavioral activation or an urge or thoughts to NSSI, and  (3) to explore if social exclusion alters the reactivity towards NSSI-related stimuli.
Project Team:

•    Mag. Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner (PI)
•    Univ.-Prof. Dr. Paul L. Plener (Co-PI)
•    Dr. Tamara Reiner, MSc.
•    Bettina Pfeffer, MSc

DRKS-ID:  DRKS00025905
This research is funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)

LongCOVID Fighters: A therapeutic intervention to treat adolescents and young adults with PostCOVID Symptoms

The aim of the “LongCOVID-Fighters” program is to support affected young people to quickly become mentally active and fit again in order to be able to participate in school and work again. The planned treatment program is aimed at adolescents and young adults and targets to reduce cognitive disabilities (fatigue, concentration, memory) and associated fears and to compensate for any remaining limitations (e.g. self-management training).

Project Team:

•    Mag. Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner (PI)
•    Univ.-Prof. Dr. Paul L. Plener (Co-PI)
•    Diana Klinger, MSc MA MA
•    Ass.-Prof. Christine Vesely
•    Adelais Reichmann, BSc.
•    Dr. Harald Eder
•    Dr. Heidi Zesch

This research is funded by the EWSA-Fund.

Understanding social development from childhood to adulthood using new ecological methods

The aims of the projects are to use neuroimaging approaches in daily life settings (fNIRS) and to combine these neuroimaging methodologies with Virtual Reality to investigate positive and negative social interactions in children and adolescents with mental disorders.

Project Team:

•    Mag. Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner (PI)
•    Dr. Vito Giordano (Co-PI)
•    Mag. Dr. Johanna Alexopolus (Co-PI)
•    Adelais Reichmann, BSc.
•    Dr. Heidi Zesch

This research is funded by a Starter Grant 2020 from Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics.

Psychosoziale Belastung und Symptomdynamik im Rahmen der Corona-Pandemie bei psychiatrisch vorerkrankten Kindern und Jugendlichen – Eine explorative Pilotuntersuchung (closed)

This study aimed to evaluate emergency teletherapy at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic of adolescent psychiatric patients. It further explored the psychosocial well-being and psychiatric symptoms of adolescent during the first phase of the pandemic in Vienna.

Project Team:

•    Mag. Dr. Mercedes Huscsava, BSc. (PI)
•    Mag. Dr. Oswald D. Kothgassner (Co-PI)
•    Univ.-Prof. Dr. Paul L. Plener
•    Adelais Reichmann, BSc.
•    Bettina Pfeffer, BSc.

This research was funded by the fund of the Major of Vienna, MA40 Med.-Wissenschaftl. Fond d. BM.