In this video, Professor Dr. Stefan G. Hofmann emphasizes the importance of considering patient preferences when choosing between pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for mental health treatment. A stepped approach is recommended, starting with the least risky and most tolerable treatment, often psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavior therapy. Combining treatments initially is generally not advised due to potential misattribution of benefits and increased relapse rates. Personalized treatment plans should incorporate patient preferences. Recent studies suggest enhancing psychotherapy with agents like psychotherine, which targets extinction learning, a component of exposure therapy, to improve outcomes.
Professor Dr. Stefan G. Hofmann
Alexander von Humboldt Professor
LOEWE Spitzenprofessur für Translationale Klinische Psychologie
Philipps-Universität Marburg, Germany
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