GRK 2350

The research training group investigates psychosocial, neurobiological, and somatic sequelae of adverse childhood experiences (ACE). It is embedded in the central lines of research at the Central Institute of Mental Health (Mannheim, Germany) and the Medical Faculty Heidelberg (Germany), with two already existing BMBF-funded networks on trauma-related disorders and existing patient cohorts, and based on long-lasting experience with doctoral training programmes. Adverse childhood experiences such as sexual and physical abuse or neglect are frequent in childhood and constitute a massive stressor with long-lasting consequences for mental and physical health. Despite their obvious relatedness, neither the causal relation nor the mechanisms involved are clear.