Forschung

Scientific Background

Our research group investigates treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS) with a particular focus on clozapine. We're interested in understanding the reasons for clozapine underutilization and finding ways to increase its timely use. Moreover, we aim to increase safe clozapine use by searching for predictors of serious side effects like myocarditis. We're also interested in the neurobiological underpinnings of TRS and in improving treatment options for clozapine-resistant schizophrenia. 

Leading group members also head the specialized treatment team for TRS encompassing clincians from both the Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine, and Psychotherapy and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 

Group Members

Current group members:

• Robert Bittner (Group leader)
• Mishal Qubad (Co-Group leader)

Ida Marie Ehret (MD student), Maja Gandenberger (MD student), Semili Haedo (MD student), Diana Zaharescu (MD student)

Collaborations

• Prof. Dr. Dr. Christian Bachmann (Ulm University, Germany)
• Prof. Dr. Jurjen Luykx (UMC Utrecht, The Netherlands)
• PD Dr. Oliver Riedel (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Germany)

• Dr. Oliver Scholle (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Germany)

   

Selected Publications

• Scholle OHF, Riedel O, Qubad M, Dörks M, Kollhorst B, Bittner RA*, Bachmann CJ*. Clozapine prescribing in Germany: temporal trends and regional variations, 2012–2022. Schizophrenia. 2026 May 14. 

• Qubad M, Ehret IM, Bachmann CJ, Bittner RA. Adult psychiatrists’ views on clozapine prescribing for schizophrenia in Germany – an online survey. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2026 Apr 17.

• Verdoux H, Bittner RA, Hasan A, Qubad M, Wagner E, Lepetit A, Arrojo-Romero M, Bachmann C, Beex-Oosterhuis M, Bogers J, Celofiga A, Cohen D, de Berardis D, de Hert M, de Las Cuevas C, Ebdrup BH, Fountoulakis KN, Guinart D, Keating D, Kopeček M, Lally J, Lazáry J, Luykx JJ, Maronas Amigo O, Molden E, Nielsen J, O’Donoghue B, Oswald P, Radulescu FS, Rohde C, Sagud M, Sanz EJ, Šimunović Filipčić I, Sommer IE, Taipale H, Tiihonen J, Tuppurainen H, Veerman S, Wilkowska A, Spina E, Schulte P. The time has come for revising the rules of clozapine blood monitoring in Europe. A joint expert statement from the European Clozapine Task Force. European Psychiatry. 2025 68(1), e17, 1–5.

• Qubad M*, Dupont G*, Hahn M, Puntmann V, Martin S, Nagel E, Reif A, Bittner RA. When, Why and How to Re-challenge Clozapine following Myocarditis. CNS Drugs. 2024 Sep;38(9):671-696.
• Bittner RA, Reif A, Qubad M. The ever-growing case for clozapine in the treatment of schizophrenia: an obligation for psychiatrists and psychiatry. Current Opinion in Psychiatry. 2023 May 23.
• Qubad M, Bittner RA. Second to None – Rationale, Timing, and Clinical Management of Clozapine Use in Schizophrenia. Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology. 2023;13.

(* Equal contribution)