The basic idea of ​​this new project is to integrate information from the measurement of peripheral physiological markers (e.g., ECG, EDA) and neuronal correlates (e.g., EEG) into mechanism-based psychotherapy research. A key focus will be on investigating the influence of physiological synchronicity between therapists and patients on the therapeutic relationship and treatment success.

The initial goal is to develop a model based on existing literature that can be integrated into routine care in the long term. This requires various methodological preparatory steps. As a first step, the mobile measurement methodology (movisens®) will be established, and the data will be validated using measurements from the hardware already in use in the lab.

Following successful piloting, the physiological markers will be collected concurrently from therapists and patients during psychotherapy within the framework of study therapies at the ZPP (Center for Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics) to examine acceptance and feasibility in routine care.

Finally, the physiological data will be combined with the results from the standard measurements to create subjective data and then analyzed. An important goal is to gain insights into fundamental (psychophysiological) mechanisms in the therapeutic relationship.

The results can be used, on the one hand, for the further development of GPNS, ​​and on the other hand, they can also inspire further interventions such as biofeedback in the context of psychotherapy.