Patricia Anna Handschuh

I am a psychiatrist, researcher and PhD candidate in the field of clinical neurosciences, with a particular interest in how environmental factors and lifestyle modify biological processes related to mental health. My research explores how these factors interact with processes like hormonal and epigenetic modifications, which act as intermediaries, potentially affecting brain function and structure in conditions such as depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

While I am primarily affiliated with the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Medical University of Vienna (as a senior team member of the Neuroimaging Labs (NIL) – PET & MRI & EEG & TMS & Chemical Lab led by Prof. Rupert Lanzenberger), I am currently in Oxford to expand my research into the promising field of microbiome research and its potential implications for psychiatric conditions, in collaboration with Prof. Phil Burnet and Dr. Amedeo Minichino. My primary expertise lies in neuroimaging (using techniques such as PET, MRI, and MRS), and I aim to integrate these techniques with microbiome research in the future, exploring how the microbiome might influence neurotransmitter metabolism and brain function. My time here is dedicated to deepening my understanding of these intersections and fostering international collaborations that combine in vivo imaging with microbiome analysis, with the aim of developing more effective, personalized treatment approaches for psychiatric conditions.

In addition to my research, I am normally serving as a consultant liaison psychiatrist at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the Medical University of Vienna, while also working as a senior consultant at a forensic-therapeutic centre in Austria, where my work focuses on supporting individuals with mental health conditions, particularly those experiencing schizophrenia.

If you are interested in learning more about my work or discussing potential collaborations, please feel free to reach out!