Addiction Research, Neuroscience

The research interests of Prof. Kiefer focus on the development of novel treatments for addictive behaviours through an application of targeted psycho- and pharmacotherapies based on neuroimaging, genetics and neuroendocrinology in interaction with psychosocial and environmental factors.

National and international joint research projects

DFG    SFB/TRR265:
Losing and regaining control over drug intake: from trajectories to mechanisms to interventions, Local Spokesperson, TP’s A03 Stress-related predictor profiles for craving and relapse in human addiction; C04 Modification of cue-reactivity by neurofeedback in human addiction, 2019-2023;

BMBF 01EE1460C, AERIAL:
Addiction: Early recognition and intervention across the lifespan. Local Spokesperson, TP 1, Development of neurobehavioral signatures and mechanism-based interventions for SUD in adolescents, TP6 Mechanisms of addiction: social exclusion, risk and resilience prediction, and adapted interventions, TP 7, Epigenetics and alcohol use disorders 2015-2020

EU      Horizon 2020 Sybil-AA:
Realtime fMRI neurofeedback in the treatment of alcohol use disorder

Selected publications

1. Oxytocin attenuates neural response to emotional faces in social drinkers: an fMRI study.
   Bach P, Koopmann A, Bumb JM, Zimmermann S, Bühler S, Reinhard I, Witt SH, Rietschel M, Vollstädt-Klein S, Kiefer F. (2021) Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Aug;271(5):873-882.
2. Leptin predicts cortical and subcortical gray matter volume recovery in alcohol dependent patients: A longitudinal structural magnetic resonance imaging study.
   Bach P, Koopmann A, Bumb JM, Vollstädt-Klein S, Reinhard I, Rietschel M, Witt SH, Wiedemann K, Kiefer F. (2020) Horm Behav Aug;124:104749.
3. Reconsolidation impairment of reward memory by stimulating stress response.
   Dinter C, Hermann D, Heckmann J, Hill H, Reinhard I, Vollstädt-Klein S, Kirsch P, Kiefer F. (2020) Addict Biol 25(1):e12712.
4. Ghrelin modulates mesolimbic reactivity to alcohol cues in alcohol-addicted subjects: a functional imaging study.
   Koopmann A, Bach P, Schuster R, Bumb JM, Vollstädt-Klein S, Reinhard I, Rietschel M, Witt SH, Wiedemann K, Kiefer F. (2019) Addict Biol 24(5):1066-1076
5. Transancestral GWAS of alcohol dependence reveals common genetic underpinnings with psychiatric disorders.
   Walters RK, Polimanti R, Johnson EC, […], Kiefer F, […], Agerwal A. (2018) Nat Neurosci Dec;21(12):1656-1669.
6. Effects of D-cycloserine on extinction of mesolimbic cue-reactivity: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
   Kiefer F, Kirsch M, Bach P, Hoffmann S, Reinhard I, Jorde A, von der Goltz C, Mann K, Loeber S, Vollstädt-Klein S. (2015) Psychopharmacol 232:2353-62
7. Genetic Variation in the Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Transcription Factor GATA4 Modulates Amygdala Responsiveness in Alcohol Dependence.
   Jorde A, Bach P, Witt SH, Becker K, Reinhard I, Vollstädt-Klein S, Kirsch M, Hermann D, Charlet K, Beck A, Wimmer L, Frank J, Treutlein J, Spanagel R, Mann K, Walter H, Heinz A, Rietschel M, Kiefer F. (2014) Bio. Psychiatry 75(10):790-7
8. Association of leptin with food cue-induced activation in human reward pathways.
   Grosshans M, Vollmert C, Vollstädt-Klein S, Tost H, Leber S, Bach P, Bühler M, von der Goltz, Mutschler J, Loeber S, Hermann D, Wiedemann K, Meyer-Lindenberg A, Kiefer F. (2012) Arch Gen Psychiat 69(5):529-37
9. Effects of Cue-Exposure Treatment on Neural Cue Reactivity in Alcohol Dependence: A Randomized Trial.
   Vollstädt-Klein S, Loeber S, Kirsch M, Bach P, Richter A, Fauth-Bühler M, von der Goltz C, Hermann D, Mann K, Kiefer F. (2011) Biol Psychiatry 69(11):1060-6
10. Comparing and combining naltrexone and acamprosate in relapse prevention of alcoholism: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
    Kiefer F, Jahn H, Tarnaske T, Helwig H, Briken P, Holzbach R, Kämpf P, Stracke R, Baehr M, Naber D, Wiedemann K. (2003) Arch Gen Psychiat 60: 92-99