Juliane Burghardt, psychologist
How the ability to understand the thoughts of others is linked to mental illness
Her work at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences includes a particular focus on how the ability to know what is going on in the minds of others relates to mental illness. Collaboration between researchers and hospitals provides an especially effective basis for generating data, obtaining valid results and developing methods for practical application.
An ambassador for science
One striking feature of Dr Burghardt’s career is that she has worked and conducted research in many areas that are rarely combined, such as general, clinical and social psychology and the field of metascience. She has always worked on a diverse range of topics, including valence asymmetries, good scientific practice, social perception, theory of mind, sexual behaviour, personnel selection, trauma, and gender differences. “I attach great importance to adherence to good scientific practice, which ensures that results are reliable,” she says. “I’ve also dedicated a lot of energy to knowledge transfer, having published two books and given a great many interviews about them. I also work as a science ambassador for the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research, with the aim of familiarising the younger generation with scientific thinking. And I've twice been invited by the EU Commission to present my opinion as an expert on mental illness.”
Germany–USA–Krems
Dr Burghardt began her university studies in Trier, Germany. After completing her doctorate in general and social psychology, she decided to switch to clinical psychology and took up a postdoctoral position in Mainz. Although her supervisors would have liked to keep her in Mainz, she then decided to go abroad. “The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation funded my two-year research stay at the University of California, Davis and my return fellowship at the University of Hamburg. From there, I successfully applied for the position at Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, where I began working as a postdoctoral research associate in the Division of Clinical Psychology.”
Researching thought scientifically
Theory of mind has been an important point of departure for Dr Burghardt’s research. This psychology term means the ability to comprehend mental states as a possible cause of behaviour and something that can explain and predict one’s own or other people’s actions. “We look at the causes and consequences of mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and borderline personality disorder. In particular, we look at the ability to perceive the thoughts of others. We apply a high standard of methodology in order to investigate this ability. Only a handful of laboratories are looking at this ability in people with mental disorders at this level. One of the reasons for our particular success is that the Psychosomatic Centre Waldviertel has provided us with patient data. Many studies suffer from having to analyse very small samples, but we don’t have that problem.”
KL students can also participate in Dr Burghardt’s research at various points. “For one thing, they have the opportunity to work on our research questions and use our data in their theses. Those who want to go even deeper can also apply for an internship. In their first and second semesters, our psychology students have a seminar called Empirical Internship, which includes carrying out studies. And we’re always looking for test subjects, so that gives students another opportunity to get involved.”
Mental health and its impact on relationships
Dr Burghardt’s current work focuses on the question of how the ability to know what is going on in other people’s minds is linked to mental illness. “Many people with mental illness have problems grasping what others are thinking,” she explains, “so they make systematic errors that may exacerbate or perpetuate their symptoms. We’re also working to improve the way we measure these errors.” Another ongoing project is looking at why people are having less sex than a decade ago. “In our studies, we’re examining whether mobile phone use and increasing social isolation have influenced this development.” Although the majority of people today have plenty of resources at their disposal, many suffer from depression, anxiety disorders and alcoholism. In fact, many studies assume an increase in stress. Dr Burghardt believes that this trend stems from greater isolation. “People are finding it harder to socialise with one another. As a result, we’re seeing an increased incidence of mental disorders, while social relationships are strained or don’t develop at all. The decrease in sexual activity is a symptom of this.”
Dr Burghardt loves the versatility of scientific work. “I can perform calculations, interpret data, program, write, teach and exchange ideas with others. Whenever I get bored with one thing, I can move on to something completely different. There’s never as much time as I would need to cover all the things that interest me.” Nevertheless, her free time is very important to her. She practises yoga, sings in a choir and does karaoke. “I love going for walks, too – anything that puts the focus on my body. It’s good to balance out all that brain-intensive work.”
