Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Thomas Schnell

Diploma Psychologist Prof. Dr. med. Dr. habil. Thomas Schnell studied Psychology at the University of Heidelberg until the year 2002. The training as Psychological Psychotherapist with focus on Behavioral Therapy at the DGVT in Bonn ended in 2007 with the approbation. This was followed by a doctoral degree (2008) as part of scientific work at the Psychiatric University Clinic Cologne, followed by a doctorate in natural sciences at the University of Düsseldorf (2010). In 2017 he finished his habilitation thesis at the University of Halle/Wittenberg with the Venia Legendi for Psychology. Research focus was the comorbidity schizophrenia and pathological cannabis use. In particular, he examined patients' neurocognitive function, the effects of psychopharmacological and psychotherapeutic regimens, cannabis consummation and craving.

With regard to additional psychotherapeutic qualifications, Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Schnell completed Dialectic Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Special Psychotrauma Therapy in accordance with the guidelines of the German-Speaking Society for Psychotraumatology (DeGPT).

From 2003 to 2009, Prof. Dr. Ing. Dr. habil. Schnell worked at the University of Cologne (Experimental Psychiatry Group). From 2007 to 2011 he also worked as a clinical psychologist at the LVR Clinic Cologne. There he was psychological head of the trauma outpatient clinic and a ward for dual diagnosis patients with psychosis and addiction. In addition, he supervised psychologists in training, who completed their practical year at the LVR clinic. For the winter semester 2011/2012, Prof. Dr. Ing. Dr. habil. Schnell accepted the call for a professorship clinical psychology and behavioral therapy at the MSH Medical School Hamburg. He also works for various training institutes as a supervisor for psychologists in training as well as for therapists in the training for trauma therapists.

Teaching

In the year 2007, Prof. Dr. med. Dr. habil. Schnell worked as a lecturer and supervisor for various training institutes in the Cologne-Bonn area as well as in Hamburg. Main topics are for example schizophrenia, personality disorders, trauma disorders (especially severe complex trauma), eating disorders, as well as the basics of behavioral therapy. In addition, Prof. Dr. Ing. Dr. Schnell regularly gives lectures at psychiatric-psychotherapeutic congresses, conducts training courses and workshops in various psychiatric clinics.

Research Focus

Prof. Dr. Dr. habil. Schnell researches the comorbidity of psychosis and addiction, especially cannabis dependence, is still being investigated. He is currently involved in the development and evaluation of a therapy program for this clientele, as well as the investigation of the acute experience of the cannabis effect. In addition, he investigates subjective processing in psychiatric patients who develop in response to the communication of their diagnoses.

Publications

Presentations