What connections and interactions exist between the skin, the psyche, the placebo and nocebo mechanisms and the immune system? Prof. Dr. Wiebke Sondermann and her team at the University Dermatology Clinic Essen are researching these exciting questions
Prof. Dr. Wiebke Sondermann is Senior Physician at the general polyclinic and head of the psoriasis division at the University Dermatology Clinic Essen
When psoriasis patients return to the clinic a few weeks after starting treatment with modern biologics (which are also used in our SFB project) and very happily report that they’ve had the courage to go swimming with their children for the first time, it’s simply wonderful for us as treatment providers.
Prof. Dr Wiebke Sondermann. Senior Physician at the general polyclinic and head of the psoriasis division at the University Dermatology Clinic Essen, co-head of a sub-project of the Collaborative Research Centre Treatment Expectation.
I am a senior physician at the University Dermatology Clinic at the University Hospital Essen (AöR) and am responsible for the general polyclinic and the psoriasis division here. As a dermatologist, I treat patients with a wide variety of skin problems. My focus is on inflammatory dermatoses, which includes psoriasis.
In addition to my clinical work, I also devote part of my working day to research and teaching. Together with Prof. Manfred Schedlowski, the Director of the Institute for Medical Psychology and Behavioural Immunology at the University Hospital Essen, I lead a sub-project of the Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) Treatment Expectation, titled "Expectation-induced increase in the therapeutic success of psoriasis patients in terms of pain perception, itching and quality of life".
What are the associations and interactions between the skin, the psyche, placebo and nocebo mechanisms and the immune system? My team and I are especially interested in these exciting research questions.
In my opinion, this research field is highly interesting and has great clinical relevance. By learning more about the close interactions between skin, psyche and the immune system and by gaining a better understanding of how to use positive expectations and patients’ previous treatment experiences and how to avoid nocebo effects, treatments might become more effective and tolerable. This should enable us to provide even better help for patients with chronic inflammatory dermatoses such as psoriasis, but also those with other diseases.
I studied medicine at the University of Münster and then completed my specialist training as a dermatologist at the University Dermatology Clinic in Essen (Director: Prof. Dr. D. Schadendorf). I have been a senior physician at the University Dermatology Clinic in Essen since 2018 and successfully completed my habilitation on the topic of "Investigations with the aim of improving the reality of care for psoriasis patients" in January 2022.
Prof. Dr. Wiebke Sondermann: Psychological factors influencing psoriasis
How I ended up doing placebo research as a dermatologist
During my university studies, apart from dermatology, I developed a strong fascination with neurology and neuroscience, so I completed a clinical elective in the neurological outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Münster. I also wrote my doctoral thesis at the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Münster, in which I investigated the extent to which implicit learning processes can be optimised by transcranial direct current stimulation.
During my training as a consultant dermatologist, I began to focus scientifically on the psychological determinants of psoriasis and was delighted when Prof. Manfred Schedlowski approached me in 2018 and asked if I would join him in supervising a sub-project of the planned Transregio-SFB. This was the start of an inspiring, interdisciplinary, scientific collaboration that has been steadily expanded since the SFB was approved in 2020.
What brings me joy in life
Definitely the variety of my work as a senior physician at the University Hospital. On almost a daily basis, I am faced with a colourful mix of activities and challenges in the context of patient care, research and teaching, which I get to master together with a great multidisciplinary team.
In patient care, it makes me happy when my patients, such as those with psoriasis, whose disease often brings a strong psychological burden, report that they have regained their quality of life through the therapies we have initiated.
The most fun I have in research is when we keep developing new ideas together within our team, the concepts finally take shape, and we’re ultimately able to successfully implement a project together.
With regard to teaching, it brings me a great deal of pleasure to be able to impart basic medical knowledge, but also current scientific discoveries, to the next generation of doctors, therefore inspiring young colleagues to pursue a career in dermatology and science.
In my private life, I find my balance through various sporting activities in nature, listening to electronic music and eating delicious food in the company of my family and friends.