25th Deutscher Kongress für Versorgungsforschung (DKVF)

From September 23 to 25, 2026, the research group was represented with numerous scientific contributions at the 25th German Congress for Health Services Research (DKVF) in Cologne. The presentations focused on innovative models of care, the use of artificial intelligence, and digitally supported, patient-centered approaches in mental health.

Julian Schwarz presented several current studies from the research group to the professional audience. In a review, he highlighted the critical success factors for user engagement with mental health DiGAs (digital health applications) from prescription to actual use. In addition, he presented findings on the costs and clinical outcomes of Digital Health Navigators supporting mental health DiGAs in outpatient care. Another key focus was psychiatric home care: as part of a participatory design study, he outlined digital application features for "Hospital at Home" concepts from the perspective of both patients and staff. Furthermore, he reported on the results of an international online survey on the use of generative AI in psychotherapy, as well as the empirical effects of adaptive ePROM systems in strengthening patient involvement, titled "From Data to Empowerment".

Lena Holtz focused her presentations on novel digital interactions and transparency in psychiatric treatment. She presented the results of the NUKI-PSY online survey, which investigated the use of generative AI to support mental health from the patients' perspective. Additionally, she shared mixed-methods results from a feasibility study evaluating patient digital access to clinical progress notes in severe mental illness.

Vera Goer rounded off the range of congress contributions with a systematic review. She reported on the effectiveness, efficiency, and acceptance of using Ambient AI Scribes for clinical documentation by physicians.

Podcast Episode: Why Digital Health Applications Need Human Support

In an episode of the Docs Digital podcast, Julian Schwarz discusses the challenges surrounding the practical use of prescription digital therapeutics (DiGAs). Although these apps are scientifically evaluated and accessible at any time, real-world usage among patients often drops off sharply after just a few days.

To address this trend, the research team at Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) evaluated a hybrid care model in the BMG-funded "DigiNavi Study": So-called Digital Health Navigators—specially trained medical office assistants (MFAs)—supported patients through regular, needs-based check-ins during the implementation and use of the DiGAs.

The study results demonstrate that continuous human guidance and motivation maintain long-term patient engagement, which correlates positively with a reduction in symptom severity. The episode highlights that purely digital tools cannot replace a reliable personal relationship in everyday care and must be complemented by trained healthcare staff.

Watch the full podcast episode here.

Medscape Europe Article: Dr. Julian Schwarz on AI in Psychiatry

In a recent article on Medscape Europe, Julian Schwarz, a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy, highlights the role of generative AI in health-related queries. Due to long waiting times and complex diagnostic pathways, patients are increasingly turning to AI-powered chatbots as a first point of contact.

Experts are observing a new dynamic: "Patients often feel better understood by AI than by therapists," explains Dr. Julian Schwarz. While this gives those affected a vocabulary and confidence when dealing with their health, it also carries risks. Colleagues increasingly report cases in which patients use chatbots for self-diagnosis (for example, regarding ADHD) and subsequently attempt to obtain prescription medications through unofficial channels.

These insights underscore the need to critically monitor the opportunities and risks of digital tools in psychiatric health services research, and to develop viable concepts at the intersection of digital support and medical or psychotherapeutic treatment.

Read the full article here.

Deutsches Ärzteblatt Article: Researchers See Psychotherapeutic Care at Risk

In an article in the Deutsches Ärzteblatt, scientists, including Julian Schwarz, raise the alarm regarding current health policy decisions. Due to planned budget cuts, such as the reduction of funds for the Innovation Fund (Innovationsfonds), researchers see psychotherapeutic and psychiatric care in Germany acutely threatened.

Although concrete reform concepts have already been tested in studies and pilot projects—enabling better and more flexible patient care at lower costs, their sustainable transition into standard care often fails due to political hurdles.

The article highlights that the issue is not a lack of effective solutions, but rather a lack of political willingness to implement them. The researchers therefore demand a shift in perspective to permanently anchor proven care models within the healthcare system and avert care bottlenecks.

Find the full article here.

JMIR Webinar: The Role of "Digital Health Navigators" in Prescription Digital Therapeutics

In an international webinar series hosted by JMIR Publications in collaboration with the Society of Digital Psychiatry, Julian Schwarz presented scientific insights on the use of Digital Health Navigators (DHNs) in prescription digital therapeutics (DiGAs). In conversation with Dr. John Torous (Harvard Medical School), they discussed how human support in everyday care can sustainably increase the often low engagement rates of digital therapeutics.

In the research approach presented by Julian Schwarz—the BMG-funded "DigiNavi Study" conducted in Brandenburg—medical office assistants (MFAs) were specially trained to support patients in selecting, activating, and regularly using DiGAs.



The results demonstrate that close, personal guidance by trusted members of the practice team significantly increases adherence and thereby the effectiveness of digital applications. The session highlights the immense potential of using trained staff to build a cost-effective and efficient bridge between technological innovation and clinical practice.

Watch the full webinar here.

BMC Congress 2026 Berlin

The Mental Health Specialist Group of the German Network for Health Services Research (DNVF e.V.) organized a master class at the annual congress of the German Managed Care Association. On January 27, the question of how new forms of psychiatric care can be sustainably implemented in standard care was addressed under the theme: Close, Primary & Outpatient Care! Transferring innovative mental health care models into practice.

In this context, Julian Schwarz reported on the results of the innovation fund-supported “AKtiV-Studie” evaluating the implementation, treatment processes, and effectiveness of ward-equivalent psychiatric treatment (StäB) compared to full inpatient treatment.

Among other things, the study shows that patients with mental illnesses who initially received StäB had fewer inpatient readmissions in the 12-month follow-up and were more satisfied than the comparison group. Since the introduction of StäB in accordance with $115d SGB V in 2018, the trend has been upward. The MHB is currently investigating how digitally supported hybrid care approaches can make StäB more flexible and expand it in the future, for example through needs-based telemedical contacts.