History of the Institute

The institute of psychosocial medicine and psychotherapy was originally founded by Prof Dr Bernhard Strauß under the name of “Institute of Medical Psychology” in 1996.

Prior to Germany’s reunion, there was a lack of modules on medical psychology taught to students of the Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena.  Lecturers (Prof Hiebsch and Prof Böttcher in particular) from the faculty of psychology offered lectures on social psychology and medical psychology/clinical psychology. Dr M Venner gave lectures on psychosomatic medicine. Additionally, staff from her department offered apprenticeships which were designed to help students gain an understanding of the aetiology and psychogenesis of psychosomatic afflictions.

Between 1990 and 1996 medical psychology and sociology were offered as official modules consisting of consecutive seminars taught by external lecturers (especially Prof Dr P. Rosemeier, Prof Dr Fischer-Rosenthal, and Prof Dr E. Poeppel). After the establishment of the institute of psychosocial medicine and psychotherapy in 1996, a compulsory module for medical psychology was introduced to medical students. Another module in medical sociology followed in 2000.

Other important milestones:

• The institute obtained its current name in 2002
• The module of psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy was acquired and continued after Dr M. Venner resigned in 2003
• The psychosomatic and psycho-oncological day hospital was established in 2016