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A new study from TRR 265, published in the European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, provides detailed insights into how alcohol consumption changes over time in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Using smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment (EMA), the researchers followed 670 participants over a period of 12 months, capturing alcohol use in everyday life. The results reveal clear temporal patterns: both the frequency and amount of alcohol consumption increased on weekends and around public holidays, with particularly pronounced seasonal peaks in December and declines in January. During the COVID-19 lockdown, drinking frequency also increased, while the amount consumed on drinking days remained unchanged. Interestingly, drinking frequency decreased during the first months of smartphone monitoring and subsequently stabilized at a lower level. Identifying such higher-risk periods could help improve the timing of future prevention and intervention strategies. In particular, the findings may contribute to the development of adaptive, context-sensitive digital interventions that provide support when the risk of increased alcohol consumption is highest. The study was published on 4 August 2026 and is available open access. Read the full publication

From 21 to 23 October 2026, the 20th Scientific Meeting of the German Society for Addiction Research and Addiction Therapy (DG-Sucht) will take place in Leipzig. Under the title “Addiction Stigma in Transition: Evidence, Practice, Perspectives,” the conference will address the stigmatization of substance use disorders – a topic of major societal, scientific, and health policy relevance. Ten years after the memorandum “Understanding and Overcoming the Stigma of Substance Use Disorders,” the meeting will bring together experts from research, clinical practice, healthcare, prevention, and health policy, as well as people with lived experience. The conference will focus on current insights into public, structural, and internalized stigma and explore new approaches towards stigma-free addiction care and research. The programme covers topics ranging from the portrayal of addiction in the media and stigma within the healthcare system to participatory research, recovery, and future challenges in addiction medicine. Date: 21–23 October 2026 Venue: Hotel Michaelis, Leipzig Registration is possible using the registration form, which should be completed and submitted by email to the DG-Sucht office. Download the regsitration form

Why do some people develop an addiction – and what happens in the brain when control over substance use is increasingly lost? Rainer Spanagel, spokesperson of TRR 265, discusses these questions in a recent episode of WELT’s science podcast “Aha! Zehn Minuten Alltags-Wissen”. In the interview, he explains how alcohol, nicotine and cannabis, as well as behaviours such as gaming or social media use, affect the brain’s reward system. Particular attention is given to the role of dopamine, changes in the brain’s control mechanisms, and the question of why some individuals are more vulnerable to developing an addiction than others. The episode also addresses opportunities for early intervention and the potential of digital support tools. The podcast provides a concise and accessible introduction to key questions in modern addiction research and addresses topics that are also at the core of the research conducted within TRR 265. Listen to the full podcast episode on WELT:“Wie entsteht eine Sucht?” – WELT Podcast

How can relapses in alcohol use disorder be detected and prevented at an early stage? A recent article by Rainer Spanagel and Markus Reichert, published in the DFG magazine forschung, demonstrates how modern smartphone technologies and mobile sensors can be used to monitor drinking behaviour in real time and identify individual risk situations in everyday life. As part of TRR 265 ReCoDe, more than 800 individuals with alcohol use disorder were followed over the course of one year. The resulting data provide the foundation for so-called Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions (JITAIs)—digital support tools designed to deliver personalised assistance precisely when the risk of relapse is highest. The aim is to develop low-threshold, personalised interventions that help individuals regain and maintain control over their alcohol consumption. The full article is published in the current issue of the DFG magazine forschung and offers fascinating insights into the potential of digital health research and personalised addiction treatment. Read the full issue here: https://www.dfg.de/resource/blob/393362/forschung-2026-01.pdf

On 6 October 2026, the 9th Feuerlein Symposium on Health Services Research in Addiction Treatment will take place as a hybrid event at the International Academic Forum Heidelberg (IWH) and online. This year's symposium focuses on "Challenges of interinstitutional collaboration in addiction treatment and cross-sectoral care." It will bring together experts from research, healthcare, policy, and clinical practice to discuss current challenges and develop strategies for improving collaboration and the care of people with substance use disorders. The programme features presentations by renowned speakers and offers numerous opportunities for professional exchange and discussion. Date: 6 October 2026 Venue: International Academic Forum Heidelberg (IWH), Heidelberg & online Further information about the programme and registration is available in the event flyer: https://feuerlein-cts.de/fileadmin/media/feuerlein-cts/content/bilder-feuerlein-symposium/2026/Flyer27072026_FeuerleinSymposium2026.pdf

Subproject C01 of the Collaborative Research Centre/Transregio TRR 265 develops and validates innovative therapeutic approaches for individuals with substance use disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD) and tobacco use disorder (TUD). Recent findings in individuals with alcohol use disorder demonstrate that a chess-based cognitive remediation training programme can improve sustained attention and enhance quality of life. The training was very well received by participants. Although the positive effects on quality of life could not yet be demonstrated over the long term in this study, the findings suggest that chess-based cognitive remediation training may support cognitive rehabilitation in substance use disorders and thereby contribute to the long-term recovery of cognitive control. The results were recently published in the journal Neuropsychological Rehabilitation (Seeger et al., 2026; DOI: 10.1080/09602011.2026.2702561). The authors have also published a freely available manual: https://zenodo.org/records/16901577. It is intended for professionals in psychotherapy, occupational therapy, and neuropsychology and provides a structured, practice-oriented guide to implementing the programme, including session plans, example exercises, and teaching recommendations.

Shuyan Liu from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is bringing together an international group of leading experts for the Scoping Workshop “Charting the Future of Global Mental Health Literacy”, taking place from 29–31 July 2026 at Herrenhausen Palace in Hannover. The workshop brings together researchers, clinicians, public health experts and representatives of international organizations from across Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and North America. This broad international perspective is central to the workshop: mental health literacy is shaped by cultural, social and economic contexts, and approaches developed in one part of the world cannot simply be transferred to another. Participants will therefore explore how mental health literacy is understood across cultures and across low-, middle- and high-income countries, and how globally relevant guidance can be developed. Over three days, plenary talks, breakout sessions and World Café discussions will address the definition and measurement of mental health literacy, culturally appropriate interventions, digital and social media, policy development, and the translation of evidence into practice. Speakers and participants include experts from the World Health Organization (WHO), World Psychiatric Association (WPA), universities and mental health institutions around the world, as well as colleagues from the Central Institute of Mental Health and the German Center for Mental Health (DZPG). The workshop aims to move beyond individual national perspectives and contribute to a shared global understanding of mental health literacy, identifying research and policy priorities and laying the groundwork for future international guidance. 29–31 July 2026 | Herrenhausen Palace, Hannover, Germany Full workshop programme

The scientists of the Collaborative Research Center TRR 265 "Losing and Regaining Control over Drug Intake" met again for their joint retreat in Weimar. The focus was on scientific exchange, the presentation of current research results, and the strategic development of the research network. All sub-projects presented the current status of their work and discussed their results with the other project groups. Numerous scientific discussions led to the development of new ideas and the coordination of next steps for the ongoing projects. A particular focus was placed on mechanistic approaches to the development of addiction disorders and on the development of new, mechanism-based intervention strategies. Another important agenda item was the future of TRR 265. During the retreat, the joint strategy for the upcoming funding phase was further developed and it was confirmed that the research consortium will apply for a third funding period from the German Research Foundation (DFG). The retreat once again offered an excellent opportunity to strengthen the scientific exchange between the locations and to jointly plan the next steps in addiction research.

In a recent commentary published in Biological Psychiatry , Sarah Gerhardt discusses emerging neurobiological evidence on sex and hormone dependent differences in the processing of drug associated cues in substance use disorders. The article highlights how fluctuations in estradiol and progesterone across the menstrual cycle can modulate neural cue reactivity as well as the regulation of craving. These findings suggest that hormonal states influence how strongly drug related stimuli are processed in brain circuits involved in salience attribution, reward, and cognitive control. Importantly, the commentary emphasizes that such hormone related variations are not merely peripheral factors, but may play a clinically meaningful role in relapse vulnerability and treatment response. By integrating neuroendocrine dynamics into addiction research, this work underscores the importance of considering biological sex and cycle phase when designing and evaluating therapeutic interventions. A more precise understanding of hormone dependent mechanisms may open the door to individualized and phase specific treatment strategies in addiction therapy. https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1mdta1S07xz6l

A research group from the TRR has published the central paper of subproject A08 in the journal Addiction Biology . The study was conducted under the supervision of Bernd Lenz, with Rafat Boroumand Jazi as first author. The researchers investigated how hormonal processes are linked to alcohol cues in the brain and whether the medication finasteride influences neural responses to alcohol related stimuli. In a randomized, placebo controlled crossover study involving men with episodic heavy alcohol consumption, functional MRI was used to measure how the brain reacts to visual alcohol cues. Although the reduction of the hormone dihydrotestosterone was not directly associated with brain activity or subjective craving for alcohol, finasteride produced changes in brain regions important for reward processing and behavioral control. Participants also reported a stronger desire to refrain from drinking alcohol while taking finasteride. The findings provide important new insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying problematic alcohol consumption and open perspectives for future therapeutic approaches. Boroumand-Jazi et al., Addiction Biology  (2026)

As we start the new year, we would like to wish all TRR265 members and partners a happy and healthy new year. For many, the holidays are a special time of rest, togetherness, and reflection. At the same time, they can also be challenging, especially in the context of addiction and addictive behaviors. We therefore hope that everyone has had a good break, found time to recharge their batteries, and can now start the new year with confidence and positive resolutions. For 2026, we wish everyone openness, mutual support, and new inspiration, both for our research and for our personal approach to health and well-being. We look forward to the coming steps, discussions, and insights we will share in the new year.

Award for research on hormonal influences on alcohol consumption TRR265 researcher Sabine Hoffmann (Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim) and Prof. Dr. Markus Reichert (Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, visiting scientist at CIMH) have been awarded the Wilhelm Feuerlein Research Award 2025 in the category of basic research.The award was presented on 23 September 2025 during the German Addiction Congress in Berlin. In their study, conducted within the framework of the Collaborative Research Centre TRR265, “Associations of Menstrual Cycle and Progesterone-to-Estradiol Ratio With Alcohol Consumption in Alcohol Use Disorder: A Sex-Separated Multicenter Longitudinal Study” ,the researchers demonstrate that female sex hormones influence alcohol consumption.Their results suggest that a high progesterone-to-estradiol ratio may reduce the risk of problematic alcohol use in both women and men. The study opens new perspectives for personalised and cycle-sensitive treatments in the management of alcohol dependence. The Wilhelm Feuerlein Research Award is presented every two years by the Oberberg Foundation Matthias Gottschaldt, the German Addiction Foundation, and the German Society for Addiction Research and Therapy (DG-Sucht). It recognises outstanding scientific work in the field of substance-related addictions, in particular alcohol and medication dependence.