The Dimitris N. Chorafas Foundation of the Weizman Institute of Science has been awarding scientific prizes for outstanding work in selected fields of engineering, medicine and the natural sciences since 1992. It awards prizes for research work that is distinguished by its high potential for practical application and by the special significance it has. Partner universities in Europe, North America and Asia can nominate the best dissertations each year for the prize, which comes with a purse of $5,000. The award winners must show in their work that they have considered the consequences of their research for humans and nature and are prepared to take responsibility for these consequences as individuals.
In 2023, two research projects from the Technical University of Munich were again honored. Dr. Caroline Andonian-Dierks, who completed her doctorate with distinction at the Department of Sport and Health Sciences, received the award for her dissertation entitled "Quality of Life and Psychosocial Outcomes in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease." Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Beckmann, professor emeritus of sport psychology, supervised the dissertation.
The aim of the research project was to investigate for the first time processes of disease processing in people with congenital heart disease (AHF) in order to rethink the current understanding of the disease in terms of a holistic psychosomatic treatment concept and thereby enable a supposedly "overlooked" but steadily growing patient population to achieve a maximum level of quality of life. To do this, Dr. Andonian-Dierks analyzed data from over 4,000 patients to understand the emotional costs of their chronic illness and the long-term monitoring that accompanies it. She identified new prognostic markers of individual disease coping that will become increasingly important in the future clinical management of many other chronic diseases.
The dissertation provides new insights into clinical and psychological factors that accompany living with chronic disease beyond the realm of AHF. The findings demonstrate that while the disease itself is the cause, the patient's problem lies primarily in the subjectively perceived symptoms and impaired living conditions that their chronic disease causes and exacerbates. The findings of Dr. Andonian-Dierks have meanwhile formed the basis for the development of a holistic therapeutic approach at the German Heart Center Munich. Thus, individual psychocardiological diagnostics and co-care are offered, with an increased focus on psychological well-being, quality of life and a possible need for further psychotherapeutic support.
"This award means a lot to me, as I have been investing all of my time in this area of research since 2018 to help our patients," explains Dr. Andonian-Dierks. "Against the backdrop of growing numbers of chronically ill people, the pressure is increasing not only on medicine but also on psychology to develop new approaches to treatment. I am very grateful to be able to actively apply my scientific findings in my current practice as a psychotherapist (i.A.). The results of my research should sensitize practitioners of all kinds to the importance of psychological support measures in the context of rapid medical advances in the 21st century."
Prof. Beckmann is also pleased about the award for his doctoral student: "This is an outstanding prize that is awarded here through the Weizman Institute and is also well endowed. It is particularly noteworthy that this honor was awarded to the Department Health and Sport Sciences for the first time. This shows that our research also has a lasting impact. Through Dr. Andonian-Dierks' scientific achievement, we have made it clear that outstanding work is being done out of this Department."
After completing her doctorate at the end of 2022, Dr. Andonian-Dierks is currently in the final stages of her licensure as a psychological psychotherapist specializing in behavioral therapy.
To the scientific prize of the Dimitris N. Chorafas Stiftung
To the homepage of the Sport Psychology Unit
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Beckmann
Sport Psychology Unit / TUM Emeritus of Excellence
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24541
e-mail: Juergen.Beckmann(at)tum.de
Dr. Caroline Andonian-Dierks
Sigmund Freud Ambulanz
Praxis für Psychotherapie im Lehel
e-mail: kontakt(at)dr-andoniandierks.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photo: Dr. Caroline Andonian-Dierks