Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Maier (German Board Certified)

Prof Maier is one of Germany’s highest ranking psychiatrists and researchers. With more than 35 years professional experience and a strong scientific background he is a very valuable addition to our team of professionals in Dubai. Prof Maier is an award winning psychiatrist with international reputation.

Wikipedia: Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Dipl.-Math. Wolfgang Maier

Professional Education/Development:

He attended the Medical School at the University (LMU) of Munich after graduations in mathematics and economics (master’s degree level) at the same university. He was licensed as a physician in 1980 and received the MD-degree (Dr. med) one year later. His professional training as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist took place at the departments/clinics of Psychiatry of the universities in Munich (LMU) and Mainz. He qualified as a specialist in psychiatry and psychotherapy and as PhD (habilitation) in “Advanced methods in the diagnosis of affective disorders“.

Subsequently he started an international career focusing on the biological and psychosocial causes of mental disorders. In this context he worked in leading research institutions in the US (Washington University St Louis and Cornell Medical School New York). He was also engaged in several Programs of the World Health Organization (WHO). His work was acknowledged by several research prizes.

Professional Achievements

In 1995 he was appointed as Chairman and Professor of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and as the Physician-in-Chief of the Psychiatric Clinics of the University of Bonn. He developed this institution to a highly reputed place of innovative diagnostics and treatments for major psychiatric disorders (including dementia’s)- particularly with respect to specialized pharmacotherapy and various methods of brain stimulation. Later on he also became the Acting Director of the Clinical Center of Neuroscience in Bonn.

Given that Bonn is an international hotspot of medical care for patients from other countries, he was/is treating numerous patients from the Emirates already since his start in Bonn. He learned to appreciate their attitudes and cultures.

He was also active as Guest Professor (e.g. for Biological Psychology at the University of Fribourg/ Switzerland). He received multiple federal funds by German and European agencies for improving clinical care for people with mental disorders and dementia.

In 2018 he retired from these positions because of the German legal age limit.

In the international ranking of the „Web of Science“ Prof. Dr. Maier is listed as a „Highly Cited Researcher“ for 2018, 2019 and 2020 (top 1% by number of citations in scientific journals of the preceding 10 years in the field of psychiatry/psychology).

He authored/co-authored about 1000 scientific papers in reviewed international journals (since 1985) and published /co-published several books on depression, on psychiatric pharmacology, on prevention of mental disorders and on dementia care.

In 2002 his clinical research work was awarded by membership in The National Academy of Sciences in Germany (Leopoldina), where he co-chaired the Section of Neuroscience 2005-2011. He also became member of other German academies of sciences (Heidelberg, Berlin-Brandenburg). Several international and national scientific journals (psychiatry and neuroscience) invited him to become their editor/co-editor or to become a member of their editorial board.

Recognized as a distinguished clinician and researcher he was elected as the President of the German Association of Psychiatrists (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik und Nervenheilkunde, DGPPN) 2012-2014.  He was also active in international professional associations: as founding chairperson for the section “Prevention of Mental Disorders” in the European Association of Psychiatrists (EPA) and as founding chairperson for the section “Genetics in Psychiatry” of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA). Furthermore, on an international level he was consultant to the pharmaceutical industry in the development of new drugs for schizophrenia and Alzheimer Disease.

In recent years he was strongly involved in developing treatment guidelines for Germany: for dementia for neurologists and psychiatrists (chairing the steering board) and for schizophrenia/psychoses (as member of the expert group).

Outline of Offered Competences

Professor Maier will contribute with his expertise and experience to the GNC. In this context will offer to patients a broad spectrum of competences:

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Diagnosis and Treatment for

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Anxiety disorders, panic and phobic disorders

• Schizophrenia

• Psychoses

• Depression and dysthymia

• Mania and cyclothymia

• Obsessive-compulsive  disorder

• Alzheimer Disease and other dementia’s

• Organic mental disorders and brain diseases with behavior deviations

• PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

• Personality Disorders

• Dissociative Disorders

• Anger Issues

• Autism Spectrum Disorders in Adults and Adolescents (older than 16 years)

• Burn-Out-Syndrome

• Neurocognitive Disorders

Treatment encompasses pharmacotherapy, psychosocial interventions, and (if needed) behavior therapy. Specialized pharmacotherapy for difficult-to-treat patients, particularly with

• Non-response to standard treatment ( treatment-refractory states)

• Coexisting somatic diseases

• Women during pregnancy

• Long-term treatment

• High age