Prof. Dr. med. Michael Sadre Chirazi-Stark

Prof. Dr. med. Michael Sadre Chirazi-Stark is a highly distinguished German specialist in psychiatry, psychotherapy, and psychotherapeutic medicine. He is widely recognized for his pioneering work in social psychiatry and his extensive research into stress, burnout, and chronic fatigue syndromes. He currently serves as the Managing Director and Clinical Director of the Prof. Stark Institute for Research and Therapy of Stress and Fatigue in Hamburg, an institution dedicated to the innovative diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), Long COVID, and Post-Vac syndrome. Professor Stark’s academic foundation began with the study of psychology at the Ruhr University Bochum, where he graduated as a certified psychologist. He subsequently pursued a medical degree at the University of Münster, where he earned his doctorate. His early research career included a significant stay at the Clinical Research Center for the Study of Schizophrenia at UCLA in the late 1970s, where he was first introduced to behavioral therapy approaches for schizophrenia, an experience that deeply influenced his subsequent clinical philosophy. In 1994, he habilitated at the University of Hamburg with a focus on the subjective illness experience and coping mechanisms of patients with schizophrenia. Shortly thereafter, in 1995, he was appointed as an Associate Professor of Clinical Social Psychiatry at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). During his tenure at UKE, he led the day clinic and served as a key architect in the regional planning of psychiatric care for the city of Hamburg. One of Professor Stark’s most significant contributions to the field is his leadership in the development of "Psychoeducation" in Germany. He was a founding member and long-term board member of the German Society for Psychoeducation (DGPE). This therapeutic approach focuses on empowering patients and their families by providing them with a deep understanding of the biological and social factors influencing their illnesses. In 1999, he transitioned to the Asklepios Westklinikum Hamburg, where he founded and directed a new department for psychiatry and psychotherapy. This facility was notable for being the first in Northern Germany built according to bio-architectural criteria to minimize environmental stressors on patients. Under his leadership, the department expanded to become a primary care hub for the Altona district, implementing social-psychiatric models that emphasized community integration and holistic care. His recent work at the Prof. Stark Institute focuses heavily on the neurobiology of exhaustion. He developed the "Energy Barrel Model" (Energiefassmodell) to help patients visualize their psychological energy reserves and identify alarm signals of impending burnout. His current research utilizes advanced diagnostics, such as heart rate variability (HRV) and functional MRI, to investigate autonomic nervous system dysregulation and neuroinflammation in patients suffering from Long COVID and ME/CFS. He is a prolific author with numerous scientific publications and remains an active member of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA).