The trial of psychiatrist Matthias Winterhoff will commence in February amid allegations related to his treatment of children and adolescents. Reports from WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung in August 2021 revealed troubling details regarding several minors under Winterhoff's care. He diagnosed many of his young patients with 'early childhood narcissism' and 'parent-child symbiosis,' both of which are subjects of significant debate within the medical community. Winterhoff reportedly prescribed the sedative medication Pipamperon to his patients for extended periods, raising concerns about its serious side effects. The Bonn public prosecutor's office claims that there was 'no indication according to the medication's approval' for such prescriptions and that Winterhoff did not adequately assess the conditions he diagnosed in accordance with medical guidelines. The prosecution alleges that Winterhoff failed to provide comprehensive information regarding the medication's side effects to the guardians of the children, thereby hindering their ability to make informed decisions about their children's treatment. Furthermore, the sedative effects of Pipamperon are said to have been used to make the children more compliant with the authoritarian parenting methods Winterhoff advocated. Some of Winterhoff's patients came from various youth welfare institutions across Germany. Reports indicate that the psychiatrist occasionally sought to have the custody of parents or guardians revoked if they opposed the medication he prescribed. Initially, the Bonn prosecutor's office investigated hundreds of cases against Winterhoff. However, for reasons of efficiency, 36 cases were eventually selected for prosecution based on the strength of evidence and the severity of the treatment effects. The Bonn District Court has announced that seven individuals who were treated by Winterhoff as children and adolescents will participate in the trial as co-plaintiffs. Winterhoff has denied the allegations against him, asserting that he believed his treatments were compliant with legal standards. He claims to have prescribed Pipamperon only for children exhibiting aggression, mood instability, or confusion, and that regular evaluations were conducted to determine the necessity of the medication. Despite the trial date still being on the horizon, the case has already impacted local law enforcement statistics. The Bonn police reported a significant rise in cases of aggravated assault this spring, which they attribute, in part, to the allegations levied against Winterhoff.