The IFT was founded in 1973 by Prof. Dr. mult. Johannes C. Brengelmann and other scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry as an independent institute. In 1998 it celebrated its 25th anniversary. In the early years the emphasis was on applied psychological researchcomprising a variety of health and social topics. From 1988 onwards, research focused more and more on studies on substance-related disorders and pathological gambling.
Of the approximately 40 employees of the Institute, 25 are among the academic staff, most of them psychologists. In addition, there are several free-lance contributors mainly from the educational sector as well as trainees and students.
The IFT is a non governmental and non-profit organization with limited liability. The IFT receives financial support from the public sector, mainly from federal ministries, federal and regional authorities, associations and EU-organizations.