Anke Haberkamp

Experimental pathopsychology is concerned with the experimental investigation of the development, causation, course and treatment of mental disorders.

The professorship is dedicated to the following topics:

• Experimental studies on the cause and maintenance of mental disorders
• Diagnostics and treatment
• Health care research
   

The research specialisations are in the areas of experimental studies of anxiety disorders, e-mental health for the diagnosis and treatment of specific phobias and (translational) psychotherapy and health care research.

Research specialisations

Experimental research on the development and maintenance of specific anxieties:

• In a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), we are investigating the influence of biological movements on the acquisition and maintenance of specific phobias. We use realistic videos, animated point-light stimuli and computer-generated scenes(computer graphics). The aim is to understand the significance of biological movement for the triggering of fear reactions.
  • Schmidt, F., Schürmann, L., & Haberkamp, A. (2022). Animal EMotion, or The Emotional Evaluation of Moving Animals. Cognition and Emotion, 36(6), 1132-1148. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2087600

Digital applications in the field of e-mental health:

• We are currently investigating the influence of a gamified application on the treatment of spider phobia. In addition, we have developed a freely accessible, software-based online BAT(Behavioural Avoidance Test) for researchers and practitioners that can be used to easily record avoidance behaviour in spider phobia.

  • Grill, M., Heller, M., & Haberkamp, A. (2024). Development and initial validation of an open-access online Behavioural Avoidance Test (BAT) for spider fear. Psychological Assessment, 36(5), 351. https://doi.org/10.1037/pas0001305

     

Translational psychotherapy research:

• Translational psychotherapy attempts to integrate findings about cognitive, biological and emotional mechanisms from experimental studies into psychotherapeutic application in order to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The question arises as to how this translational process can be improved.
  • Rief, W., Asmundson, G.J.G., Bryant, R.A., Clark, D.M., Ehlers, A., Holmes, E.A., McNally, R.J., Neufeld, C.B., Wilhelm, S., Jaroszewski, A.C., Berg, M., Haberkamp, A., & Hofmann, S.G. (2024). The future of psychological treatments: The Marburg Declaration. Clinical Psychology Review, 102417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102417

Health care research:

• Many people in Germany suffer from mental disorders. However, only a small proportion are able or willing to seek psychotherapeutic help. On the one hand, those seeking help are confronted with various obstacles, such as a lack of psychotherapeutic capacity. On the other hand, the fit between the preferred and available offers of help appears to be important. We examine the question of which low-threshold services are favoured by potentially affected individuals.

Publications:
 

since 2024
Professor of Experimental Pathopsychology at Witten/Herdecke University

since 2024
Chairwoman of the Committee for Science and Research of the State Chamber of Psychotherapists of Hesse

2023 - 2024
Deputy chair for psychotherapy research at Justus Liebig University Giessen

2018
Full licence to practice as a psychological psychotherapist (behavioural therapy)

2016 - 2023
Research assistant at the Philipps University of Marburg in the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy working group

2013 - 2016
Scholarship holder at the Philipps University of Marburg in the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy research group

2014
Doctoral studies at the TU Kaiserlautern

2009 - 2013
Research assistant at the TU Kaiserslautern in the Department of General Psychology

2006 - 2007
Studies at the University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland (UK)

2003 - 2009
Studied psychology (Dipl.-Psych.) at the Justus Liebig University Giessen

The courses offered include the Bachelor's degree programme in Psychology and the Master's degree programme in Psychology with a focus on Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy.
 

Memberships:

• German Society for Psychology (DGPs): Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
• The European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT)
• Exposure Therapy Consortium (ETC)
• German University Association (DHV)

Awards:

Prize for excellent doctoral supervision in the life and natural sciences at the Philipps University of Marburg 2024