Abteilung für Klinische Psychologie, Psychotherapie und Experimentelle Psychopathologie
Wallstraße 3, Raum 06-139
D-55122 Mainz
Tel.: +49 (0)6131 – 39 39179
E-Mail: karsauer@uni-mainz.de
Sprechzeiten (während der Vorlesungszeit): n.V.
| 02/2023 | Doctorate in Psychology (Dr. phil., equivalent to Ph.D.) Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz Dissertation: “New insights into the symptomatology and treatment of pathological health anxiety – Developments during the COVID-19 pandemic and novel exposure-based approaches” (summa cum laude) Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Michael Witthöft, Prof. Dr. Boris Egloff, Prof. Dr. Thomas Kubiak |
| 10/2020 | Licensure as Psychological Psychotherapist (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) Goethe University Frankfurt |
| 09/2016 | Master of Science (M. Sc.) in Psychology Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
| 09/2013 | Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.) in Psychology Technische Universität Dresden |
| since 02/2024 | Principal Investigator Post-COVID Treatment Study (Pilot RCT of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Post COVID-19 Condition) |
| since 07/2021 | Section Leader for Health Anxiety Outpatient Psychotherapy Department Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
| since 03/2021 | Study Coordinator Recruitment Center Mainz for the multi-center BMBF-funded study ENHANCE (“PTSD in adults with violence and abuse in childhood”) |
| since 06/2018 | Research Fellow Department of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy & Experimental Psychopathology Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
| 05/2024 – 03/2025 | Interim Junior Professorship for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of Childhood and Adolescence Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
| 05/2022 – 08/2022 | Parental Leave Substitute for the Deputy Head of the Outpatient Psychotherapy Department for Research and Teaching Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
| 11/2020 – 07/2023 | Clinical Psychologist Psychotherapy Practice in Offenbach a.M. |
| 12/2016 – 05/2018 | Psychological Training Inpatient Clinic of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics SCIVIAS St. Valentinus-Krankenhaus, Bad Soden |
| 01/2012 – 02/2013 | Student Assistant Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (ICPP) Technische Universität, Dresden |
| 2024 | Teaching Award of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz |
Internal research grant from Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz for the project “Predictive Processing in Pathological Health Anxiety – Examining the Interaction of Symptom- and Illness-Related Priors, Interoceptive Input, and Emotion Processing, and Developing an Innovative Brief Intervention” (amount: €9,220)
- Post-COVID-Treatment Study: Pilot RCT of CBT for post COVID-19 condition (ongoing)
- ENHANCE Study: BMBF-funded multi-center study on PTSD following childhood maltreatment (ongoing)
- Exposure Therapy for Pathological Health Anxiety (completed)
The Outpatient Psychotherapy Department of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz offers a specialized cognitive-behavioral treatment program for people with health anxiety (hypochondriasis).
- Since Winter Term 2024/2025: Member of the Mid-Level Faculty Representation Committee
- Since Summer Term 2025: Participant in the Christine de Pizan Mentoring Program
Bachelor
- Psychopathology and General Treatment Methods: Psychopathology and General Treatment Methods I and II (Seminar)
- Professional Qualification I: Psychotherapeutic Practice I: Case Conceptualization (Seminar)
Master
- Focus Area: Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy: Practical Seminar in Psychotherapy (seminar)
- Specialization: Clinical and Clinical-Experimental Psychology: Mechanisms of Mental Disorders (seminar)
- Applied Practice of Psychotherapy II (Professional Qualification III-2): Supervision Seminars and Self-Reflection Seminar
Sauer, K. S., Pohl, A., van den Bergh, O., & Witthöft, M. (under review). Support for predictive processing assumptions on health anxiety: Imprecise expectations on the origin of somatic symptoms increase health anxiety. Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine
Sauer, K. S., Mohr, A.-K., & Witthöft, M. (under review). Somatic symptom distress, alexithymia, and emotion generation: Results of an evidence accumulation model. Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine
2025
Grochtdreis, T., Koenig, H.-H., Leichsenring, F., Beutel, M. E., Feix, L., Guendel, H., Hermann, A., Hitzler, M., Knaevelsrud, C., Kolassa, I.-T., Kruse, J., Niemeyer, H., Noeske, F., Salzer, S., Sauer, K. S., Schuster, P., Steinert, C., Weidner, K., von Wietersheim, J., Hoyer, J., & Dams, J. (2025). Excess costs of post-traumatic stress disorder related to child maltreatment in Germany. EUROPEAN PSYCHIATRY, 68(1). DOI
Sauer, K. S., Pohl, A., Van den Bergh, O., & Witthöft, M. (2025). Support for Predictive Processing Assumptions on Health Anxiety: Imprecise Expectations on the Origin of Somatic Symptoms Increase Health Anxiety. Biopsychosocial Science and Medicine, 87(9), 672-681. DOI
2024
Heim, N., Beutel, M., Hoyer, J., Jennissen, S., Kabbathas, E., Leichsenring, F., Nöske, F., Sauer, K., Weidner, K., Wöller, W., & Steinert, C. (2024). »Ein Samurai hat ja auch nicht immer seine Rüstung an«: Einsicht als möglicher Wirkfaktor in Traumatherapien – Ein interpersonelles Verständnis der PTBS. PDP – Psychodynamische Psychotherapie, 23(2), 144-155. DOI
2023
Jungmann, S., & Sauer, K. S. (2023). Pathologische Krankheitsängste: Symptomatik, Diagnostik, Pathogenese und Behandlung. Verhaltenstherapie Und Verhaltensmedizin. DOI
Sauer, K. S., Bailer, J., Jungmann, S. M., & Witthoft, M. (2023). Inhibitory Learning-Based Exposure Therapy for Patients With Pathological Health Anxiety: Results From a Single Case Series Study. COGNITIVE AND BEHAVIORAL PRACTICE, 30(4), 610-634. DOI
Sauer, K. S., Wendler-Boedicker, C., Boos, A., Niemeyer, H., Palmer, S., Rojas, R., Hoyer, J., & Hitzler, M. (2023). Treatment of Comorbid Disorders, Syndromes, and Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Childhood Maltreatment with STAIR-NT Clinical Recommendations and Challenges. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE, 52(2), 63-76. DOI
Sauer, K. S., Witthoeft, M., & Rief, W. (2023). Somatic Symptom Disorder and Health Anxiety Assessment and Management. NEUROLOGIC CLINICS, 41(4), 745-758. DOI
2022
Rojas, R., Hitzler, M., Palmer, S., Sauer, K. S., Wendler-Bödicker, C., Boos, A., Hoyer, J., & Niemeyer, H. (2022). Complex Trauma Symptoms after Childhood Maltreatment: Strengths and Challenges of the Therapy Program STAIR-NT. Verhaltenstherapie, 32(Suppl. 1), 220-229. DOI
Rojas, R., Hitzler, M., Palmer, S., Sauer, K. S., Wendler-Bödicker, C., Boos, A., Hoyer, J., & Niemeyer, H. (2022). Komplexe Traumasymptomatik nach Missbrauch und Misshandlung in der Kindheit: Stärken und Herausforderungen des Therapieprogramms STAIR-NT. Verhaltenstherapie, 32(3), 117-127. DOI
Sauer, K. S., & Witthoeft, M. (2022). Inhibitory Learning versus Habituation in an Experimental Exposure Intervention for People With Heightened Health Anxiety: Increase of Distress Tolerance as a Joint Mechanism of Change?. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOPATHOLOGY, 13(4). DOI
Sauer, K. S., Schmidt, A., Jungmann, S. M., Bailer, J., & Witthoft, M. (2022). Do patients with pathological health anxiety fear COVID-19? A time-course analysis of 12 single cases during the „first wave“ of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH, 152. DOI
2020
Sauer, K. S., & Witthoeft, M. (2020). Illness Anxiety Disorder and Hypochondria. FORTSCHRITTE DER NEUROLOGIE PSYCHIATRIE, 88(11), 730-744. DOI
Sauer, K. S., & Witthöft, M. (2020). Krankheitsängste und Hypochondrische Störung. PSYCH up2date, 14(02), 151-166. DOI
Sauer, K. S., Jungmann, S. M., & Witthöft, M. (2020). Emotional and Behavioral Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Health Anxiety, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Distress (In)Tolerance. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(19), 7241-7241. DOI
2017
Sauer, K. S., & Witthoeft, M. (2017). Experience of Emotions and Somatic Symptoms: The Effects of Inducing Anger and Sadness on Somatic Symptom Reports. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE, 46(3), 147-156. DOI
- Illness Anxiety Disorder, Pathological Health Anxiety, Hypochondriasis
- Inhibitory Learning, Exposure Therapy
- Predictive Processing
- Somatic Symptom Distress
- Somatoform Disorders, Somatic Symptom Disorder
- Long-COVID, Post COVID-19 Condition