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
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