Digital health applications from the perspective of practitioners
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Welcome to
on the website of the Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy
© Universität Siegen
Clinical psychology deals with the development, maintenance and treatment of mental disorders, among other things. A special feature of clinical psychology is that it has close links to many other scientific disciplines, such as medicine, sociology and neurobiology, as well as genetics and psychopharmacology.
The focus of our research is on affective learning processes (e.g. conditioning, extinction) and cognitive and emotional processes (cognitive distortions), which are investigated using approach-avoidance-task, Dort-Probe and other methods.
About us
What is it about?
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In clinical psychology, we focus on the development, maintenance and treatment of mental disorders. We work closely with other specialist areas such as medicine, sociology and neurobiology. Our research focuses on affective learning processes as well as cognitive and emotional processes.
Our research profile
Affective learning and stress processing
Our research is characterized by a close integration of experimental research and the combination of different research perspectives and methods.
In the area of affective learning and stress processing, we primarily use neurobiological research methods such as
(1) Psychophysiological methods (EDA, heart rate, respiration, EMG, startle, etc.)
(2) Neuronal processes (fMRI, DTI, etc.)
(3) Eye movements (eye-tracking)
(4) Smell and taste stimulation
(5) Neuroendocrine markers for chronic and acute stress (e.g. cortisol)
Two modern psychophysiological laboratories equipped with two BIOPAC modules and eye-trackers (Eye-Link/SR-research) as well as an olfactometer and a gustatoimeter are available for these questions.
Emotional and cognitive processes
Another focus is on the investigation of emotional and cognitive processes. The Approach-Avoidance Task, Dot-Probe and other methods for measuring cognitive distortions are used here. Other emotional paradigms are also investigated. In addition to laboratory experiments and virtual reality, these methods also use other settings (APP training to measure/modify cognitive distortions, etc.). Here, studies are conducted in the basic area, as well as trainings that are intended to modify cognitive distortions.
Main research areas
- Affective learning (conditioning and extinction processes)
- stress and stress processing
- emotional and cognitive processes such as attentional bias, dot-probe, approach-avoidance task, etc.
Latest publications
A list of the most recent publications
Journal article
2026
Linking hair cortisol and life stress: The role of stress reactivity and habituation
Linking hair cortisol and life stress: The role of stress reactivity and habituation
Journal article
2026
Disgust acquisition in Pavlovian conditioning: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Disgust acquisition in Pavlovian conditioning: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Journal article
2025
The Cortisol Awakening Response: Regulation and Functional Significance
The Cortisol Awakening Response: Regulation and Functional Significance
Journal article
2025
Hair cortisol and other hair analytes decline with storage over a one-year period: A systematic, within-subject investigation
Hair cortisol and other hair analytes decline with storage over a one-year period: A systematic, within-subject investigation
Contact
Postal address
University of Siegen
Schools II - Department of Psychology
Prof. Dr. Tim Klucken
Secretariat Michaela Rügheimer
Obergraben 23
57072 Siegen
Visitor address
University of Siegen
Department of Psychology
US-V 115
Obergraben 23
57072 Siegen
Secretariat
Michaela Rügheimer is your contact person in the secretariat. She will answer general questions and put you in touch with the relevant members of staff if you have specific problems or questions.