Professorship for Health Psychology and Applied Biological Psychology

Organisational unit: Professoship

Main research areas

The department conducts research on mental health. In doing so, we focus on the health challenges that the changes in the world of work bring for working people and that can be a cause of chronic stress. We see the digitalisation of workplace health promotion, prevention or therapy as an opportunity to open up contemporary approaches to health promotion and improve care. Therefore, we develop and investigate online trainings and apps for health promotion. At the interface of health psychology, clinical psychology, occupational psychology and computer science, we work across disciplinary boundaries on the young research field of Occupational eMental Health.

  1. Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces insomnia in nurses suffering from shift work disorder: A randomised-controlled pilot trial

    Ell, J., Brückner, H. A., Johann, A. F., Steinmetz, L., Güth, L. J., Feige, B., Järnefelt, H., Vallières, A., Frase, L., Domschke, K., Riemann, D., Lehr, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 12.2024, In: Journal of Sleep Research. 33, 6, 14 p., e14193.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Are web-based stress management interventions effective as an indirect treatment for depression? An individual participant data meta-analysis of six randomised trials

    Harrer, M., Nixon, P., Sprenger, A. A., Heber, E., Boß, L., Heckendorf, H., Buntrock, C., Ebert, D. D. & Lehr, D., 13.02.2024, In: BMJ mental health. 27, 1, 8 p., e300846.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. The Evaluation of the GET.ON Nationwide Web-Only Treatment Service for Depression- and Stress-Related Symptoms: Naturalistic Trial

    Etzelmueller, A., Heber, E., Horvath, H., Radkovsky, A., Lehr, D. & Ebert, D. D., 01.02.2024, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 26, 1, 21 p., e42976.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Does outcome expectancy predict outcomes in online depression prevention? Secondary analysis of randomised-controlled trials

    Thielecke, J., Kuper, P., Ebert, D., Cuijpers, P., Smit, F., Riper, H., Lehr, D. & Buntrock, C., 02.2024, In: Health Expectations. 27, 1, 12 p., e13951.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Erratum: Author Correction: The role of self-care and self-compassion in networks of resilience and stress among healthcare professionals (Scientific reports (2025) 15 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-01111-1.)

    Pank, C., von Boros, L., Lieb, K., Dalkner, N., Egger-Lampl, S., Lehr, D., Schäfer, S. K., Tüscher, O. & Wessa, M., 30.12.2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, p. 45737 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Time to take the Declaration of Helsinki seriously? A systematic review of comparison conditions in clinical trials on internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia

    Grolig, L., Brückner, H. A., Heimes, H., Buntrock, C., Hempeler, C., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 02.2026, In: Sleep Medicine Reviews. 85, 10 p., 102224.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Efficacy of a Web-Based Stress Management Intervention for Beginning Teachers on Reducing Stress and Mechanisms of Change: Randomized Controlled Trial

    Heckendorf, H. & Lehr, D., 16.06.2025, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 27, 28 p., e58475.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Effectiveness of a gratitude app at reducing repetitive negative thinking as a transdiagnostic risk factor in the general population: Results from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial

    Kalon, L. S., Freund, H., Rinn, A., Watkins, P. C., Zarski, A. C. & Lehr, D., 15.11.2025, In: Journal of Affective Disorders. 389, 11 p., 119664.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. The role of self-care and self-compassion in networks of resilience and stress among healthcare professionals

    Pank, C., von Boros, L., Lieb, K., Dalkner, N., Egger-Lampl, S., Lehr, D., Schäfer, S. K., Tüscher, O. & Wessa, M., 12.2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, 18545.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators

    Author Collaboration of "Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators", Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Adriaanse, M. C., Albert, S. M., Allart, E. & Lehr, D., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Psychiatry. 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch