Dr. Anke Karl

Dr. Anke Karl is the strategic lead of the Clinical Psychology Research Group and the Mood Disorders Centre, and serves as Director of the MDC Biobehavioural Lab. Her research examines how biological and behavioral processes shape posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and recovery from psychological trauma. She also works on applying biopsychological knowledge to improve therapies for people with PTSD and depression.

She trained in clinical psychology and behavioural neuroscience at Humboldt University Berlin, where she received the Young Scientist Award in 2001. She later completed postdoctoral research at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Disorders, University at Albany, before holding academic positions in Germany and the UK prior to joining the University of Exeter.

Her work has been published in leading journals and supported by major research funders. She also completed advanced training in cognitive behavioural therapy, is a licensed Psychological Psychotherapist, and practices as an associate therapist at the AccEPT Clinic.

Rajabi, M., Williamson, V., Calam, R., Karl, A., & Halligan, S. L. (2025). Teachers’ experiences of supporting the mental health needs of refugee students in resource-poor settings: a qualitative study in Iran. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2551736

King, M., Artinian, T., Ladwa, A., Goff, S., Colletta, M., Shear, K., … Dunn, B. D. (2025). A qualitative study exploring clients’ experiences of a pilot prolonged grief disorder therapy pathway in NHS Talking Therapies. The Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, 18, e56. doi:10.1017/S1754470X25100330

Wells, M., Karl, A., & Handley, R. (2024). Feasibility, acceptability and clinical benefit of a trauma-focused stabilisation group for post-traumatic stress disorder patients with complex presentations on primary care waitlists. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 52(2), 119–134. doi:10.1017/S1352465823000486

other publications