• 2020 PhD in Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin
  • Thesis: Oxytocin's involvement in the development, manifestation and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
• 2016 Master of Science in Clinical Psychology and Health Psychology, Freie Universität Berlin
  • Thesis: Job demands and job resources as predictors of burnout in police service

• 2014 Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg
  • Thesis: Effects of computer-assisted cognitive remediation on cognitive and non-cognitive measures in depressive patients

Career

Since October 2019 – Research Assistant

Freie Universität Berlin - Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention

2015 – 2016 Student research assistant

Freie Universität Berlin - Divisions of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and Public Health

2012 – 2013 Student research assistant

Otto-Friedrich-Universität Bamberg - Divisions of Cognitive Psychology and Methodology

Psychotherapeutic Training

Since August 2019 – Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Berlin (IVB)

Research Stay

March 2018 - May 2018: Research stay at Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Scholarships & Awards

March 2021 - Young Academics Award of the German-speaking Association for Psychotraumatology (DeGPt)

October 2016 – July 2019 - PhD scholarship, German Economical Foundation

September 2018 - Scholarship for travel, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

April 2017 - Santander International Summer School on Social Processes and Mental Health

2013 - 2016 - Student scholarship, Protestant Study Foundation Villigst

Sinha Engel’s research focuses on endocrine, as well as sex- and gender-specific factors involved in the development, manifestation and remission of posttraumatic stress disorder. She is also interested in women’s mental health, studying the effects of pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, or hormonal contraception, with the aim to improve the consideration of these factors in clinical-psychological research and psychotherapeutic interventions.

Peer-reviewed articles

2022

Engel, S., Klusmann, H., Laufer, S., Kapp, C., Schumacher, S. & Knaevelsrud, C. (2022). Biological markers in clinical psychological research - A systematic framework applied to HPA axis regulation in PTSD. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 11, 100148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2022.100148

Klusmann, H., Schulze, L., Engel, S., Bücklein, E., Daehn, D., Lozza-Fiacco, S., Geiling, A., Meyer, C., Andersen, E., Knaevelsrud, C. & Schumacher, S. (2022). HPA axis activity across the menstrual cycle - a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 66, 100998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2022.100998 

Kuester, A., Schumacher, S., Niemeyer, H., Engel, S., Spies, J., Weiß, D., … & Knaevelsrud, C. (2022). Attentional bias in German Armed Forces veterans with and without posttraumatic stress symptoms–An eye-tracking investigation and group comparison. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 76, 101726. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbtep.2022.101726

Laufer, S., Engel, S., Lupien, S., Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2022). The Cortisol Assessment List (CoAL) A tool to systematically document and evaluate cortisol assessment in blood, urine and saliva. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 9, 100108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100108

Schumacher, S., Engel, S., Klusmann, H., Niemeyer, H., Küster, A., Burchert, S., Skoluda, N., Rau, H., Nater, U. M., Willmund, G.-D. & Knaevelsrud, C. (2022). Trauma-related but not PTSD-related increases in hair cortisol concentrations in military personnel. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 150, 17-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2022.02.031

Schumacher, S., Engel, S., Niemeyer, H., Küster, A., Burchert, S., Skoluda, N., Rau, H., Nater, U. M., Willmund, G.-D.** & Knaevelsrud, C.** (2022). Salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase in posttraumatic stress disorder and their potential role in the evaluation of cognitive behavioural treatment outcomes. Journal of Traumatic Stress. 35(1), 78-89. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22683

** shared last authorship

van Zuiden, M., Engel, S., Karchoud, J. F., Wise,. T. J., Sijbrandij, M., Mouthaan, J., Olff, M., van de Schoot, R. (2022). Sex-differential PTSD symptom trajectories across one year following suspected serious injury. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2022.2031593

2021

Engel, S., Schumacher, S., Niemeyer, H., Küster, A., Burchert, S., Klusmann, H., Rau, H., Willmund, G.-D., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2021). Associations between oxytocin and vasopressin concentrations, traumatic event exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Group comparisons, correlations, and courses during an internet-based cognitive-behavioral treatment. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1886499

2020

Engel, S., Schumacher, S., Niemeyer, H., Küster, A., Burchert, S., Rau, H., Willmund, G.-D., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2020). Beeinflusst Oxytocin den psychotherapeutischen Prozess? Eine explorative Untersuchung im Kontext einer internetbasierten kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutischen Behandlung für die posttraumatische Belastungsstörung. Verhaltenstherapie, 30(1), 69-81. https://doi.org/10.1159/000505303

Engel, S.*, van Zuiden, M.*, Frijling, J. L., Koch, S. B. J., Nawijn, L., Yildiz, R. L. W., Schumacher, S., Knaevelsrud, C., Bosch, J. A., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2020). Early posttraumatic autonomic and endocrine markers to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms after a preventive intervention with oxytocin. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 11(1), 1761622. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1761622

Kuester, A., Niemeyer, H., Schumacher, S., Engel, S., Spies, J., Weiß, D., Muschalla, B., Burchert, S., Tamm, S., Weidmann, A., Willmund, G., Rau, H., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2020). Attentional Bias in Veterans with Deployment-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder before and after Internet-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – An Eye-tracking Investigation. Journal of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbct.2020.03.003

Niemeyer, H.*, Knaevelsrud, C.*, Schumacher, S., Engel, S., Kuester, A., Burchert, S., Muschalla, B., Weiss, D., Spies, J., Rau, H.**, & Willmund, G.-D.** (2020). Evaluation of an internet-based intervention for service members of the German armed forces with deployment-related posttraumatic stress symptoms. BMC Psychiatry, 20(1), 205. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02595-z
* shared first authorship
** shared last authorship

Spies, J.P., Cwik, J.C., Willmund, G.-D., Knaevelsrud, C., Schumacher, S., Niemeyer, H., Engel, S., Küster, A., Muschalla, B., Köhler, K., Weiss, D., & Rau, H. (2020). Associations Between Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Deployed Service Members of the German Armed Forces. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11, 973. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.576553

2019

Engel, S., Klusmann, H., Laufer, S., Pfeifer, A., Ditzen, B., van Zuiden, M., Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2019). Trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder and oxytocin: A meta-analytic investigation of endogenous concentrations and receptor genotype. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 107, 560-601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.08.003

Engel, S.*, Klusmann, H.*, Ditzen, B., Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2019). Menstrual cycle-related fluctuations in oxytocin concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 52, 144-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.11.002

Engel, S., Laufer, S., Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2019). The endogenous oxytocin system in depressive disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 101, 138-149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.011

Engel, S., Laufer, S., Miller, R., Niemeyer, H. Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2019). Demographic, sampling- and assay-related confounders of endogenous oxytocin concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 54, 100775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yfrne.2019.100775

Engel, S.*, van Zuiden, M.*, Frijling, J. L., Koch, S. B. J., Nawijn, L., Schumacher, S., Knaevelsrud, C., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2019). Patterns of recovery from early posttraumatic stress symptoms after a preventive intervention with oxytocin: Hormonal contraception use is a prognostic factor. Biological Psychiatry, 85(12), e71–e73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.01.014

Schumacher, S.*, Niemeyer, H.*, Engel, S., Cwik, J.C., Laufer, S., Klusmann, H., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2019). HPA axis regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis focusing on potential moderators. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 100, 35-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.02.005

2018

Engel, S., Wörfel, F., Santa Maria, A., Wolter, C., Kleiber, D., & Renneberg, B. (2018). Leadership climate prevents emotional exhaustion in German police officers. International Journal of Police Science and Management, 20(3), 217-224. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461355718786295

Laufer, S., Engel, S., Knaevelsrud, C., & Schumacher, S. (2018). Cortisol and alpha-amylase assessment in psychotherapeutic intervention studies: A systematic review. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 95, 235-262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.023

Schumacher, S.*, Niemeyer, H.*, Engel, S., Cwik, J. C., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2018). Psychotherapeutic treatment and HPA axis regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 9(98), 186-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.08.006

2016

Trapp, W., Engel, S., Hajak, G., Lautenbacher, S., Gallhofer, B. (2016). Cognitive remediation for depressed inpatients: Results of a pilot randomized controlled trial. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50(1), 46-55. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867415622271

Selected Talks at congresses and conferences

Engel, S., Laufer, S., Klusmann, H., Laufer, S., Schulze, L., Schumacher, S. Knaevelsrud, C. (2021). Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity to traumatic stress to predict the development of posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: a systematic review of experimental studies. 3. Internationaler Kongress der World Association for Stress Related and Anxiety Disorders (WASAD), Wien, Österreich, September 2021

Engel, S., Klusmann, H., Laufer, S., Pfeifer, A., Ditzen, B., van Zuiden, M., Knaevelsrud, C., Schumacher, S. (2019). Interactions between traumatic events, posttraumatic stress symptoms and endogenous oxytocin concentrations: A systematic review and meta-analysis. 45^th Annual Meeting Psychology and Brain, Dresden, Germany, June 2019

Engel, S., Niemeyer, H., Küster, A., Spies, J., Rau, H., Knaevelsrud, C., Schumacher, S. (2019). Does oxytocin predict psychotherapeutic process? Exploring biological markers of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. 16^th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS), Rotterdam, the Netherlands, June 2019

Engel, S., van Zuiden, M., Frijling, J. L., Koch, S. B. J., Nawijn, L., Schumacher, S., Knaevelsrud, C., Neumann, I. D., Bosch, J. A., Veltman, D., Olff, M. (2018). Hormonal concentrations early post-trauma influence posttraumatic stress disorder symptom development and the effects of a preventive pharmacological intervention. 48th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Psychoneuroendocrinology (ISPNE), Irvine, California, USA, September 2018

Selected Poster presentations

Engel, S., Heinrich, M., Zagorscak, P. & Knaevelsrud, C. (2017). The working alliance in an online intervention for depression: Quality, course and relation to outcome. Scientific meeting on attachment in medicine and psychotherapy, Heidelberg, Germany, September 2017

Engel, S., Niemeyer, H., Cwik, J., Knaevelsrud, C. & Schumacher, S. (2017). HPA axis regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder: A meta-analysis. International Congress of the World Association for Stress Related and Anxiety Disorders (WASAD) Würzburg, Germany, September 2017**

** honored with the ‘Best Poster Award’