Amber Jarnecke

Dr. Amber Jarnecke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina's College of Medicine. She is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the intersection of substance use disorders and trauma. Dr. Jarnecke received her BA, MS, and PhD from Purdue University and completed her clinical psychology internship and NIAAA-funded postdoctoral fellowship at MUSC.

Dr. Jarnecke's research focuses on how interpersonal relationships maintain and promote recovery from substance use disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Her work examines social functioning changes that improve treatment outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder and develops digital tools for screening and treatment planning for intimate partner violence in substance use treatment settings. She leads federally-funded grants investigating the neurobiology underlying alcohol use disorder and PTSD and disseminating treatments for these co-occurring conditions.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent research productivity with numerous high-impact articles in the past five years, primarily focused on the intersection of substance use disorders, PTSD, and intimate partner violence. Her work frequently involves couples-based interventions and examines how relationship dynamics influence treatment outcomes for these co-occurring conditions.

Dr. Jarnecke is actively involved in federally-funded research examining the neurobiology of addiction and trauma, with recent work focusing on oxytocin's role in moderating neural responses to threat processing in substance use disorders. She has developed community-based participatory research projects aimed at improving screening and treatment for intimate partner violence in substance use treatment settings.

Dr. Jarnecke is passionate about training and mentorship, inviting individuals from all backgrounds to collaborate on research and clinical work. Her research program reflects a strong commitment to addressing complex comorbid conditions through innovative, relationship-focused interventions that consider both biological and social factors in recovery.