معرفی
Dr. Muriel Hagenaars is an Associate Professor in Clinical Psychology at Utrecht University's Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. She conducts research on threat-related disorders, with a focus on PTSD and the formation of intrusive memories, particularly examining freezing behavior and associated cognitive factors. In addition to her academic role, she consults with the police as a member of the LEBZ and serves as research coordinator at Altrecht Center for Personality Disorders.
Her educational background includes a PhD from Radboud University Nijmegen where she researched dissociation in the aetiology of PTSD. She further developed her expertise through a VENI grant (2010) on freezing in emotional memories and a NIAS fellowship (KNAW) in 2017 combining neuroscience with animal research and clinical implementations.
Dr. Hagenaars' research program bridges experimental methods like the trauma film paradigm with clinical applications. She increasingly integrates Data Science approaches to improve clinical practice and has organized significant academic events including the 8th European Meeting on Human Fear Conditioning. Her work spans from basic experimental research to practical applications in forensic and clinical settings.
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trajectory toward innovative approaches to understanding and treating PTSD, with increasing emphasis on machine learning applications, imagery rescripting techniques, and the integration of technological solutions with traditional psychological approaches.
Dr. Hagenaars has received notable recognition for her work:
- VENI grant (2010) for research on the role of freezing in emotional memories
- NIAS fellowship (KNAW) (2017) combining neuroscience with animal research and clinical implementations
She has been actively involved in grant-funded research as a research leader for NWO-funded projects and serves as a member of the Zorgstandaard Trauma- en stressorgerelateerde stoornissen (2014-2016). Her advisory work includes providing PTSD courses and consulting for police in difficult cases.
Through her dual roles at Utrecht University and Altrecht Center for Personality Disorders, Dr. Hagenaars effectively bridges academic research with practical applications in clinical and forensic psychology, contributing significantly to both theoretical understanding and real-world implementation of trauma-focused interventions.
