Psychotherapeutische Hochschulambulanz

Dr. Roberto Rojas

Roberto Rojas began his professional career in Peru with his studies as a clinical psychologist and as a psychotherapist. Subsequently he worked from 1993-1997 as lecturer at the Catholic University of Peru and as a behavioral therapist. With the support of the DAAD, he completed his PhD in 2001 at the University of Tübingen, Germany. From 2002-2006 he worked as a research assistant in health psychology at the Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Stuttgart. From 2002-2005 he qualified as a psychotherapist at the Academy of Behavioral Therapy in Tübingen. Since October 2005 he is licensed as behavioral psychotherapist. From 2006-2013 he worked as clinical psychologist at the private Clinic Roseneck, where he gained more experience in the treatment of PTSD, complicated grief, chronic depression, borderline personality disorder, eating disorders, tinnitus, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. He completed his supervision training in 2012 at the Institute for Advanced Training in Clinical Behavioral Therapy, Bad Dürkheim. In June 2013 he has received the certification as EuroPsy-psychologist at the European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA). Since October 2013 he is working at the Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm, as director of the Psychotherapeutical Outpatient Clinic. In 2014 he completed the training as behavior therapy-oriented self-discovery consultant at the Centre for Psychotherapy of the Humboldt-University in Berlin. Roberto Rojas is a recognized supervisor at several training institutes in Germany. After two years of further education, he acquired the Baden-Württemberg-Certificate for University Didactic in 2017.

Contact

  • Roberto Rojas

  • Director of the Psychotherapeutical Outpatient Clinic
    University of Ulm

    ✉ Roberto Rojas
    ☎ +49-(0)731/50 31601
    ℻ +49-(0)731/50 1231601

    Consultation hours
    on appointment

Research interests

Depression and posttraumatic stress disorder

  • Biological and psychosocial markers of depressive disorders
  • Improving the effectiveness of trauma-focused psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD
  • Mental stress and resilience factors in rescue service employees
  • Association between automatic thoughts, dysfunctional attitudes, and stressful live events with depressive relapse or recurrence
  • Effects of cognitive and emotional reactivity in depressive disorders

Prolonged grief disorder

  • Etiology, symptomatology and treatment of prolonged grief disorder in adults, as well as children and adolescents

Chronic diseases

  • Effects of psychotherapy and exercise on the quality of life of persons with HIV and cancer

Research experience

  • Since 10/2013: Director and academic assistant of the Psychotherapeutical Outpatient Clinic, at the Institute of Psychology and Education, University of Ulm
  • Since 01/2012: International consultant for the Research Department of the Catholic University of Peru (Universidad Católica del Perú), Lima
  • 01/2010-03/2013: Lecturer at the Institute of Psychology, Prof. Dr. Martin Hautzinger, University of Tübingen
  • Since 02/2008: Coordination of the study "Effects of cognitive and emotional reactivity in remitted depressed individuals" in collaboration with the University of Tübingen
  • 01/2006-12/2010: Translation consulting editor (spanish) for the “International Journal of Psychology”
  • 01/2002-06/2006: Research assistant at the Institute of Sport Sciences. Area: Behavior - Education - Health Promotion, Prof.  Dr. Wolfgang Schlicht, University of Stuttgart
  • 09/1997-12/2001: PhD studies in psychology at the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Prof. Dr. Martin Hautzinger, University of Tübingen
  • 01/1993- 09/1997: Lecturer and researcher at the Institute of Psychology, Catholic University of Peru

Awards

  • 10/2021: Award as excellent alumnus of the Asociación de Egresados y Graduados de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Association of Graduates of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru) for an outstanding academic and professional career.
  • 10/2016: Research Award of the German Society for Social Psychiatry for the project „Therapeutic procedures for patients with prolonged grief disorder“

Selected publications

  • Sauer, K.S., Wendler-Bödicker, C., Boos, A., Niemeyer, H., Palmer, S., Rojas, R., Hoyer, J., & Hitzler, M. (2023). Treatment of comorbid disorders, and symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder related to childhood maltreatment with STAIR-NT. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 52 (2). https://doi.org/10.1026/1616-3443/a000686
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E. & Hautzinger, M. (2022). DAS-18. Dysfunctional Attitude Scale 18 – deutsche Kurzfassung [Verfahrensdokumentation, Fragebogen DAS-18A und DAS-18B mit Auswertungsanleitung]. In Leibniz-Institut für Psychologie (ZPID) (Hrsg.), Open Test Archive. Trier: ZPID. doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.5252
  • Rojas, R., Hitzler, M., Palmer, S., Sauer, K.S., Wendler-Bödicker, C., Boos, A., Hoyer, J., & Niemeyer, H. (2022). Complex trauma symptoms after childhood maltreatment: Strengths and challenges of the therapy program STAIR-NT. Verhaltenstherapie, 32 (3), 117-127.  doi.org/10.1159/000525707
  • Rojas, R., Hickmann, M., Wolf, S., Behnke, A, & Kolassa, I.-T. (2022). Coping in the emergency medical services: Associations with personnel`s stress, self-efficacy, job satisfaction, and health. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 4 (1), e6133. doi.org/10.32872/cpe.6133
  • Behnke, A., Gumpp, A.M., Rojas, R., Sänger, T., Lutz-Bonengel, S., Moser, D., Schelling, G., Krumbholz, A., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2022). Circulating inflammatory markers, cell-free mitochondrial DNA, cortisol, endocannabinoids, and N-acylethanolamines in female depressed outpatients. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 24, 58-69. DOI: 10.1080/15622975.2022.2070666
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., & Hautzinger, M. (2021). Stress events and changes in dysfunctional attitudes and automatic thoughts following recovery from depression in inpatient psychotherapy: Mediation analyses with longitudinal data. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46, 544-559. doi.org/10.1007/s10608-021-10280-y
  • Behnke, A., Gumpp, A.M., Krumbholz, A., Bach, A.M., Schelling, G., & Kolassa, I.-T., & Rojas, R. (2021). Hair-based biomarkers in women with major depressive disorder: Glucocorticoids, endocannabinoids, N-acylethanolamines, and testosterone. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 7. doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100068
  • Mischler, C., Hofmann, A., Behnke, A., Matits, L., Lehnung, M., Varadarajan, S., Rojas, R., Kolassa, I.-T., & Tumani, V. (2021). Therapists’ Experiences with the effectiveness and feasibility of videoconference-based eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 748712. doi.org/ 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.74871
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2021). Stressbelastungen im Rettungsdienst: Widerstandsfähigkeit und Anfälligkeit für berufsbedingte Psychotraumata. NeuroTransmitter, 32 (3), 36–41
  • Behnke, A., Rojas, R., & Gärtner, A. (2021). Emotionsregulation im Rettungsdienst: Zusammenhänge mit beruflichem Stress, Belastungssymptomatik und Arbeitszufriedenheit von Beschäftigten im Rettungsdienst. Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. doi.org/10.1007/s11553-021-00836-x
  • Gumpp, A. M., Behnke, A., Bach, A. M., Piller, S., Boeck, C., Rojas, R., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2021). Mitochondrial bioenergetics in leukocytes and oxidative stress in blood serum of mild to moderately depressed women. Mitochondrion, 58, 14–23. doi.org/10.1016/j.mito.2020.12.009
  • Karrasch, S., Behnke, A., Kolassa, I.T., & Rojas, R. (2020). Chronic and traumatic stress among emergency medical services personnel: A Review on vulnerability factors, resilience, and interventions. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie, 49 (4), 204–217. doi.org/10.1026/1616-3443/a000600
  • Behnke, A., Krumbholz, A., Karrasch, S., Schelling, G., Karabatsiakis, A., Kolassa, I.-T., & Rojas, R. (2020). Associating Emergency Medical Services personnel’s workload, trauma exposure, and health with the cortisol, endocannabinoid, and N-acylethanolamine concentrations in their hair. Scientific Reports, 10 (1), 22403. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79859-x
  • Behnke, A., Rojas, R., Karabatsiakis, A., &, Kolassa, I.T. (2020). Childhood maltreatment compromises resilience against occupational trauma exposure: A retrospective study among emergency medical service personnel. Child Abuse & Neglect, 99, doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104248
  • Behnke, A., Rojas, R., Karrasch, S., Hitzler, M., & Kolassa, I.T. (2019). Deconstructing traumatic mission experiences: Identifying critical incidents and their relevance for the mental and physical health among Emergency Medical Service Personnel. Frontiers in Psychology, 10. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02305
  • Behnke, A., Conrad, D., Kolassa, I.T., & Rojas, R. (2019). Higher sense of coherence is associated with better mental and physical health in emergency medical services: results from investigations on the revised sense of coherence scale (SOC-R) in rescue workers. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10. doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1606628
  • Bartels, L., Berliner, L., Holt, T., Jensen, T., Jungbluth, N.,  Plener, P., Risch, E., Rojas, R., Rosner, R., & Sachser, C. (2019). The importance of the DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms of cognitions and mood in traumatized children and adolescents: two network approaches. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 60:5, 545–554. doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13009
  • Gärtner, A., Behnke, A., Conrad, D., Kolassa, I., & Rojas, R. (2019). Emotion regulation in rescue workers: Differential relationship with perceived work-related stress and stress-related symptoms. Frontiers in Psychology, 1-12, (9). doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02744
  • Herbert, C., Bendig, E. & Rojas, R. (2019). My sadness – our happiness: Writing about positive, negative, and neutral autobiographical life events reveals linguistic markers of self-positivity and individual well-being. Frontiers in Psychology, 1-13, (9). doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02522
  • Rojas, R., Ilg, T., Geissner, & Hautzinger, M. (2016). Impact of Automatic Thoughts and Psychological Flexibility on Depressive Symptoms and on Relapse of Remitted Depressed Persons. Verhaltenstherapie, 26, 270-277.
  • Rosner, R., Pfoh, M., Rojas, R. et al. (2015). Anhaltende Trauerstörung. Ein Therapiemanual. Hogrefe Verlag.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2015). DAS-18 Form A und Form B: Entwicklung und psychometrische Überprüfung von zwei vergleichbaren Kurzversionen der Skala Dysfunktionaler Einstellungen (DAS). Diagnostica, 61, 173-183.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., Schirm, E. & Hautzinger, M. (2014). Kognitive Reaktivität und Stressbelastung als Prädiktoren eines Rezidivs bei remittiert depressiven Personen. Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 43 (1), 17-26
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W. & Hautzinger, M. (2004). Auswirkungen der Compliance auf den psychophysischen Effekt einer Sportintervention bei HIV-1 Positiven. Zeitschrift für Sportpsychologie, 11 (1), 2-9.
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W. & Hautzinger, M. (2003). Effects of exercise training on health-related quality of life, psychological well-being, immune status and cardiopulmonary fitness in an HIV-1 positive population. Journal of Sports & Exercise Psychology, 25, 440-455.
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W., Hautzinger, M., Escobar, L. & Bock, J. (2002). Sport und Psychotherapie: Wirkungen auf psychosoziale und physiologische Zustände bei HIV-1 positiven Menschen. Zeitschrift für Gesundheitspsychologie, 10 (4), 147-156.
  • Rojas, R. (2001). Vergleich zwischen den Auswirkungen eines Sport- und eines psychotherapeutischen Programms auf die Lebensqualität HIV-1 positiver Menschen. Regensburg: S. Roderer Verlag.
  • Rojas, R. (2001). Dos actitudes frente a las enfermedad y su influencia en la salud (Zwei verschiedene Grundeinstellungen zur Krankheit und deren Einfluss auf die Gesundheit). Zeitschrift „La Jornada“. Suplemento „Letra S“: Salud, Sexualidad, SIDA, México, D.F., März.
  • Rojas, R., Kegelmann, R., Höfelein, M., Bader, A., Schlicht, W. & Hautzinger, M. (2000). Die Auswirkungen eines Sportprogrammes auf die Lebensqualität, das körperliche Befinden und den Immunstatus bei HIV-1 positiven Menschen. In N. H. Brockmeyer, R. Brodt, K. Hoffmann, G. Reimann, M. Stücker, & P. Altmeyer (Hrsg.), HIV-Infekt. (pp. 781-788), Berlin/Heidelberg.

Congress contributions and Workshops

  • Rojas, R. & Rossi, R. (2024). Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Online workshop at AWIP, March 16th, 2022, Ulm
  • Rojas, R. Behnke, A. & Hautzinger, M. (2023). Effects of stressful events, changes in dysfunctional attitudes and automatic thoughts in remitted depressive symptoms after inpatient treatment. Presentation at the 2nd Psychotherapy Congress of the DGPs, May 10-13, 2023, Berlin
  • Rojas, R. & Rossi, R. (2023). Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Online workshop at AWIP, April 22th, 2023, Ulm
  • Rojas, R. & Rossi, R. (2022). Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Online workshop at AWIP, February 26th, 2022, Ulm
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., Karabatsiakis, A., Krumbholz, A., Karrasch, S., Schelling, G. & Kolassa, I.-T. (2021). Workload, trauma exposure, and health of emergency services workers and their associations with levels of cortisol, endocannabinoid, and N-acylethanolamine in hair. Presentation at the 38th Symposium of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the DGPs, May 12-15, 2021, online event, Mannheim.
  • Rojas, R. & Rossi, R. (2021). Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Online workshop at AWIP, February 20th, 2021, Ulm
  • Rojas, R. & Rossi, R. (2020). Group therapy treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Online workshop at the Center for Psychological Therapy (ZPP) Mannheim, June 13th, 2020
  • Rojas, R., & Rossi, R. (2020). Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Workshop at AWIP, 01.18.20, Ulm.
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., Conrad, D., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2019). Emergency events, psychological stress and coping strategies for emergency services employees. Presentation at the DGPPN, 27.-30.11.19, Berlin.
  • Rojas, R., & Rossi, R. (2019). Diagnosis and treatment of persistent grief disorder. Workshop at the 11th Workshop Congress for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and 37th Symposium of the specialist group Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the German Society for Psychology (DGPs), 29.05.-01.06.19, Erlangen.
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., Conrad, D., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2019). The evaluation of stressful and critical operational events in the rescue service (RESQ event checklist). Presentation at the Annual Conference of the German-speaking society for Psychotraumatology, DeGPT, 14.-16.03.19, Frankfurt am Main.
  • Rojas, R., & Rossi, R. (2018). Diagnosis and Treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Workshop at CIP Congress, 19.10.18, Fürstenfeld.
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., Karrasch, S., Conrad, D., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2018). The Impact of Coping on activity-related Stress in Rescue Services. Presentation at 51st Congress of the German Psychological Society, 15.-20.09.18, Frankfurt a.M.
  • Rojas, R., Behnke, A., Conrad, D., & Kolassa, I.-T. (2018). Abuse, Mistreatment and Neglect in Childhood as a Risk Factor for the psychopathological Burden in the Rescue Service. Presentation at 36th Symposium of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the DGPs, 10.-12.05.18, Landau.
  • Rojas, R. (2017). Therapy methods for the care of patients with prolonged grief disorder. Lecture as research Award winner 2016 at the Annual Conference of the German Society for Social Psychiatry, 24.11.17, Hamburg.
  • Rojas, R., & Rossi, R. (2017). Group therapeutic treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Workshop at 10th Workshop Congress of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy and 35th Symposium of the Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the German Psychological Society, 24.05.-27.05.17, Chemnitz.
  • Rojas, R. (2017). If the grief does not want to end? Diagnosis and treatment of prolonged grief disorder. Lecture at the Clinic for Psychiatry II, 17.05.2017, Günzburg.
  • Rojas, R., Ilg, T., Geissner, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2016). Effects of automatic thoughts and psychological flexibility on the depressive symptomatology and relapse probability of remitted depressive patients. Poster at 50th Congress of the German Society for Psychology, 18.-22.09.16, Leipzig.
  • Rojas, R., & Rossi, R. (2015). Group therapy of prolonged grief disorder. Workshop at 9th Workshop Congress of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dresden.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2014). Automatic negative thoughts, irrational attitudes and psychological inflexibility as predictors of relapse in remitted major depression patients. Poster at the 32nd Symposium of the Section for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy of the German Society for Psychology, Braunschweig.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., Schirm, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2013). Effects of cognitive reactivity on the prediction of depressive relapse in remitted major depression patients. Presentation at 8th Workshop Congress of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Trier.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., Schirm, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2012). Effects of emotional induced cognitive and emotional reactivity and stress events on the prediction of depressive relapse in remitted major depression patients. Presentation at 48th Congress of the German Society for Psychology, Bielefeld.
  • Rojas, R., Lumbeck, G., & Neuburger, R. (2011). By accepting the loss to new perspectives. Focus of the grief group. Lecture at the Psychological Institute of the Ludwig-Maximilian University, February, Munich.
  • Rojas, R., Geissner, E., Schirm, E., & Hautzinger, M. (2010). Effects of emotional induced cognitive and emotional reactivity and stress events on the prediction of depressive relapse in remitted major depression patients. Presentation at 47th Congress of the German Society for Psychology, Bremen.
  • Rojas, R., & Hautzinger, M. (2009). Cognitive reactivity in remitted major depression patients after a sad mood provocation. Poster presented at 27th Symposium of the Section for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Zurich.
  • Rojas, R., Hautzinger, M., & Schlicht, W. (2008). Effects of psychotherapy and exercise training on psychosocial and physiological parameters of HIV-1 positive persons. Poster presented at the International Congress of Psychology, Berlin.
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W., Eimert, L., & Leidig, E. (2007). Influence of exercise on the body concept and the quality of life of adolescents and young adults with cancer. Presentation at the 8th Congress of Health Psychology, Schwäbisch Gmünd.
  • Rojas, R. (2006). Participation on the expert workshop: guideline for rehabilitation of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. German Federal Pension Insurance, Berlin.
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W., Eimert, L., & Leidig, E. (2003). Exercise and body self-image in adolescents and young adults with cancer. Presentation at Cancer Symposium, Frankfurt.
  • Rojas, R., & Schlicht, W. (2003). Factors affecting compliance in a sport intervention with HIV-1 infected patients. Presentation at the Symposium of Prevention, Tübingen.
  • Rojas, R., Schlicht, W., Eimert, L., & Leidig, E. (2002). Exercise in Rehabilitation of adolescents and young adults with cancer. Presentation at Workshop “Psycho-oncology research - a positioning” of the Psycho-oncology Working Group of the German Cancer Society, Freiburg.