Fritz Renner

Group leader

E-Mail: fritz.renner@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de

Research interest

  • Effectiveness and mechanisms of psychotherapy for depression
  • Experimental psychopathology research on mechanisms of change in psychological disorders (focus on depression)
  • Imagery based techniques in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies
  • The role of mental imagery in the etiology and maintenance of mental disorders
  • Schema Therapy
  • Single-Case Experimental Designs

Publications

Articles

  1. Heise, M., Bruijniks, S. J. E., & Renner, F. (2024). Web-Based Imagery Behavioral Activation (WIMBA): Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Effects, Acceptability, and Feasibility of a Mental Imagery Activity Scheduling Training Delivered Online. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 6(2), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.12133
  2. Bär, A., Heininga, V. E., Lemmens, L. H. J. M., & Renner, F. (2024). From anticipation to action: A RCT on mental imagery exercises in daily life as a motivational amplifier for individuals with depressive symptoms. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, . https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12572
  3. Bruijniks, S. J. E., Frank, U., Tuschen-Caffier, B., Werthmann, J., & Renner, F. (2023). Skill Improvement Through Learning in Therapy (SKILT): A study protocol for a randomized trial testing the direct effects of cognitive behavioral therapy skill acquisition and role of learning capacity in depression. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 5. https://doi.org/10.32872/cpe.8475
  4. Bär, A., Bär, H. E., Schneider, M., & Renner, F. (2023). The pupil as a window to the mind's eye: Greater emotionality of episodic imagery than verbal visualisation of rewarding activities. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 14. https://doi.org/10.1177/20438087231161176
  5. Bruijniks, S. J. E., Meeter, M., Lemmens, L., Peeters, F., Cuijpers, P., Renner, F., & Huibers, M. J. (2022). Mechanistic pathways of change in twice weekly versus once weekly sessions of psychotherapy for depression. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 151, 104038. https://doi.org/10.1016j.brat.2022.104038
  6. Heise, M., Werthmann, J., Murphy, F., Tuschen-Caffier, B., & Renner, F. (2022). Imagine How Good That Feels: The Impact of Anticipated Positive Emotions on Motivation for Reward Activities. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 46(4), 704-720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-022-10306-z
  7. Bär, H. E., Werthmann, J., Paetsch, A., & Renner, F. (2022). The traces of imagination: early attention bias toward positively imagined stimuli. Psychological Research, . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-022-01737-0
  8. Renner, F., Werthmann, J., Paetsch, A., Bär, H. E., Heise, M., & Bruijniks, S. J. E. (2021). Prospective mental imagery in depression: Impact on reward processing and reward-motivated behaviour. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 3(2). https://cpe.psychopen.eu/index.php/cpe/article/view/3013/3013.html
  9. Geschwind, N., van Teffelen, M., Hammarberg, E., Arntz, A., Huibers, M. J. H., & Renner, F. (2021). Impact of measurement frequency on self-reported depressive symptoms: An experimental study in a clinical setting. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666915321000950
  10. Bruijniks, S. J. E., Frank, U., Tuschen-Caffier, B., Werthmann, J., & Renner, F. (2021). Skill Improvement through Learning in Therapy (SKILT): a study protocol for a randomized trial testing the direct effects of cognitive behavioral therapy skill acquisition and role of learning capacity in major depressive disorder. , .
  11. Pellas, J., Renner, F., Ji, J. L., & Damberg, M. (2021). Telephone-based behavioral activation with mental imagery for depression: A pilot randomized clinical trial in isolated older adults during the Covid-19 pandemic. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 37. https://doi.org/10.1002gps.5646
  12. Dugue, R., Renner, F., Austermann, M., Tuschen-Caffier, B., & Jacob, G. (2019). Imagery rescripting in individuals with binge-eating behavior: An experimental proof-of-concept study. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 52. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/eat.22995
  13. Renner, F., Murphy, F. C., Ji, J. L., Manly, T., & Holmes, E. A. (2019). Mental imagery as a “motivational amplifier” to promote activities. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 114. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005796719300191
  14. Renner, F., DeRubeis, R., Arntz, A., Peeters, F. P., Lobbestael, J., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2018). Exploring mechanisms of change in schema therapy for chronic depression. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 58, 97--105. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005791617300794
  15. Renner, F., Kersbergen, I., Field, M., & Werthmann, J. (2018). Dutch courage? Effects of acute alcohol consumption on self-ratings and observer ratings of foreign language skills. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 32. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0269881117735687?journalCode=jopa
  16. Schweizer, T., Renner, F., Sun, D., Kleim, B., Holmes, E. A., & Tuschen-Caffier, B. (2018). Psychophysiological reactivity, coping behaviour and intrusive memories upon multisensory Virtual Reality and Script-Driven Imagery analogue trauma: A randomised controlled crossover study. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 59, 42--52. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0887618517306096
  17. Renner, F., Ji, J. L., Pictet, A., Holmes, E. A., & Blackwell, S. E. (2017). Effects of Engaging in Repeated Mental Imagery of Future Positive Events on Behavioural Activation in Individuals with Major Depressive Disorder. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 41, 369--380. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10608-016-9776-y
  18. Renner, F., Siep, N., Arntz, A., van de Ven, V., Peeters, F. P., Quaedflieg, C. W., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2017). Negative mood-induction modulates default mode network resting-state functional connectivity in chronic depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 208, 590--596. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032715314464?viaihub
  19. Renner, F., Arntz, A., Peeters, F. P., Lobbestael, J., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2016). Schema therapy for chronic depression: Results of a multiple single case series. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 51. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005791615300458
  20. Simplicio, D., Renner, F., Blackwell, S. E., Mitchell, H., Stratford, H. J., Watson, P., Myers, N., Nobre, A. C., Lau-Zhu, A., & Holmes, E. A. (2016). An investigation of mental imagery in bipolar disorder: Exploring “the mind's eye”. Bipolar Disorders, 18, 669--683. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bdi.12453
  21. Holmes, E. A., Blackwell, S. E., Heyes, S. B., Renner, F., & Raes, F. (2016). Mental Imagery in Depression: Phenomenology, Potential Mechanisms, and Treatment Implications. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 249--280. https://doi.org/10.1146annurev-clinpsy-021815-092925
  22. Renner, F., Siep, N., Lobbestael, J., Arntz, A., Peeters, F. P., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2015). Neural correlates of self-referential processing and implicit self-associations in chronic depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 186. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032715301014?viaihub
  23. Dinger, U., Barrett, M., Zimmermann, J., Schauenburg, H., Wright, A., Renner, F., Zilcha-Mano, S., & Barber, J. (2015). Interpersonal Problems, Dependency, and Self-Criticism in Major Depressive Disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 71. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jclp.22120
  24. Renner, F., Bamelis, L., Huibers, M. J. H., Speckens, A., & Arntz, A. (2014). The impact of comorbid depression on recovery from personality disorders and improvements in psychosocial functioning: Results from a randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 63. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796714001570?viaihub
  25. Renner, F., Schwarz, P., Peeters, F. P., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2014). Effects of a best-possible-self mental imagery exercise on mood and dysfunctional attitudes. Psychiatry Research, 215. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165178113006847?viaihub
  26. Schultze-Lutter, F., Renner, F., Paruch, J., Julkowski, D., Klosterk{ö}tter, J., & Ruhrmann, S. (2014). Self-reported psychotic-like experiences are a poor estimate of clinician-rated attenuated and frank delusions and hallucinations. Psychopathology, 47. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/355554
  27. Moradveisi, L., Huibers, M. J. H., Renner, F., & Arntz, A. (2014). The influence of patients' preference/attitude towards psychotherapy and antidepressant medication on the treatment of major depressive disorder. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 45. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005791613000773?viaihub
  28. Werthmann, J., Renner, F., Roefs, A., Huibers, M. J. H., Plumanns, L., Krott, N., & Jansen, A. (2014). Looking at food in sad mood: Do attention biases lead emotional eaters into overeating after a negative mood induction?. Eating Behaviors, 15, 230--236. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1471015314000257
  29. Moradveisi, L., Huibers, M. J. H., Renner, F., Arasteh, M., & Arntz, A. (2013). The influence of comorbid personality disorder on the effects ofbehavioural activation vs. antidepressant medication for major depressive disorder: Results from a randomized trial in Iran. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796713000946?viaihub
  30. Moradveisi, L., Huibers, M. J. H., Renner, F., Arasteh, M., & Arntz, A. (2013). Results for behavioural activation are overstated. Authors' reply. British Journal of Psychiatry, 202. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/authors-reply/A355DD4DC241812BAF416FCC06321A66
  31. Moradveisi, L., Huibers, M. J. H., Renner, F., Arasteh, M., & Arntz, A. (2013). Behavioural activation v. antidepressant medication for treating depression in Iran: Randomised trial. British Journal of Psychiatry, 202. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/behavioural-activation-v-antidepressant-medication-for-treating-depression-in-iran-randomised-trial/86821C30DFC642519FD11ABAFE45377C
  32. Renner, F., van Goor, M., Huibers, M. J. H., Arntz, A., Butz, B., & Bernstein, D. (2013). Short-term group schema cognitive-behavioral therapy for young adults with personality disorders and personality disorder features: Associations with changes in symptomatic distress, schemas, schema modes and coping styles. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 51. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796713000995?viaihub
  33. Renner, F., Penninx, B., Peeters, F. P., Cuijpers, P., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2013). Two-year stability and change of neuroticism and extraversion in treated and untreated persons with depression: Findings from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). Journal of Affective Disorders, 150. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032713002474?viaihub
  34. Renner, F., Lobbestael, J., Peeters, F. P., Arntz, A., & Huibers, M. J. H. (2012). Early maladaptive schemas in depressed patients: Stability and relation with depressive symptoms over the course of treatment. Journal of Affective Disorders, 136. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032711006768
  35. Renner, F., Jarrett, R., Vittengl, J., Barrett, M., Clark, L., & Thase, M. (2012). Interpersonal problems as predictors of therapeutic alliance and symptom improvement in cognitive therapy for depression. Journal of Affective Disorders, 138. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016503271200002X?viaihub
  36. Bamelis, L., Renner, F., Heidkamp, D., & Arntz, A. (2011). Extended schema mode conceptualizations for specific personality disorders: An empirical study. Journal of Personality Disorders, 25. https://guilfordjournals.com/doi/10.1521/pedi.2011.25.1.41

Conferences

  1. Heise, M., Werthmann, J., Tuschen-Caffier, B., & Renner, F. (2019). Reward Anticipation as a Potential Mechanism of Motivational Mental Imagery: An Experimental Study [Poster presentation]. WCBCT 2019, Berlin.