Josefin Särnholm

ACADEMIC POSITION

2026- Senior Research Specialist, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical 
Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet
2021 – 2026  Lecturer, Researcher, Division of Psycholog, Department of Clinical  Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet

2023 –2025 Adjunct Associate Research Scientist, Centre for Behavioral Cardiovascular Health, Department of Medicine,  Columbia University, New York, USA
DOCTORAL DEGREE
2021 Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy for atrial fibrillation: A
novel treatment paradigm; Karolinska Institutet
COURSES AND DEGREES
2015-2021 PhD program Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2015-2018 Research school in epidemiology/psychiatry KI/SLL
2011 Licensed psychologist, National Board of Health and Welfare, Stockholm,
Sweden
2010 Master of Science in Psychology, Stockholm University

I lead the Behavioral Medicine and Mental Health Across the Lifespan – Bonnert/Särnholm Research Group together with Marianne Bonnert. The group investigates psychological and behavioral mechanisms relevant to health, illness, function, and quality of life across the lifespan, with a particular focus on mental health and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

My research focuses on cardiovascular behavioral medicine and digital psychological interventions, with the aim of improving recovery and long-term outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease.

A central focus of my research is fear-related and interoceptive mechanisms in patients with cardiovascular disease, as well as cardiac-induced posttraumatic stress disorder. Building on this work, I have developed and evaluated exposure-based digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions for patients with atrial fibrillation, following acute coronary syndrome, and after cardiac surgery, with the goal of integrating evidence-based psychological treatment into cardiovascular care.

In parallel, I conduct research within the Mind the Gap consortium, focusing on health among people with migrant backgrounds and reducing inequalities in access to evidence-based psychological treatment through culturally and linguistically adapted digital interventions.

My work in cardiovascular behavioral medicine has been recognized with the Neal Miller New Investigator Award (Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research, USA, 2025) and the Outstanding New Investigator Award (International Society of Behavioral Medicine, 2025).

I teach in the psychologist and medical programs, as well as to healthcare professionals, with a focus on cardiovascular behavioral medicine, psychological treatment, and psychiatric assessment.

Supervision to doctoral degree

• Ulrika Ehrén, Online Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxiety Related to Pediatric Asthma, 2023-