Dr. med. Max Christian Pensel, M.A

Dr. Max Christian Pensel, M.A., is a neurologist, psychiatrist, and psychotherapist working at the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (headed by Prof. Alexandra Philipsen). His clinical and scientific interests focus primarily on dissociative and functional disorders. He is involved in various projects in the “Virtual Reality Therapy and Medical Technology” working group (headed by Dr. Niclas Braun) and also participates in other scientific collaborations.

After studying medicine, philosophy, and law in Bonn, he earned his doctorate with an fMRI study on the influence of regular endurance sports on executive functions. This was followed by clinical training as a specialist in neurology with DGfE certification in epileptology in Bonn and Aachen. Dr. Pensel then began further specialist training in psychiatry and psychotherapy at the UKB, which he completed in spring 2025.

With the support of the Neuro-aCSis program, Dr. Pensel is working with the Clinic and Polyclinic for Epileptology (headed by Prof. Dr. Rainer Surges, MHBA) to gain a more detailed understanding of dissociative seizures in video EEG monitoring, for which biographical and current stress factors play an important role in their etiology. To this end, there is close cooperation with the “Applied Neuroscience and Neurotechnologies” working group (headed by Dr. Marcel Bausch, Dr. Arthur Jordan). The research project aims to contribute to the development of new treatment approaches for dissociative seizures.