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Bessel A. van der Kolk

Bessel A. van der Kolk

D-Index & Metrics

Psychology

D-Index
71
Citations
41263
World Ranking
2102
National Ranking
1221

Bessel A. van der Kolk publication distribution in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the distribution of publications by all Research.com ranked scientists in the field of Psychology in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Bessel A. van der Kolk sits on this spectrum.

31–40 publications: 6 scientists 41–50 publications: 52 scientists 51–60 publications: 138 scientists 61–70 publications: 299 scientists 71–80 publications: 461 scientists 81–90 publications: 605 scientists 91–100 publications: 713 scientists 101–110 publications: 736 scientists 111–120 publications: 686 scientists 121–130 publications: 670 scientists 131–140 publications: 644 scientists 141–150 publications: 597 scientists 151–160 publications: 576 scientists 161–170 publications: 477 scientists 171–180 publications: 450 scientists 181–190 publications: 397 scientists 191–200 publications: 343 scientists 201–210 publications: 328 scientists 211–220 publications: 313 scientists 221–230 publications: 283 scientists 231–240 publications: 226 scientists 241–250 publications: 196 scientists 251–260 publications: 201 scientists 261–270 publications: 171 scientists 271–280 publications: 151 scientists 281–290 publications: 139 scientists 291–300 publications: 113 scientists 301–310 publications: 102 scientists 311–320 publications: 100 scientists 321–330 publications: 76 scientists 331–340 publications: 92 scientists 341–350 publications: 85 scientists 351–360 publications: 69 scientists 361–370 publications: 71 scientists 371–380 publications: 63 scientists 381–390 publications: 58 scientists 391–400 publications: 57 scientists 401–410 publications: 43 scientists 411–420 publications: 33 scientists 421–430 publications: 50 scientists 431–440 publications: 41 scientists 441–450 publications: 32 scientists 451–460 publications: 27 scientists 461–470 publications: 28 scientists 471–480 publications: 25 scientists 481–490 publications: 28 scientists 491–500 publications: 20 scientists 501–510 publications: 23 scientists 511–520 publications: 26 scientists 521–530 publications: 17 scientists 531–540 publications: 21 scientists 541–550 publications: 14 scientists 551–560 publications: 16 scientists 561–570 publications: 10 scientists 571–580 publications: 22 scientists 581–590 publications: 9 scientists 591–600 publications: 14 scientists 601–610 publications: 9 scientists 611–620 publications: 11 scientists 621–630 publications: 4 scientists 631–640 publications: 7 scientists 641–650 publications: 5 scientists 651–660 publications: 10 scientists 661–670 publications: 8 scientists 671–680 publications: 8 scientists 681–690 publications: 4 scientists 691–700 publications: 3 scientists 701–704 publications: 4 scientists 705+ publications: 100 scientists
31 publications 705+

This scientist: 130 publications — 38th percentile

38% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 705 publications or more.

Bessel A. van der Kolk D-index placement in Psychology in 2026

The chart shows the D-index (discipline H-index) distribution of Psychology scientists ranked by Research.com in 2026. The highlighted bar marks where Bessel A. van der Kolk sits on this spectrum.

30–31 D-Index: 398 scientists 32–33 D-Index: 702 scientists 34–35 D-Index: 671 scientists 36–37 D-Index: 659 scientists 38–39 D-Index: 641 scientists 40–41 D-Index: 671 scientists 42–43 D-Index: 617 scientists 44–45 D-Index: 558 scientists 46–47 D-Index: 495 scientists 48–49 D-Index: 487 scientists 50–51 D-Index: 445 scientists 52–53 D-Index: 390 scientists 54–55 D-Index: 408 scientists 56–57 D-Index: 345 scientists 58–59 D-Index: 325 scientists 60–61 D-Index: 321 scientists 62–63 D-Index: 248 scientists 64–65 D-Index: 290 scientists 66–67 D-Index: 218 scientists 68–69 D-Index: 219 scientists 70–71 D-Index: 215 scientists 72–73 D-Index: 183 scientists 74–75 D-Index: 169 scientists 76–77 D-Index: 132 scientists 78–79 D-Index: 137 scientists 80–81 D-Index: 120 scientists 82–83 D-Index: 112 scientists 84–85 D-Index: 86 scientists 86–87 D-Index: 101 scientists 88–89 D-Index: 83 scientists 90–91 D-Index: 77 scientists 92–93 D-Index: 70 scientists 94–95 D-Index: 78 scientists 96–97 D-Index: 58 scientists 98–99 D-Index: 53 scientists 100–101 D-Index: 57 scientists 102–103 D-Index: 48 scientists 104–105 D-Index: 53 scientists 106–107 D-Index: 46 scientists 108–109 D-Index: 24 scientists 110–111 D-Index: 35 scientists 112–113 D-Index: 27 scientists 114–115 D-Index: 32 scientists 116–117 D-Index: 31 scientists 118–119 D-Index: 22 scientists 120–121 D-Index: 16 scientists 122–123 D-Index: 24 scientists 124–125 D-Index: 18 scientists 126–127 D-Index: 11 scientists 128–129 D-Index: 19 scientists 130–131 D-Index: 10 scientists 132–133 D-Index: 16 scientists 134–135 D-Index: 10 scientists 136–137 D-Index: 12 scientists 138–139 D-Index: 8 scientists 140–141 D-Index: 5 scientists 142–143 D-Index: 12 scientists 144+ D-Index: 98 scientists
30 D-Index 144+

This scientist: 71 D-Index — 82nd percentile

82% of scientists in this discipline score the same or lower.

The last bar groups every scientist with 144 D-Index or more.

Overview

Bessel A. van der Kolk is affiliated with Boston University in the United States and has contributed extensively to research in psychology and medicine, with a strong focus on clinical psychology and related subfields. Their work spans areas such as pharmacology, cognitive neuroscience, biological psychiatry, and general health professions.

Their main research topics include psychedelics and drug studies, cannabis and cannabinoid research, child abuse and trauma, child and adolescent psychosocial and emotional development, sleep and wakefulness research, tryptophan and brain disorders, and child and adolescent health.

Recent papers authored or co-authored by van der Kolk include:

  • MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study (2021, Nature Medicine)
  • MDMA-assisted therapy for moderate to severe PTSD: a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial (2023, Nature Medicine)
  • MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Severe PTSD: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Study (2023, FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry)
  • Developmental Trauma Disorder: A Legacy of Attachment Trauma in Victimized Children (2021, Journal of Traumatic Stress)
  • The impact of neurofeedback training on children with developmental trauma: A randomized controlled study (2020, Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy)

They have frequently collaborated with researchers including Charlotte Harrison, Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Jennifer Mitchell, Michael P. Bogenschutz, and Sarah E. Kleiman.

Their works are often published in venues such as:

  • Nature Medicine
  • FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry
  • Journal of Traumatic Stress
  • Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy
  • European journal of psychotraumatology

Best Publications

  • Traumatic stress: The effects of overwhelming experience on mind, body, and society.

    Bessel A. van der Kolk;Alexander C. McFarlane;Lars Weisaeth

  • Complex Trauma in Children and Adolescents

    Alexandra Cook;Joseph Spinazzola;Julian Ford;Cheryl Lanktree

  • The Body Keeps the Score: Memory and the Evolving Psychobiology of Posttraumatic Stress

    Bessel A. van der Kolk

  • Disorders of extreme stress: The empirical foundation of a complex adaptation to trauma.

    Bessel A. van der Kolk;Susan Roth;David Pelcovitz;Susanne Sunday

  • Dissociation and the fragmentary nature of traumatic memories: Overview and exploratory study

    Bessel A. van Der Kolk;Rita Fisler

  • A developmental approach to complex PTSD: childhood and adult cumulative trauma as predictors of symptom complexity.

    Marylene Cloitre;Bradley C. Stolbach;Judith L. Herman;Bessel van der Kolk

  • The intrusive past: The flexibility of memory and the engraving of trauma.

    Bessel A. van der Kolk;Onno van der Hart

  • A symptom provocation study of posttraumatic stress disorder using positron emission tomography and script-driven imagery

    S L Rauch;B A van der Kolk;R E Fisler;N M Alpert

  • The compulsion to repeat the trauma. Re-enactment, revictimization, and masochism.

    Bessel A. van der Kolk

  • Treating complex traumatic stress disorders: An evidence-based guide.

    Christine A. Courtois;Julian D. Norton-Ford;Judith Lewis Herman;Bessel A. Van der Kolk

  • Understanding Interpersonal Trauma in Children: Why We Need a Developmentally Appropriate Trauma Diagnosis

    Wendy D'Andrea;Julian Ford;Bradley Stolbach;Joseph Spinazzola

  • Clinical implications of neuroscience research in PTSD.

    Bessel A. Van Der Kolk

  • Complex PTSD in Victims Exposed to Sexual and Physical Abuse: Results from the DSM-IV Field Trial for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

    Susan Roth;Elana Newman;David Pelcovitz;Bessel van der Kolk

  • MDMA-assisted therapy for severe PTSD: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study

    Jennifer M. Mitchell;Michael Bogenschutz;Alia Lilienstein;Charlotte Harrison

  • Development of a criteria set and a structured interview for disorders of extreme stress (SIDES)

    David Pelcovitz;Bessel van der Kolk;Susan Roth;Francine Mandel

  • Inescapable shock, neurotransmitters, and addiction to trauma: Toward a psychobiology of post traumatic stress ☆

    Bessel van der Kolk;Bessel van der Kolk;Mark Greenberg;Mark Greenberg;Helene Boyd;Helene Boyd;John Krystal

  • Multicenter, double-blind comparison of sertraline and placebo in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder.

    Jonathan R. T. Davidson;Barbara O. Rothbaum;Bessel A. van der Kolk;Carolyn R. Sikes

  • The neurobiology of childhood trauma and abuse

    Bessel A van der Kolk

  • Yoga as an adjunctive treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

    Bessel A. van der Kolk;Laura Stone;Jennifer West;Alison Rhodes

  • A Randomized Clinical Trial of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Fluoxetine, and Pill Placebo in the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Treatment Effects and Long-Term Maintenance

    Bessel A. van der Kolk;Joseph Spinazzola;Margaret E. Blaustein;James W. Hopper

Frequent Co-Authors

Joseph Spinazzola
Joseph Spinazzola Justice Resource Institute
Julian D. Ford
Julian D. Ford University of Connecticut
Onno van der Hart
Onno van der Hart Utrecht University
Ruth A. Lanius
Ruth A. Lanius University of Western Ontario
Michael K. Suvak
Michael K. Suvak Suffolk University
Alexander C. McFarlane
Alexander C. McFarlane University of Adelaide
Lisa D. Butler
Lisa D. Butler University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Cheryl Koopman
Cheryl Koopman Stanford University
Vedat Sar
Vedat Sar Koç University
Richard J. Loewenstein
Richard J. Loewenstein University of Maryland, Baltimore

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