Goals

The focus of the research unit Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology is on explaining shared key features of mental disorders, translating our findings into clinical applications, and testing psychological interventions in clinical practice. Accordingly, we follow a trans-diagnostic approach with a current focus on cognitive-behavioral processes and interpersonal functioning.

A main goal of our research is to explain the origin, persistence, and recurrence of symptoms of psychopathology; identify risk factors for the development of these symptoms; and to design and test interventions that may help to reduce or prevent the occurrence of these symptoms across disorders.

To achieve this goal we:

• conduct both experimental lab studies as well as more naturalistic studies using Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA);

• participate in unique large scale longitudinal studies including the Netherlands Study on Depression & Anxiety NESDA and TRacking Adolescents' Individual Life Survey study TRAILS;

• contribute to the development of a new approach to mental disorders in the context of the consortium New Science of Mental Disorders NSMD

• are involved in many clinical studies including randomized controlled trials and single case experimental designs. These studies are commonly conducted in structural collaboration with Mental Health Institutions (MHIs) such as GGZ-Drenthe, Lentis and the University Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Accare (e.g., anxiety and OCD section, eating disorders section)

To strengthen the link between basic research and clinical practice, many of our faculty members combine their university appointment with a position in a MHI; in addition, some of our PhD students follow a scientist-practitioner-track (combining research, patient care, and clinical training) funded jointly by MHIs and research grants.

Furthermore, faculty members have prominent positions in several professional organizations such as the Dutch Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies; participate in several of the national multidisciplinary guideline committees (anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, dissociative disorders, trauma- and stress-factor related disorders, and grief); and are involved in the postmaster education for both Health Care Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists (GZ-opleiding / KP-opleiding).

PhD students and faculty members are part of the Dutch-Flemish research network Experimental Psychopathology EPP.