dr. B.C.M. (Benno) Haarman

Innovative treatments for mood and anxiety disorders

Dr. Benno C.M. Haarman leads efforts at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) to bridge the gap between basic neuroscience and clinical psychiatry. As Head of the Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program, he focuses on integrating cutting-edge treatments into routine care, including psychotherapeutic (CBASP), psycho-stimulating (ketamine, psilocybin), neurostimulating (rTMS, DBS), and chronotherapeutic interventions. These innovations aim to address unmet patient needs while advancing the dissemination of novel approaches in psychiatry. The UMCG’s renowned expertise in molecular and neuroimaging research, microbiota-host interactions, and microbiome studies underpins these initiatives.

Neuromodulation and psychosurgery

Under Dr. Haarman’s leadership, UMCG has become a leader in neuromodulation techniques for psychiatric care. He played a pivotal role in implementing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and developing the initial draft of the national protocol for rTMS in depression. Additionally, he spearheaded the implementation of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a significant advancement for treatment-resistant psychiatric conditions. Dr. Haarman also leads the E-GUT-VNS study, which investigates the interaction between vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and the gut-brain axis in treatment-resistant epilepsy, further integrating neuromodulation with precision psychiatry.

GUTS and gut-brain axis research

Dr. Haarman is a principal investigator of the GUTS randomized controlled trial, funded by ZonMw and the Stanley Medical Research Institute. This study examined the effects of probiotics on intestinal permeability and inflammation in patients with bipolar and psychotic disorders, producing highly cited publications and advancing understanding of the gut-brain axis. Building on this work, his No Guts, No Glory study explores dietary interventions and personalized probiotics to improve outcomes for patients with psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, emphasizing a personalized and biomarker-driven approach.

MOODINFLAME, PSYCHAID, and MOODSTRATIFICATION consortia

Dr. Haarman has been instrumental in international consortia such as MOODINFLAME and MOODSTRATIFICATION, which focus on immune-neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying mood disorders. His contributions include identifying immune imbalances and T-cell dysfunction, leading to the development of diagnostic tools and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies.

ENIGMA-BD collaboration

Dr. Haarman is an active member of the ENIGMA Bipolar Disorder Working Group, contributing to global efforts to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of bipolar disorder. His work involves large-scale analyses of brain imaging and genetic data to better connect brain structure and function with psychiatric phenotypes.

Combined chronotherapy

Dr. Haarman’s research on chronotherapy investigates its impact on mood disorders. By leveraging actigraphy and patient diaries, the team aims to predict treatment success through innovative methodologies, including n=1 and group-level approaches. These studies enhance understanding of how chronotherapy can improve psychiatric outcomes.