In our group we investigate cognitive and social cognitive aspects of psychosis. We are interested in environmental factors that are associated with increased incidence of psychosis, and focus on the association between negative experiences such as discrimination and early life traumatic experiences, and the emergence of psychopathology.
Prof. dr. Lydia Krabbendam investigates social cognition, social interactions and urbanicity. She uses social dilemma’s such as the trust game, and social-cognitive tasks aiming to target empathy and perspective taking. With functional MRI she investigates whether patterns of brain activation differ between participants with and without (subclinical) psychotic symptoms. Additionally, task performance is associated with real life daily functioning in social relationships and with (financial) decision making. Furthermore, she is interested in the relation between wellbeing and the level of urbanization and the amount of green nature available. Adolescence is the main period of her interest, because this period is associated with increased vulnerability to develop psychopathology, and at the same time offers chances for the development of social and cognitive skills.
Dr. Imke Jansen investigates social networks, loneliness, social interactions. Trusting other people is essential for positive social interactions. During her PhD, she investigated adolescents and young adults with a first psychosis, or with a clinical high risk of developing an psychosis. These younger patients can still learn from (social) feedback, emphasising the importance of social networks and friends. In the general population, Imke now investigates the association between psychotic symptoms, trust, loneliness and the social network. The role of the (urban) environment and its several aspects (population density, social economic status, social cohesion, green areas) is also studied.
Dr. Els van der Ven is interested in the social context of mental wellbeing and psychopathology, and the risk for psychosis in different ethnic and migrant populations. In her Veni-research she combines epidemiological and experimental research to investigate the influences of stress mechanisms on the cognitive, brain and behavioural level, hypothesizing that stress might be the underlying mechanism for the emergence of psychopathology in youth with a migration background.
She has gathered expertise in the treatment of psychosis during her clinical and research work in early intervention teams for psychosis in Canada, the Netherlands and the United States.
Els’ overarching goal is the identification and diminishing of the gap in mental health between population groups. Her research informs methods for prevention that may increase the mental wellbeing in the general population, and identifies targets for early and more effective interventions of psychopathology.
INVOLVED EMPLOYEES
Dr. I.L.J (Imke) Jansen, Assistant professor
Prof. dr. A.C. (Lydia) Krabbendam, Professor
Dr. E.M.A. (Els) van der Ven, associate professor
D. (Datin) Manzoni, PhD student