BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence E. Eigenhuis METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260513T114500 DTEND:20260513T131500 DTSTAMP:20260513T114500 UID:2026/phd-defence-e-eigenhuis@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260429T094501 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence E. Eigenhuis X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Improving accessibility and outcome of treatment for depression and anxiety

B etter access and tailored care crucial in the fight against depressio n and anxiety

Research by clinical psychologist Eline Eigenhuis shows that the approach to depression and anxiety can be m ore effective - provided people receive help sooner and treatments be tter align with their needs. Her study sheds new light on why many pa tients still fall through the cracks and offers concrete starting poi nts to bring about change.

The research reveals that young peop le, in particular, often seek help too late for depressive symptoms. Shame, a lack of knowledge about mental health, and long waiting time s constitute significant barriers. As a result, symptoms persist unne cessarily long, and the risk of worsening increases.

Mo re input
There are also gains to be made within the treat ment itself. Patients regularly discontinue therapy prematurely, but when they are given more input—for example, through shared decision -making regarding the form of treatment - both their satisfaction and adherence to therapy increase. This increases the chance of recovery and reduces the risk of dropout.

One of the findings is that e ven mild personality traits, such as difficulty regulating emotions o r unstable relationships, increase the risk of both the onset and rec urrence of depression. According to Eigenhuis, this argues for more a ttention to these factors in both prevention and treatment.

In addition, she investigated new treatment methods for people for whom existing therapies are insufficient. This shows that interventions su ch as memory specificity training and group-based schema therapy are feasible and demonstrate promising results in complex or treatment-re sistant patients.

Addressing early
By inter vening earlier, reducing stigma surrounding mental health, and better tailoring treatments to the patient, mental healthcare can be organi zed more effectively. Especially for young people, this offers opport unities to address psychological problems at an early stage and preve nt long-term symptoms.

At the same time, Eigenhuis emphasizes t hat further study remains necessary, particularly regarding which tre atment works best for which patient. Nevertheless, the message is cle ar: a more accessible and person-centered approach can make a differe nce for large groups of people with anxiety and depressive disorders.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION: Better access and tailored care crucial in the fi ght against depression and anxiety

Research by clinic al psychologist Eline Eigenhuis shows that the approach to depression and anxiety can be more effective - provided people receive help soo ner and treatments better align with their needs. Her study sheds new light on why many patients still fall through the cracks and offers concrete starting points to bring about change. The research reveals that young people, in particular, often seek help too late for depres sive symptoms. Shame, a lack of knowledge about mental health, and lo ng waiting times constitute significant barriers. As a result, sympto ms persist unnecessarily long, and the risk of worsening increases. < strong>More input
There are also gains to be made within the treatment itself. Patients regularly discontinue therapy prematur ely, but when they are given more input—for example, through shared decision-making regarding the form of treatment - both their satisfa ction and adherence to therapy increase. This increases the chance of recovery and reduces the risk of dropout. One of the findings is tha t even mild personality traits, such as difficulty regulating emotion s or unstable relationships, increase the risk of both the onset and recurrence of depression. According to Eigenhuis, this argues for mor e attention to these factors in both prevention and treatment. In add ition, she investigated new treatment methods for people for whom exi sting therapies are insufficient. This shows that interventions such as memory specificity training and group-based schema therapy are fea sible and demonstrate promising results in complex or treatment-resis tant patients. Addressing early
By intervening ea rlier, reducing stigma surrounding mental health, and better tailorin g treatments to the patient, mental healthcare can be organized more effectively. Especially for young people, this offers opportunities t o address psychological problems at an early stage and prevent long-t erm symptoms. At the same time, Eigenhuis emphasizes that further stu dy remains necessary, particularly regarding which treatment works be st for which patient. Nevertheless, the message is clear: a more acce ssible and person-centered approach can make a difference for large g roups of people with anxiety and depressive disorders. More informati on on the thesis Improving accessibility and outcome of treat ment for depression and anxiety END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR