dr. Janna Vrijsen

Over Janna Vrijsen

Knowing research impact lies in embedding extreme novelty in conventionality, I push the field forward by injecting rapidly evolving mechanistic insights and novel methods into my cognitive research line based on conventional models of depression. I aim to derive to deep-innovation in depression care solutions. Translation is a central theme of my group and I focus on four main topics:

1.Translating mechanistic depression insights to increase understanding of other psychiatric disorders. Here I focus on dysfunctional cognitive processes and their neurobiological correlates. This transdiagnostic approach includes the deep-geno-and phenotyped large psychiatric patient cohorts: the MIND-Set studies.

2.Translating cognitive eMentalHealth interventions to somatic and developmental populations including (i) psycho-somatic depressed inpatients, (ii) cancer patients, and (iii) adolescents with language-development disorders.

3.Integrating latest mechanistic insight on physical exercise within my neurocognitive expertise in experimental research and multicenter clinical RCTs. This research line includes the NWO VIDI grant.

4.I constantly seek collaboration with patients to translate their wishes through co-creation of care innovations. A clear showcase is the online community for depression ‘Depression Connect’: depressievereniging.nl/hoe-wij-helpen/depressieconnect/. 

Nevenfuncties

• Spokesperson Psychology Behavior & Health research program
• Senior researcher at Pro Persona Research
• Affiliated researcher Behavioural Science Institute
• NijCa2re scientific board member
• Editorial board: • Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology • Cognitive Therapy and Research