Personalized psychiatry has the ambition to bring all the knowledge we collected over the past decades to the clinic by developing descriptive and prediction models. We use genetic (e.g. PRS, MR), epidemiological, cellular, environmental, and endophenotypes (e.g. EEG) data from several (multisite) datasets.
To disentangle the underlying phenotypes of substance use disorders, we use EEG, PRS, and clinical characteristics. We develop apps for education, monitoring, treatment, and recovery regarding substance use and self-care for young, bereaved adults. A strong national- and international collaboration with respect to electroconvulsive therapy response is already making breakthroughs.
Examples of projects UMC Utrecht is involved in are:
The MARIO project (Mood and Resilience In Offspring) is a nationwide study into the development of children of a parent with a mood disorder. These children are more likely to develop a mood disorder themselves. However, there are also many children who do not develop a mood disorder despite their genetic predisposition. In other words, they are resilient. Resilience is the focus of the MARIO project, in which we aim to find out more about how and why children of a parent with a mood disorder are more likely to develop a mood disorder themselves, and how they can be protected against this.
Involved PIs: Marco Boks
MARIO projectElectroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for people with depression. Unfortunately, we do not know who will benefit from ECT and who will not. In addition, some people may experience side effects as a result of the therapy, such as problems with memory and thinking. This is why it is used less often, even though it can be very effective for people with depression. In the Preciser study, we aim to develop a new and improved form of ECT with which we can limit side effects and predict treatment outcome. We believe we can reduce the side effects of ECT by administering a drug called rivastigmine. We are also looking at whether we can predict who will benefit from ECT by developing a prediction model using questionnaires, genetic material, and an EEG.
Involved PIs: Edwin van Dellen, Annemieke Dols
Preciser studyIn the Prepare study, we investigate whether we can predict the effect of antipsychotic treatment. This will avoid the prescription of antipsychotics to people who will not benefit from them. Also, patients will be better able to judge whether an antipsychotic is a suitable treatment option for them. Our aim is to develop a prediction tool by means of questionnaires and EEG. With such a predictor, we hope to be able to determine whether a person can expect to improve with antipsychotic treatment before starting the medication.
Involved PIs: Edwin van Dellen
Prepare studyThe PRISMO project aims to examine the prevalence of psychological problems among military personnel up to ten years after deployment. In addition, the project aims to identifying biological and psychological factors that can make individuals more vulnerable to developing psychological complaints after a deployment.
Involved PIs: Elbert Geuze, Eric Vermetten
PRISMO projectThe PATROL project aims to create a biobank with biological, therapy-specific and transdiagnostic measurements that can be used to facilitate future studies of psychological treatment response in military.
Involved PIs: Remko van Lutterveld, Antoin de Weijer, Elbert Geuze
PATROL projectThe BOOSTCAMP project aims to investigate cannabidiol (CBD) as a new medicine to target the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the reduction of anxiety symptoms. Subsidiary aims of the project are to investigate the effect of CBD on fear extinction and extinction consolidation, stress regulation and sleep.
Involved PIs: Antoin de Weijer, Elbert Geuze
BOOSTCAMP projectThe IMMERSE project aims to examine the feasibility and acceptability of VR-delivered exposure sessions in a therapy protocol for active military personnel and veterans with PTSD.
Involved PIs: Bastiaan Bruinsma, Elbert Geuze
IMMERSE projectThe BEATS project aims to examine whether transcranial alternating current stimulation tACS in the theta frequency enhances extinction of physiological stress responses to trauma exposure and PTSD or anxiety disorder symptom reduction. Subsidiary aims of the project are to investigate the influence of baseline neuroendocrinological response, baseline resting state electroencephalogram (EEG) theta oscillations, sleep, age and use of medication on the effectiveness of theta-tACS during exposure-based therapy.
Involved PIs: Fenne Smits, Elbert Geuze
BEATS project