Interdisciplinary seminar by Dr Marlijn Besten

Speaker: Dr. Marlijn Besten, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen

Title: Breaking the cycle: the effects of therapeutic intervention techniques on cognitive and affective processes in individuals vulnerable to depressive relapse

Abstract: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, and the risk of depressive relapse is high after having experienced a depressive episode. Preventing depressive relapse is important to reduce the burden of depression. Our research focuses on getting a better understanding of the vulnerability to depressive relapse and how therapeutic intervention techniques can reduce this vulnerability. Across several studies, we investigated how different therapeutic techniques influence cognitive and affective processes that are central to relapse vulnerability. A particular focus was on rumination, a repetitive and negative thinking style that plays an important role in the vulnerability to relapse. To understand how therapeutic intervention techniques obtain their effects, we combined measurements collected at multiple timescales, providing detailed insight in the dynamics of behavioural, cognitive, and neurophysiological outcomes at baseline, and during and after performance of therapeutic intervention techniques. In this talk, I will outline the study designs and key findings from these projects and highlight how a combination of measurements advances our understanding of the vulnerability to depressive relapse.