• Valeria Epelbaum, Valeria Krzhizhanovskaya, Denny Borsboom, Derek de Beurs
• 2025-2028

‘Suicide is a complex phenomena. In our project, we will develop computational models to explore the complexities of suicidal behaviour and transitions from thoughts to attempts. By formalizing existing psychological theories, we aim to simulate real-world scenarios and test the impact of interventions. These simulations can suggest more effective suicide prevention strategies, tailored to different urban environments and personal circumstances.

Funded by Urban Mental Health grant.

• Prof. dr. Merel Kindt, Dr. Renée Visser, Dr. Tessa Blanken, Dr. Marie Deserno
• 2020 - 2030

We share a new perspective on mental disorders that goes beyond the categories of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is by far the most widely used diagnostic tool for mental disorders. The DSM follows the medical model that assumes a deeper cause that could explain all the symptoms of a mental disorder. According to our model, the various symptoms that a person has constitute the actual disorder. By mapping these symptoms, as well as identifying how they interact with each other (influenced by behaviour, thoughts, brain activity and social relationships), we think we can develop better treatments. We believe that the network of symptoms that a person has is often transdiagnostic in nature, meaning that it usually does not necessarily fit within one particular diagnosis as it is currently defined in the DSM. Treatment should target this transdiagnostic network of symptoms, and this network is different for each individual. The ultimate goal of NSMD is to improve treatment of mental disorders.

Funded by NWO.

• Nida Gizem Yilmaz, Tinne Buelens, Henk Cremers, Annemiek Linn, Ellen Smets
• 2024 - 2028

Dutch-Turkish and Dutch-Moroccan communities are the largest non-Western migrant groups in the Netherlands, with a substantial share living in major cities where ethnic minorities form the majority. These groups face disproportionately high rates of depression—15.1% in the first generation and 13.0% in the second, compared to 8.2% among native Dutch people. Depression is strongly linked to adverse outcomes such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), which also occurs more frequently in migrant populations. Despite these inequalities, no culturally sensitive interventions exist that effectively support depression- or NSSI-related prevention and help-seeking in these communities.

The proposed research aims to develop a culturally tailored chatbot to promote positive attitudes and intentions toward preventive and help-seeking behaviors among three generations of Dutch-Turkish and Dutch-Moroccan people. Combining complexity science (e.g., causal loop diagrams) with user-centered design, the project will ensure that the chatbot reflects the values, beliefs, and needs of the target group and of psychologists. Four work packages guide the project: mapping effective chatbot characteristics and determinants of mental health behaviors (WP1); identifying user needs and creating a prototype (WP2); developing the final chatbot (WP3); and evaluating its usability, acceptance, and trust (WP4). 

Funded by the Centre for Urban Mental Health.

• Dr. B. Doosje, Dr. A.R. Feddes, Dr. H. Szekeres, Prof. Dr. Mr. B. Sizoo
• September 2024 - March 2025

This project aims to provide an overview of the available scientific knowledge about the role of psychosocial factors in the radicalization process. It also looks at the latest state of interventions in use. Finally, the cooperation between care-, security- and the social domain is considered, and recommendations are made for further professionalization. To this end, an analysis of the available scientific literature was conducted (theory), a systematic literature review was conducted on evaluations of interventions that counter radicalization (interventions), and focus groups and interviews were conducted with professionals from the care-, security- and social domain (practice).

Funded by WODC.

• Dr. Marie Deserno
• 2024 - 2028

Why do some children’s developmental trajectories diverge while others stay on track? Cognitive development emerges from a dynamic network of interacting processes, yet most research has struggled to capture these interactions in ways that yield clear predictions about when interventions will have the greatest impact or how early differences cascade into later outcomes. In this VENI project, I explore these questions from three complementary angles. First, I examine longitudinal cohort data to chart how cognitive and social skills co-develop, revealing when and where atypical trajectories diverge. Second, I develop and examine formalized additions (based on existing theories of atypical cognition) to a model that formalizes how limited resources - such as time and cognitive capacity - shape developmental pathways, producing either mutually reinforcing growth or cascading difficulties. Third, I integrate clinical expertise to understand how practitioners perceive and act on differences in cross-domain couplings. Together, these approaches are aimed at bringing us closer to understanding sensitive periods of heightened plasticity and how to think about developmental system characteristics such as coupling and decoupling of cognitive skills.

Funded by NWO.