Projects
The role of A20/NF-kB pathway in the development of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and schizophrenia KU Leuven
The proposed project comprises 3 objectives with the ultimate aim to gain more insight into the role of A20/NF-kB signal transduction in neuroinflammation in patients with NPSLE.
Understanding the subjective experience of sensory aspects in ASD. Ghent University
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by a different sensory experience of the body and the perceptual world (e.g.: by visual or auditive stimuli eliciting pain or anxiety). Systematic research into the subjective experience of those differences is poor. Insight in this first person perspective is crucial to improve clinical understanding and treatment of people suffering with ASD. This project builds a phenomenological account of ...
Gut-brain interactions in Autism: A multi-modal investigation of the brain, bacteria and behavior KU Leuven
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by socio-communicative difficulties and restricted and repetitive behaviors. Aside these core ASD symptoms, there is an extremely high prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in this population, but to date, its etiology remains poorly understood. Initial research points toward altered compositions of microbiota in the GI tract of individuals with ...
Functional characterization of human mast cells and basophils in the pathophysiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. University of Antwerp
Functional characterization of human mast cells and basophils in the pathophysiology of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome. University of Antwerp
Co-Development of Internalizing Problem Behaviors in Adolescence: Genetic and Temperamental Origins. KU Leuven
Adolescence, that is, the period of life between 12 and 22 years of age, is a crucial phase for the development of internalizing problems. However, the development of these problems and the developmental interplay among them are not entirely clear. The present project studies three types of internalizing problems (i.e., loneliness, depressive mood, and social anxiety) and uses a comprehensive model of temperament and its associated ...
Partner violence and pregnancy, an intervention study in perinatal care Ghent University
The first part of the study is a prevalence-/incidence study about physical, psychological and sexual violence during pregnancy. The second part is a RCT that randomises the sample singelblind into an intervention and controle group. Amongst others following variables will be measured: partnerviolence, psychosocial status (anxiety, depression, self-esteem, stress and mastery), helpseeking behaviour and safety behaviour.
Keywords ...
The role of psychological factors and central neurotransmitter systems in visceral and somatic pain in health and functional somatic disorders. KU Leuven
Implicit processes in adult attachment Ghent University
Using implict measures and experimental paradigms, we examined the role of automatic processes (i.e., selective attention, approach-avoidance tendencies) and representations (i.e., proximity-distance goals and self-representations) in attachment system functioning. These cognitive-motivational processes were systematically investigated in relation to context (threat versus neutral) and individual differences in attachment style (anxiety ...