About

Understanding onset, recurrence and chronicity of common mental health disorders

As a professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry at Amsterdam University Medical Centers, together with my research team I focus on common mental health disorders (such as depression). I am the director of the Centre for Urban Mental Health at the University of Amsterdam, together with prof. Reinout Wiers.

I study potentially modifiable etiological factors of onset, relapse and chronicity using an interdisciplinary complex systems approach. As a fellow at the Institute for Advanced Study (UvA-IAS) I studied the use of complexity systems models in order to explore new targets for interventions of depression. Additionally, as a fellow at the World Health Organization (WHO), I studied the possibilities of using technology to increase the accessibility of effective psychological interventions worldwide. Besides, I work as a clinical psychologist at the Amsterdam UMC Department of Psychiatry.

My research program focuses on the following topics:
• Understanding etiological and maintenance factors in depression and related common mental health disorders using a complex systems approach.
• Developing innovative multimodal psychological interventions (i.e. combined with technological devices and pharmacological treatments) and evaluating the effect in RCT’s and micro RCT’s (using ecological momentary assessment and affective networks).
• Increasing accessibility of effective psychological interventions in low and middle-income countries using technology.

Interview on complexity with the Mental Elf: ‘Moving beyond simplification: embracing the complexity of mental health.’

Biosketch and interview on her research in common mental health conditions in Lancet Psychiatry:

Kirby, T. (2021). Claudi Bockting: preventing common mental health conditions. The Lancet. Psychiatry, 8(2), 103. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30562-9

Meta Science

Living guidelines for responsible use of generative AI in research summits:

Generative AI is already changing how scientists look for information, conduct their research and write and evaluate publications. The widespread use of AI tools in research might introduce biases and inaccuracies that diminish the validity of scientific knowledge. That’s why a set of ‘living guidelines’ for the use of generative AI needs to be formed. Recently, in April and June 2023, I have led two summits at the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Amsterdam, jointly with members of multinational scientific institutions such as the International Science Council, the University-Based Institutes for Advanced Study and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. A first version of the living guidelines and their principles has been published in Nature, and can be found here.

Interview in Nature: GPT-4 is here: what scientists think see here

Selected Publications

Breedvelt, J., Karyotaki, E., Warren, F. C., Brouwer, M. E., Jermann, F., Hollandare, F., Klein, N., de Jonge, M., Klein, D. N., Farb, N., Segal, Z., … Bockting, C. L. (in press). An Individual Participant Data meta-analysis of psychological interventions for preventing depressive relapse. Nature Mental Health.

Wal, J. M. van der, Borkulo, C. D. van, Haslbeck, J. M. B., Slofstra, C., Klein, N. S., Blanken, T. F., Deserno, M. K., Lok, A., Nauta, M. H., & Bockting, C. L. (2023). Differential impact of preventive cognitive therapy while tapering antidepressants versus maintenance antidepressant treatment on affect fluctuations and individual affect networks and impact on relapse: A secondary analysis of a randomised controlled trial. eClinicalMedicine, 66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102329

Bockting, C. L., van Dis, E. A. M., van Rooij, R., Zuidema, W., & Bollen, J., (2023). Living guidelines for generative AI — why scientists must oversee its use. Nature, 622, 693-696. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03266-1

van Dis, E. A. M., Bollen, J., Zuidema, W., van Rooij, R., & Bockting, C. L. (2023). ChatGPT: five priorities for research. Nature, 614(7947), 224–226. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-00288-7

Robberegt, S. J., Brouwer, M. E., Kooiman, B. E., Stikkelbroek, Y. A., Nauta, M. H., & Bockting, C. L. (2022). Meta-analysis: Relapse Prevention Strategies for Depression and Anxiety in Remitted Adolescents and Young Adults. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2022.04.014

Bringmann, L. F., Albers, C., Bockting, C. L., Borsboom, D., Ceulemans, E., Cramer, A., Epskamp, S., Eronen, M. I., Hamaker, E., Kuppens, P., Lutz, W., McNally, R. J., Molenaar, P., Tio, P., Voelkle, M. C., & Wichers, M. (2022). Psychopathological networks: Theory, methods and practice. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 149, 104011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2021.104011

van der Wal, J. M., van Borkulo, C. D., Deserno, M. K., Breedvelt, J. J. F., Lees, M., Lokman, J. C., Borsboom, D., Denys, D., van Holst, R. J., Smidt, M. P., Stronks, K., Lucassen, P. J., van Weert, J. C. M., Sloot, P. M. A., Bockting, C. L., & Wiers, R. W. (2021). Advancing urban mental health research: from complexity science to actionable targets for intervention. In Lancet Psychiatry (Vol. 8, Issue 11, pp. 991–1000). Elsevier BV. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00047-x

Fu, Z., Brouwer, M. E., Kennis, M., Williams, A., Cuijpers, P., Bockting, C. L. (2021). Psychological factors for the onset of depression: a meta-analysis of prospective studies. BMJ Open. 2021 11:e050129. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050129

Breedvelt J. J. F., Warren F. C., Segal Z., Kuyken W., Bockting C. L. Continuation of Antidepressants vs Sequential Psychological Interventions to Prevent Relapse in Depression: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online May 19, 2021. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.0823

Brouwer, M. E., Molenaar, N. M., Burger, H., Williams, A. D., Albers, C., Lambregtse-van den Berg, M., & Bockting, C. L. (2020). Tapering antidepressants while receiving digital Preventive Cognitive Therapy during pregnancy: An experience sampling methodology trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.574357

Fu, Z., Burger, H., Arjadi, R., & Bockting, C. L. (2020). Effectiveness of digital psychological interventions for mental health problems in low-income and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Psychiatry. 7(10), 851-864. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30256-X

Brouwer, M. E., Williams, A. D., Kennis, M., Fu, Z., Klein, N. S., Cuijpers, P., & Bockting, C. L. (2019). Psychological theories of depressive relapse and recurrence: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 74, 101773. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2019.101773

Kennis, M., Gerritsen, L., van Dalen, M., Williams, A., Cuijpers, P., & Bockting, C. L. (2020). Prospective biomarkers of major depressive disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Molecular Psychiatry, 25(2), 321-338. doi:10.1038/s41380-019-0585-z

Bockting, C. L., Klein, N. S., Elgersma, H. J., van Rijsbergen, G. D., Slofstra, C., Ormel, J., . . . Burger, H. (2018). Effectiveness of preventive cognitive therapy while tapering antidepressants versus maintenance antidepressant treatment versus their combination in prevention of depressive relapse or recurrence (DRD study): A three-group, multicentre, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(5), 401-410. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(18)30100-7

Siegle, G. J., Cramer, A. O. J., van Eck, N. J., Spinhoven, P., Hollon, S. D., Ormel, J., . . . Bockting, C. L. (2019). Where are the breaks in translation from theory to clinical practice (and back) in addressing depression? An empirical graph-theoretic approach. Psychological Medicine, 49(16), 2681-2691. doi:10.1017/s003329171800363x

Arjadi, R., Nauta, M. H., Scholte, W. F., Hollon, S. D., Chowdhary, N., Suryani, A. O., . . . Bockting, C. L. (2018). Internet-based behavioural activation with lay counsellor support versus online minimal psychoeducation without support for treatment of depression: A randomised controlled trial in Indonesia. Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 707-716. doi:10.1016/s2215-0366(18)30223-2

Bockting, C. L., Hollon, S. D., Jarrett, R. B., Kuyken, W., & Dobson, K. (2015). A lifetime approach to major depressive disorder: The contributions of psychological interventions in preventing relapse and recurrence. Clinical Psychology Review, 41, 16-26. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.02.003

Slofstra, C., Nauta, M. H., Bringmann, L. F., Klein, N. S., Albers, C. J., Batalas, N., . . . Bockting, C. L. (2018). Individual negative affective trajectories can be detected during different depressive relapse prevention strategies. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 87(4), 243-245. doi:10.1159/000489044

Brouwer, M. E., Williams, A. D., van Grinsven, S. E., Cuijpers, P., Lambregtse-van den Berg, M. P., Burger, H., & Bockting, C. L. (2018). Offspring outcomes after prenatal interventions for common mental disorders: A meta-analysis. BMC Medicine, 16, 208. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1192-6

Hayes, A. M., Yasinski, C., Ben Barnes, J., & Bockting, C. L. (2015). Network destabilization and transition in depression: New methods for studying the dynamics of therapeutic change. Clinical Psychology Review, 41, 27-39. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.06.007

See full bibliography here >>

Ongoing projects

Responsible use of generative AI in Science and Society

Generative AI is already changing how scientists look for information, conduct their research and write and evaluate publications. The widespread use of AI tools in research might introduce biases and inaccuracies that diminish the validity of scientific knowledge. That’s why a set of ‘living guidelines’ for the use of generative AI needs to be formed. These were developed in April and June 2023, at two summits at the Institute for Advanced Study at the University of Amsterdam, jointly with members of multinational scientific institutions such as the International Science Council, the University-Based Institutes for Advanced Study and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. A first version of the living guidelines and their principles has been published in Nature, and can be found here.

Centre of Excellence in Mental Health Sciences (CEMHS): Unravelling new pathways to improve mental health.

The purpose and objective of the interdisciplinary Centre of Excellence in Mental Health Sciences (CEMHS) is to unravel new pathways to improve mental health with interventions and policy-making, that take into account the complexity and dynamics of mental health problems and conditions in their environment. For further information, see cemhs.org.

REPAIR Consortium: Advancing treatment for youth suicidality.

REPAIR is a cross-national consortium in Belgium and The Netherlands aiming to improve treatment of suicidality in adolescents and young adults. For more information, see repairstudy.com. 

Centre for Urban Mental Health: From complexity to action.

For complexity projects with the Centre for Urban Mental Health, see the UMH website. For all complexity projects with the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), see ias.uva.nl.

HERSTEL-Studie (engl. RECOVERY-Study): Testing Innovations in Relapse Prevention

Patients partially remitted from depression are at increased risk of relapse. In the HERSTEL-study, we aim to further reduce depressive symptoms and the risk of relapse using innovative intervention methods. To attain this goal, we compare the efficacy of Preventive Cognitive Therapy combined with a serious computer game intervention to Preventive Cognitive Therapy alone. This project is conducted with funding from the Hersenstichting. For further information, see www.herstelstudie.nl.

StayFine-App: Relapse Prevention in Adolescents

More than one in five adolescents has to deal with anxiety or a depressive disorder before the age of 21. Even after recovery, the prevalence of relapse is especially high in this age group. To investigate whether it is possible to prevent relapse through ongoing monitoring and momentary app-based interventions, we are continuously running research trials with our eHealth app StayFine. For further information, see www.stayfine.nl.

Institutional Responsibilities

Centre for Urban Mental Health (University of Amsterdam)

Together with professor Reinout Wiers, I am the director of the Centre for Urban Mental Health (UMH), part of the University of Amsterdam. The centre aims to unravel new pathways to improve urban mental health that takes into account the complexities and dynamics of mental health problems and mental health disorders in an urban environment.

To read more about the Centre for Urban Mental Health, visit the UMH-website >>

European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment

To promote innovation in the field of clinical psychology and innovate interventions and to represent clinical psychology in Europe on a policy level, I lead the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT) as a president. EACLIPT aims to foster research, education, and dissemination of scientifically evaluated findings on mental disorders and their treatment. Our efforts resulted in representation of the EACLIPT in the European Parliament in the last years.

To read more about the European Association for Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment, visit the EACLIPT-website >>

Policy and Advice

On a national policy level, I am an advisor of the advisory board of the Dutch government (kennisring Raad voor Samenleving) and previously a supervisory board member of a mental health institute (Arkin, Amsterdam). Further, I am a member of the multi-disciplinary clinical guideline committee Depression for more than a decade.

Download my full curriculum vitae on the right side of this page >> 

Ongoing PhD’s

  • Nineke Wilts (2023 – 2027). StayFine: A personalized monitoring and intervention app to prevent relapse of anxiety and depressive disorders in youth and young adults. Primary supervisor.
  • Wilco Janssen (2023 – 2027). Effectiveness of Online Therapy in Suicide Prevention (preliminary title). Primary supervisor.
  • Nele Bergers (2022 – 2026). Targeting suicidality in young adults: a randomized controlled, pragmatic, multicenter trial evaluating the (cost)-effectiveness of Attachment Based Family Therapy compared to Treatment as usual. Secondary supervisor.
  • Joost Gülpen (2022 – 2026). Targeting partial remission in depression by adding a cognitive remediation to a psychological intervention. Primary supervisor.
  • Anneke Vuuregge (2022 – 2026). Working out urban stress. Secondary supervisor.
  • Vera Korenblik (2022 – 2026). The influence of the microbiome on depression in urban youth. Secondary supervisor.
  • John (Can) Lokman (2021 – 2025). Towards an anatomy of depression: Modeling depression and mental health using complex systems science. Primary supervisor.
  • Nancy Schipper (2020 – 2024). Virtual reality as treatment for depression. Primary supervisor.
  • Junus van der Wal (2020 – 2024). Unravelling the dynamics of depression in high-risk urban populations using a complex systems approach. Primary supervisor.
  • Bas Kooiman (2019 – 2023). StayFine: A personalized monitoring and intervention app to prevent relapse of anxiety and depressive disorders in youth and young adults. Secondary supervisor.
  • Jessy Bergamin (2019 – 2023). Psychiatry and autonomy. Secondary supervisor.
  • Caroline Heuschen (2019 – 2023). Suicidality in mental health disorders. Secondary supervisor.
  • Suzanne Robberegt (2018 – 2023). StayFine: A personalized monitoring and intervention app to prevent relapse of anxiety and depressive disorders in youth and young adults. Primary supervisor.

Clinical psychologist

I am a registered clinical psychologist, CBT supervisor, psychotherapist, healthcare psychologist, and the head of training of healthcare psychologists at Cure & Care Development.