Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health disorders, and their prevalence is rising. Why? International expert in mental health research prof. dr. Brenda Penninx says several factors contribute to this. One reason is that many who need treatment don’t receive it. Another is that current treatments like psychotherapy and medication are not enough for full recovery. Moreover, we often consider these conditions as one-dimensional and episodic when, in reality, they are multidimensional and chronic lifelong journeys. Finally, more needs to be done to tackle an incredibly common and crucial causal factor in their development. That factor is STRESS. That’s why in 2023 Brenda kickstarted a large research project called Stress in Action. Over the next 10 years, the project will focus on understanding how daily life stress impacts both mental and cardiometabolic health. Using smartphone and wearable technology, the goal is to create a toolkit for tracking stress in real time, providing people and healthcare practitioners with resources that can prevent disease and promote healthier lifestyles.

Highlights of the episode:

Minute (04:50) - Why are depression and anxiety on the rise? A multidimensional problem.

Minute (11:45) - The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). An interdisciplinary cohort study on the course of depression and anxiety.

Minute (20:08) - Stress in Action. Introducing a 10-year research project to understand the role of daily life stress in health.

Minute (28:40) - Technology, health monitoring, and big data. A need for reliable, flexible and human-centered tech.

Minute (37:30) - Mind and Body. Stress as a doorway towards an integrated view of mental and somatic health.

Minute (44:30) - Subjective experience. Including participants’ perspective in stress research.

Give the episode a listen to dive deeper into my conversation with Brenda! I hope you enjoy it.

Marcos

For more on Brenda’s work at Amsterdam UMC, check out:

• Stress in Action: https://stress-in-action.nl/

• NESDA: https://www.nesda.nl/

• MARIO: https://mario-project.nl/nieuws

• Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam UMC: https://psychiatryamsterdam.nl/

Credits:

Host: Marcos Ross

Production: Anouk Weverling

Editorial: Myrte Schoenmakers, Artemis Stefani and Noa van Zwieten

Music: Marcos Ross