Our Latest Publications
Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..). Paving the way towards new interventions Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Our Approach
Latest Publications & News
Debate: Urban versus rural environments– which is better for mental health? The one good thing about a small town. . .
Reinout W. Wiers , Urban Mental Health Researchers, Hanan El Marroun, Claudi Bockting & Harm Krugers
Urban environments are related to higher prevalences of common mental disorders (addictions, anxieties and mood disorders) in adults. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. Cities function as a magnet, related to economic and educational opportunities, but are also related to urban stress and low well-being. Urban areas have larger inequalities, and people in deprived areas are at enhanced risk for mental health problems, which have been related both to environmental factors like pollution and to perceptions of the (social) environment, including perceived safety and social support. The interactions of vulnerability factors at different levels of description (e.g., within-person stress vulnerability vs. neighborhood stressors) can be considered a complex system. We here discuss what is known about growing up in an urban versus rural environment, with the aim to identify target points for mental health-related interventions in youth.
Chatting your way to quitting: A longitudinal exploration of smokers' interaction with a cessation chatbot
Linwei He, Erkan Basar, Reinout W. Wiers, Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer
Can a chatbot help people to quit smoking? In this prospective, single-arm study, we developed and evaluated Roby, a 5-session chatbot intervention incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to help smokers quit. Roby engaged Dutch adult smokers (N =102) in conversations covering topics such as setting a quit date, managing withdrawal and cravings, and relapse prevention. Following an intention-to-treat principle, 18.6 % of participants achieved continuous abstinence, and 37.3% achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy significantly improved over the intervention, and cravings decreased over time. The study demonstrates the feasibility and initial usefulness of Roby, highlighting the potential for chatbots in long-term cessation support. with findings quite comparable to those found for face-to-face smoking cessation interventions.
Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators
L. Todorovic, H. Bozhar, S. R. de Rooij, A. Bogaerts, B. E. Boyer, H. Larsen
This study examined how mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) or gaming (PG) influence each other over time in adolescents, considering sex and social support. Using data from 645 Dutch teens (average age 15.8) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, we analyzed two time points (2019, 2021). Overall, we found no general bidirectional effects.
However, results differed by sex and social support:
- In girls, emotional problems predicted later PSMU and PG.
- In boys, PG predicted later emotional problems, and hyperactivity/inattention predicted PSMU.
- Adolescents with higher social support showed no link between emotional problems and PG.
These findings suggest that emotional problems may lead to problematic media use in girls but result from gaming in boys, and that social support can protect against gaming-related problems.
Mapping acute alcohol effects on bodily sensations: a cross-dimensional approach to the interoceptive correlates of intoxication (preprint)
Leganes-Fonteneau, M., Desmedt, O., Allen, M.G., Wiers, R.W., Maurage, P.
Bodily sensations experienced during alcohol intoxication could reveal distinct mechanistic components relevant for addiction research. Here we apply a novel emBODY tool to examine how intoxication impacts somatic awareness using body maps and interoceptive psychophysics.
Acute alcohol administration altered the topographical representation of bodily sensations, as reflected by strong feelings in the chest, limbs, and head. These subjective effects had physiological correlates, as indexed by modulation of heart rate and breath alcohol content. In the ascending limb, bodily sensations negatively correlated with subjective stimulation, and positively with sedation. Finally, intensity of bodily sensations correlated with the metacognitive sensitivity of cardiac beliefs, suggesting a cross-dimensional integration between bodily sensations and interoceptive awareness. These results support the utility of bodily mapping in the context of pharmacological studies, as the interoceptive components of alcohol intoxication could reveal a somatic basis for addictive behaviors.
Ecological momentary assessment and personalized networks in cognitive bias modification studies on addiction: Advances and challenges
Alessandra C Mansueto, Ting Pan, Pieter Van Dessel, Reinout W Wiers
In this paper, we
1) Explain the theoretical background and first implementations of ABC training (improved version of CBM);
2) Present novel approaches to personalize treatment based on EMA;
3) Propose ways forward to integrate improved CBM approaches and EMA to potentially advance addiction treatment;
4) Discuss promises and challenges of these proposed new approaches.
Drinking motives, personality traits and life stressors: Identifying pathways to harmful alcohol use in adolescence using a panel network approach
R. Freichel, J. Pfirrmann, J. Cousjin, P. de Jong, I. Franken, T. Banaschewski, ... I. M. Veer, R. W. Wiers
In this paper we aim to estimate the dynamic associations of distal (personality and life stressors) and proximal (drinking motives) risk factors, and their relationship to alcohol use in adolescence and
early adulthood using a novel graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) panel network approach.
We found that heavy and frequent alcohol use, along with social drinking motives, appear to be key targets for preventing the development of alcohol-related problems throughout late adolescence. We found no evidence for personality traits and life stressors predisposing towards distinct drinking motives over time.
Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..).
Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Debate: Urban versus rural environments– which is better for mental health? The one good thing about a small town. . .
Reinout W. Wiers , Urban Mental Health Researchers, Hanan El Marroun, Claudi Bockting & Harm Krugers
Urban environments are related to higher prevalences of common mental disorders (addictions, anxieties and mood disorders) in adults. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. Cities function as a magnet, related to economic and educational opportunities, but are also related to urban stress and low well-being. Urban areas have larger inequalities, and people in deprived areas are at enhanced risk for mental health problems, which have been related both to environmental factors like pollution and to perceptions of the (social) environment, including perceived safety and social support. The interactions of vulnerability factors at different levels of description (e.g., within-person stress vulnerability vs. neighborhood stressors) can be considered a complex system. We here discuss what is known about growing up in an urban versus rural environment, with the aim to identify target points for mental health-related interventions in youth.
Chatting your way to quitting: A longitudinal exploration of smokers' interaction with a cessation chatbot
Linwei He, Erkan Basar, Reinout W. Wiers, Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer
Can a chatbot help people to quit smoking? In this prospective, single-arm study, we developed and evaluated Roby, a 5-session chatbot intervention incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to help smokers quit. Roby engaged Dutch adult smokers (N =102) in conversations covering topics such as setting a quit date, managing withdrawal and cravings, and relapse prevention. Following an intention-to-treat principle, 18.6 % of participants achieved continuous abstinence, and 37.3% achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy significantly improved over the intervention, and cravings decreased over time. The study demonstrates the feasibility and initial usefulness of Roby, highlighting the potential for chatbots in long-term cessation support. with findings quite comparable to those found for face-to-face smoking cessation interventions.
Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators
L. Todorovic, H. Bozhar, S. R. de Rooij, A. Bogaerts, B. E. Boyer, H. Larsen
This study examined how mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) or gaming (PG) influence each other over time in adolescents, considering sex and social support. Using data from 645 Dutch teens (average age 15.8) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, we analyzed two time points (2019, 2021). Overall, we found no general bidirectional effects.
However, results differed by sex and social support:
- In girls, emotional problems predicted later PSMU and PG.
- In boys, PG predicted later emotional problems, and hyperactivity/inattention predicted PSMU.
- Adolescents with higher social support showed no link between emotional problems and PG.
These findings suggest that emotional problems may lead to problematic media use in girls but result from gaming in boys, and that social support can protect against gaming-related problems.
Mapping acute alcohol effects on bodily sensations: a cross-dimensional approach to the interoceptive correlates of intoxication (preprint)
Leganes-Fonteneau, M., Desmedt, O., Allen, M.G., Wiers, R.W., Maurage, P.
Bodily sensations experienced during alcohol intoxication could reveal distinct mechanistic components relevant for addiction research. Here we apply a novel emBODY tool to examine how intoxication impacts somatic awareness using body maps and interoceptive psychophysics.
Acute alcohol administration altered the topographical representation of bodily sensations, as reflected by strong feelings in the chest, limbs, and head. These subjective effects had physiological correlates, as indexed by modulation of heart rate and breath alcohol content. In the ascending limb, bodily sensations negatively correlated with subjective stimulation, and positively with sedation. Finally, intensity of bodily sensations correlated with the metacognitive sensitivity of cardiac beliefs, suggesting a cross-dimensional integration between bodily sensations and interoceptive awareness. These results support the utility of bodily mapping in the context of pharmacological studies, as the interoceptive components of alcohol intoxication could reveal a somatic basis for addictive behaviors.
Ecological momentary assessment and personalized networks in cognitive bias modification studies on addiction: Advances and challenges
Alessandra C Mansueto, Ting Pan, Pieter Van Dessel, Reinout W Wiers
In this paper, we
1) Explain the theoretical background and first implementations of ABC training (improved version of CBM);
2) Present novel approaches to personalize treatment based on EMA;
3) Propose ways forward to integrate improved CBM approaches and EMA to potentially advance addiction treatment;
4) Discuss promises and challenges of these proposed new approaches.
Drinking motives, personality traits and life stressors: Identifying pathways to harmful alcohol use in adolescence using a panel network approach
R. Freichel, J. Pfirrmann, J. Cousjin, P. de Jong, I. Franken, T. Banaschewski, ... I. M. Veer, R. W. Wiers
In this paper we aim to estimate the dynamic associations of distal (personality and life stressors) and proximal (drinking motives) risk factors, and their relationship to alcohol use in adolescence and
early adulthood using a novel graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) panel network approach.
We found that heavy and frequent alcohol use, along with social drinking motives, appear to be key targets for preventing the development of alcohol-related problems throughout late adolescence. We found no evidence for personality traits and life stressors predisposing towards distinct drinking motives over time.
Latest Publications & News
Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..). Paving the way towards new interventions Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Debate: Urban versus rural environments– which is better for mental health? The one good thing about a small town. . .
Reinout W. Wiers , Urban Mental Health Researchers, Hanan El Marroun, Claudi Bockting & Harm Krugers
Urban environments are related to higher prevalences of common mental disorders (addictions, anxieties and mood disorders) in adults. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. Cities function as a magnet, related to economic and educational opportunities, but are also related to urban stress and low well-being. Urban areas have larger inequalities, and people in deprived areas are at enhanced risk for mental health problems, which have been related both to environmental factors like pollution and to perceptions of the (social) environment, including perceived safety and social support. The interactions of vulnerability factors at different levels of description (e.g., within-person stress vulnerability vs. neighborhood stressors) can be considered a complex system. We here discuss what is known about growing up in an urban versus rural environment, with the aim to identify target points for mental health-related interventions in youth.
Chatting your way to quitting: A longitudinal exploration of smokers' interaction with a cessation chatbot
Linwei He, Erkan Basar, Reinout W. Wiers, Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer
Can a chatbot help people to quit smoking? In this prospective, single-arm study, we developed and evaluated Roby, a 5-session chatbot intervention incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to help smokers quit. Roby engaged Dutch adult smokers (N =102) in conversations covering topics such as setting a quit date, managing withdrawal and cravings, and relapse prevention. Following an intention-to-treat principle, 18.6 % of participants achieved continuous abstinence, and 37.3% achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy significantly improved over the intervention, and cravings decreased over time. The study demonstrates the feasibility and initial usefulness of Roby, highlighting the potential for chatbots in long-term cessation support. with findings quite comparable to those found for face-to-face smoking cessation interventions.
Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators
L. Todorovic, H. Bozhar, S. R. de Rooij, A. Bogaerts, B. E. Boyer, H. Larsen
This study examined how mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) or gaming (PG) influence each other over time in adolescents, considering sex and social support. Using data from 645 Dutch teens (average age 15.8) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, we analyzed two time points (2019, 2021). Overall, we found no general bidirectional effects.
However, results differed by sex and social support:
- In girls, emotional problems predicted later PSMU and PG.
- In boys, PG predicted later emotional problems, and hyperactivity/inattention predicted PSMU.
- Adolescents with higher social support showed no link between emotional problems and PG.
These findings suggest that emotional problems may lead to problematic media use in girls but result from gaming in boys, and that social support can protect against gaming-related problems.
Mapping acute alcohol effects on bodily sensations: a cross-dimensional approach to the interoceptive correlates of intoxication (preprint)
Leganes-Fonteneau, M., Desmedt, O., Allen, M.G., Wiers, R.W., Maurage, P.
Bodily sensations experienced during alcohol intoxication could reveal distinct mechanistic components relevant for addiction research. Here we apply a novel emBODY tool to examine how intoxication impacts somatic awareness using body maps and interoceptive psychophysics.
Acute alcohol administration altered the topographical representation of bodily sensations, as reflected by strong feelings in the chest, limbs, and head. These subjective effects had physiological correlates, as indexed by modulation of heart rate and breath alcohol content. In the ascending limb, bodily sensations negatively correlated with subjective stimulation, and positively with sedation. Finally, intensity of bodily sensations correlated with the metacognitive sensitivity of cardiac beliefs, suggesting a cross-dimensional integration between bodily sensations and interoceptive awareness. These results support the utility of bodily mapping in the context of pharmacological studies, as the interoceptive components of alcohol intoxication could reveal a somatic basis for addictive behaviors.
Ecological momentary assessment and personalized networks in cognitive bias modification studies on addiction: Advances and challenges
Alessandra C Mansueto, Ting Pan, Pieter Van Dessel, Reinout W Wiers
In this paper, we
1) Explain the theoretical background and first implementations of ABC training (improved version of CBM);
2) Present novel approaches to personalize treatment based on EMA;
3) Propose ways forward to integrate improved CBM approaches and EMA to potentially advance addiction treatment;
4) Discuss promises and challenges of these proposed new approaches.
Drinking motives, personality traits and life stressors: Identifying pathways to harmful alcohol use in adolescence using a panel network approach
R. Freichel, J. Pfirrmann, J. Cousjin, P. de Jong, I. Franken, T. Banaschewski, ... I. M. Veer, R. W. Wiers
In this paper we aim to estimate the dynamic associations of distal (personality and life stressors) and proximal (drinking motives) risk factors, and their relationship to alcohol use in adolescence and
early adulthood using a novel graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) panel network approach.
We found that heavy and frequent alcohol use, along with social drinking motives, appear to be key targets for preventing the development of alcohol-related problems throughout late adolescence. We found no evidence for personality traits and life stressors predisposing towards distinct drinking motives over time.
Our Approach
Latest Publications
News
Debate: Urban versus rural environments– which is better for mental health? The one good thing about a small town. . .
Reinout W. Wiers , Urban Mental Health Researchers, Hanan El Marroun, Claudi Bockting & Harm Krugers
Urban environments are related to higher prevalences of common mental disorders (addictions, anxieties and mood disorders) in adults. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. Cities function as a magnet, related to economic and educational opportunities, but are also related to urban stress and low well-being. Urban areas have larger inequalities, and people in deprived areas are at enhanced risk for mental health problems, which have been related both to environmental factors like pollution and to perceptions of the (social) environment, including perceived safety and social support. The interactions of vulnerability factors at different levels of description (e.g., within-person stress vulnerability vs. neighborhood stressors) can be considered a complex system. We here discuss what is known about growing up in an urban versus rural environment, with the aim to identify target points for mental health-related interventions in youth.
Chatting your way to quitting: A longitudinal exploration of smokers' interaction with a cessation chatbot
Linwei He, Erkan Basar, Reinout W. Wiers, Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer
Can a chatbot help people to quit smoking? In this prospective, single-arm study, we developed and evaluated Roby, a 5-session chatbot intervention incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to help smokers quit. Roby engaged Dutch adult smokers (N =102) in conversations covering topics such as setting a quit date, managing withdrawal and cravings, and relapse prevention. Following an intention-to-treat principle, 18.6 % of participants achieved continuous abstinence, and 37.3% achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy significantly improved over the intervention, and cravings decreased over time. The study demonstrates the feasibility and initial usefulness of Roby, highlighting the potential for chatbots in long-term cessation support. with findings quite comparable to those found for face-to-face smoking cessation interventions.
Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators
L. Todorovic, H. Bozhar, S. R. de Rooij, A. Bogaerts, B. E. Boyer, H. Larsen
This study examined how mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) or gaming (PG) influence each other over time in adolescents, considering sex and social support. Using data from 645 Dutch teens (average age 15.8) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, we analyzed two time points (2019, 2021). Overall, we found no general bidirectional effects.
However, results differed by sex and social support:
- In girls, emotional problems predicted later PSMU and PG.
- In boys, PG predicted later emotional problems, and hyperactivity/inattention predicted PSMU.
- Adolescents with higher social support showed no link between emotional problems and PG.
These findings suggest that emotional problems may lead to problematic media use in girls but result from gaming in boys, and that social support can protect against gaming-related problems.
Mapping acute alcohol effects on bodily sensations: a cross-dimensional approach to the interoceptive correlates of intoxication (preprint)
Leganes-Fonteneau, M., Desmedt, O., Allen, M.G., Wiers, R.W., Maurage, P.
Bodily sensations experienced during alcohol intoxication could reveal distinct mechanistic components relevant for addiction research. Here we apply a novel emBODY tool to examine how intoxication impacts somatic awareness using body maps and interoceptive psychophysics.
Acute alcohol administration altered the topographical representation of bodily sensations, as reflected by strong feelings in the chest, limbs, and head. These subjective effects had physiological correlates, as indexed by modulation of heart rate and breath alcohol content. In the ascending limb, bodily sensations negatively correlated with subjective stimulation, and positively with sedation. Finally, intensity of bodily sensations correlated with the metacognitive sensitivity of cardiac beliefs, suggesting a cross-dimensional integration between bodily sensations and interoceptive awareness. These results support the utility of bodily mapping in the context of pharmacological studies, as the interoceptive components of alcohol intoxication could reveal a somatic basis for addictive behaviors.
Ecological momentary assessment and personalized networks in cognitive bias modification studies on addiction: Advances and challenges
Alessandra C Mansueto, Ting Pan, Pieter Van Dessel, Reinout W Wiers
In this paper, we
1) Explain the theoretical background and first implementations of ABC training (improved version of CBM);
2) Present novel approaches to personalize treatment based on EMA;
3) Propose ways forward to integrate improved CBM approaches and EMA to potentially advance addiction treatment;
4) Discuss promises and challenges of these proposed new approaches.
Drinking motives, personality traits and life stressors: Identifying pathways to harmful alcohol use in adolescence using a panel network approach
R. Freichel, J. Pfirrmann, J. Cousjin, P. de Jong, I. Franken, T. Banaschewski, ... I. M. Veer, R. W. Wiers
In this paper we aim to estimate the dynamic associations of distal (personality and life stressors) and proximal (drinking motives) risk factors, and their relationship to alcohol use in adolescence and
early adulthood using a novel graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) panel network approach.
We found that heavy and frequent alcohol use, along with social drinking motives, appear to be key targets for preventing the development of alcohol-related problems throughout late adolescence. We found no evidence for personality traits and life stressors predisposing towards distinct drinking motives over time.
Our Mission
The Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) lab aims to understand mechanisms underlying the development of addictive behaviors and related mental and stress-related disorders, and to develop effective interventions for these common mental health problems.
Paving the way towards new interventions
Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Our Approach
Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..).
Addiction Development and Psychopathology Lab
Our Mission
The Addiction Development and Psychopathology (ADAPT) lab aims to understand mechanisms underlying the development of addictive behaviors and related mental and stress-related disorders, and to develop effective interventions for these common mental health problems.
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Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..). Paving the way towards new interventions Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Latest News & Events
Taking a life-span approach, we study risk and resilience of established addictive disorders, but also novel emerging mental health issues like excessive smartphone use. We use a large variety of methods, ranging from experimental computer tasks, behavioral experiments, genotyping, psychophysiological and neuroimaging measures, to assessing everyday-life behavior (including ecological momentary assessment, EMA), and large-scale international online studies. We are involved in developing state-of-the art network analyses, that can be used to study adaptive and maladaptive development, and explore the use of person-specific networks to aid treatment. The ADAPT lab is known for its internationally leading role in the development of new interventions for addictive behaviors, including varieties of cognitive bias modification, in both proof-of-principle and clinical studies. We take a developmental perspective with a strong focus on adolescents and young adults and their context (e.g., parents and peers), but also study adult populations. We further have a track record in developing new experimental approaches that aim to capture the dynamical and contextual nature of addictive behaviors. We value replication, open science and team science, contributing to multiple national and international consortia (e.g., NSMD, UMH, ENIGMA addiction, ISAM …..). Paving the way towards new interventions Based on our joint expertise, we develop new ways to directly interfere with the social and (neuro-) cognitive processes involved in the development of different disorders. These new interventions can supplement existing treatment or can be used as stand-alone (through the web). Low-threshold accessibility to different patient and risk groups and a cross-disorder approach are thereby paramount. Related, we are interested in scalable interventions, for example, in an AI-assisted chatbot project on smoking cessation.
Our Approach
Debate: Urban versus rural environments– which is better for mental health? The one good thing about a small town. . .
Reinout W. Wiers , Urban Mental Health Researchers, Hanan El Marroun, Claudi Bockting & Harm Krugers
Urban environments are related to higher prevalences of common mental disorders (addictions, anxieties and mood disorders) in adults. The mechanisms underlying this relationship are less clear. Cities function as a magnet, related to economic and educational opportunities, but are also related to urban stress and low well-being. Urban areas have larger inequalities, and people in deprived areas are at enhanced risk for mental health problems, which have been related both to environmental factors like pollution and to perceptions of the (social) environment, including perceived safety and social support. The interactions of vulnerability factors at different levels of description (e.g., within-person stress vulnerability vs. neighborhood stressors) can be considered a complex system. We here discuss what is known about growing up in an urban versus rural environment, with the aim to identify target points for mental health-related interventions in youth.
Chatting your way to quitting: A longitudinal exploration of smokers' interaction with a cessation chatbot
Linwei He, Erkan Basar, Reinout W. Wiers, Marjolijn L. Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer
Can a chatbot help people to quit smoking? In this prospective, single-arm study, we developed and evaluated Roby, a 5-session chatbot intervention incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioral therapy to help smokers quit. Roby engaged Dutch adult smokers (N =102) in conversations covering topics such as setting a quit date, managing withdrawal and cravings, and relapse prevention. Following an intention-to-treat principle, 18.6 % of participants achieved continuous abstinence, and 37.3% achieved 7-day point prevalence abstinence. Self-efficacy significantly improved over the intervention, and cravings decreased over time. The study demonstrates the feasibility and initial usefulness of Roby, highlighting the potential for chatbots in long-term cessation support. with findings quite comparable to those found for face-to-face smoking cessation interventions.
Bidirectional associations of problematic social media use and problematic gaming with mental health difficulties and strengths in adolescents: Sex and social support as potential moderators
L. Todorovic, H. Bozhar, S. R. de Rooij, A. Bogaerts, B. E. Boyer, H. Larsen
This study examined how mental health and problematic social media use (PSMU) or gaming (PG) influence each other over time in adolescents, considering sex and social support. Using data from 645 Dutch teens (average age 15.8) from the Amsterdam Born Children and their Development study, we analyzed two time points (2019, 2021). Overall, we found no general bidirectional effects.
However, results differed by sex and social support:
- In girls, emotional problems predicted later PSMU and PG.
- In boys, PG predicted later emotional problems, and hyperactivity/inattention predicted PSMU.
- Adolescents with higher social support showed no link between emotional problems and PG.
These findings suggest that emotional problems may lead to problematic media use in girls but result from gaming in boys, and that social support can protect against gaming-related problems.
Mapping acute alcohol effects on bodily sensations: a cross-dimensional approach to the interoceptive correlates of intoxication (preprint)
Leganes-Fonteneau, M., Desmedt, O., Allen, M.G., Wiers, R.W., Maurage, P.
Bodily sensations experienced during alcohol intoxication could reveal distinct mechanistic components relevant for addiction research. Here we apply a novel emBODY tool to examine how intoxication impacts somatic awareness using body maps and interoceptive psychophysics.
Acute alcohol administration altered the topographical representation of bodily sensations, as reflected by strong feelings in the chest, limbs, and head. These subjective effects had physiological correlates, as indexed by modulation of heart rate and breath alcohol content. In the ascending limb, bodily sensations negatively correlated with subjective stimulation, and positively with sedation. Finally, intensity of bodily sensations correlated with the metacognitive sensitivity of cardiac beliefs, suggesting a cross-dimensional integration between bodily sensations and interoceptive awareness. These results support the utility of bodily mapping in the context of pharmacological studies, as the interoceptive components of alcohol intoxication could reveal a somatic basis for addictive behaviors.
Ecological momentary assessment and personalized networks in cognitive bias modification studies on addiction: Advances and challenges
Alessandra C Mansueto, Ting Pan, Pieter Van Dessel, Reinout W Wiers
In this paper, we
1) Explain the theoretical background and first implementations of ABC training (improved version of CBM);
2) Present novel approaches to personalize treatment based on EMA;
3) Propose ways forward to integrate improved CBM approaches and EMA to potentially advance addiction treatment;
4) Discuss promises and challenges of these proposed new approaches.
Drinking motives, personality traits and life stressors: Identifying pathways to harmful alcohol use in adolescence using a panel network approach
R. Freichel, J. Pfirrmann, J. Cousjin, P. de Jong, I. Franken, T. Banaschewski, ... I. M. Veer, R. W. Wiers
In this paper we aim to estimate the dynamic associations of distal (personality and life stressors) and proximal (drinking motives) risk factors, and their relationship to alcohol use in adolescence and
early adulthood using a novel graphical vector autoregressive (GVAR) panel network approach.
We found that heavy and frequent alcohol use, along with social drinking motives, appear to be key targets for preventing the development of alcohol-related problems throughout late adolescence. We found no evidence for personality traits and life stressors predisposing towards distinct drinking motives over time.
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