01 jun Series of lectures on anxiety and depression in the elderly
During this period, a series of lectures will be held in Velp, Gelderland, on complaints of anxiety, worrying and sadness in the elderly. The lectures are given by the research team of psychiatrist and researcher Gert-Jan Hendriks, who focuses on improving the psychological treatment of anxiety and/or depressive symptoms in this target group. Velp turned out to be a particularly suitable location to research the relevant themes, as more than 25 percent of the inhabitants here are 65 years of age or older.
– Press release Our Town Hall –
Since 1 April 2019, Radboud University has a chair on anxiety and depression in the elderly. This chair is held by Gert-Jan Hendriks, resident of Rozendaal, who works as a psychiatrist and researcher. Gert-Jan went looking for a good and effective place for research and came across Velp. Velp has a unique population composition with already the age distribution of the Netherlands over 30 years, with more than 25% inhabitants aged 65 and older.
As a result of a brainstorming session with the researchers and some involved parties, the idea arose to give a cycle of four lectures about anxiety and depressive symptoms in the elderly in the period from May to early July. The first reading has already taken place; three lectures will follow and will be given by Gert-Jan Hendriks and his research team.
About the speakers
Nessa Ikani obtained her PhD from Radboud University and is a scientific researcher at Pro Persona Research and the Psychiatry Department of Radboudumc. Her research focuses on the role of worrying and avoidance in anxiety and depressive symptoms. She also conducts research into the mechanisms of action of anxiety and depression treatments.
Noortje Janssen works as a scientific researcher at Pro Persona and RadboudUMC. She conducts research into the treatment of elderly people with symptoms of depression in general practice, in which she specifically looks at the effectiveness and mechanisms of action of behavioral activation.
Gert-Jan Hendriks works as a psychiatrist at the expertise center Overwaal in Nijmegen, part of Pro Persona. He specializes in the treatment of people with severe anxiety, compulsive disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders. In addition, he is professor by special appointment of ‘treatment of anxiety disorders and depression in the elderly’ at Radboud University Nijmegen and he conducts research into improving psychological treatment of elderly people with anxiety and/or depressive symptoms.
Upcoming lectures
Friday 3 June 11.15 am – 12.30 pm: ‘Don’t worry!’ – A lecture on worrying – Nessa Ikani
Thinking and thinking about a problem or event repeatedly is called worrying. For many people, worrying about important themes in life is something that is recognizable. For example, some people are a worryer themselves, or know other people who worry regularly. When you worry a lot and it is difficult to get rid of this, this can sometimes affect your mood. It can also get in the way of doing certain activities.
Why does one person lie awake half the night from a flood of worrying thoughts and the other manage to turn around, put the thoughts aside and go back to sleep? In this lecture I try to answer this question on the basis of scientific research. I also want to discuss the usefulness of worrying in everyday life.
Friday, June 17, 11.15 am – 12.30 pm: Behavioral activation for gloom? To do! – Noortje Janssen
Many elderly people sometimes suffer from depression. People with persistent depression often tend to postpone activities that they used to enjoy or stop doing at all. Because of the gloom, they are too listless for it and enjoy it much less. In the short term, it feels like a relief to stop doing things. However, in the long term it does not help to reduce the symptoms of depression. On the contrary, the complaints remain and can even get worse.
Behavioral activation is a treatment that aims to break this passive pattern. Precisely by making agreements to gradually resume activities that were previously experienced as pleasant, the chance of enjoying them again is increased. Elderly people with depression can go to their GP for this, who will refer them to a therapist. But the knowledge about behavioral activation can also be useful for people with mild complaints, who do not (yet) want treatment. In this lecture I will tell you what behavioral activation is, how it works, and how you can apply some principles of behavioral activation in your daily life.
Friday, July 8, 11.15 am – 12.30 pm: Lecture Anxiety and avoidance? Off! – Gert-Jan Hendriks
European research has recently shown that about 10% of people over the age of 65 suffer from fears and phobias. Sometimes so much so that it interferes with daily life. This nuisance often results in people avoiding situations and activities. You may recognize that the corona period has provoked fear of being infected and that you experience a threshold to visit, or receive visitors, or to go to a meeting without a mouth mask. Knowledge about how fear arises, what it can lead to and what you can do about it yourself helps people to better deal with excessive fear. Exposure, literally translated ‘exposure’, is a technique that is useful for combating excessive anxiety reactions and reducing the avoidance of social and other societal situations, again allowing more freedom of movement.
The lectures will take place in Ons Raadhuis, Nieuwstraat 1, 6881 SK Velp (026-8449140). Entrance for members: €3.60, non-members: €5.00.