Depression - Clinical approach
The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) was therefore designed to investigate the course of depression and anxiety disorders over a period of eight years. NESDA has meanwhile recruited ~ 3000 partcipants with and without symptoms from primary care practices and specialised mental health institutions in the regions of Amsterdamand Leiden, and in the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland. Inclusion is complete; we do not need any more participants. The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) started in august 2004 with the recruitment patients. They are monitored for a period of 8 years. An inventory of the depression and anxiety symptoms will be made by using questionnaires and by examining biological and genetic factors. The ZonMw GeestKracht program is subsidizing the study.
The main aim of NESDA is to determine the factors that influence the development and the long-term prognosis of anxiety and depression. The researchers will try to find answers to important questions like: What makes people susceptible to anxiety disorders or depressions? Why is one person depressed for three months, while the other is depressed for three years? What is the influence of biological and genetic factors? And: What are the implications of a depression or anxiety disorder for income and work?
NESDA is a cooperative project of
- VU University Medical Center
- Leiden University Medical Center/Leiden University
- University Medical Center Groningen / Groningen University
- several mental health care institutions
- Trimbos, NIVEL, WOK
- several client organisations
Information for patients in the Netherlands:
For additional information in Dutch, see:
