The Department of Psychiatry Amsterdam UMC and GGZ inGeest Mental Health Care  have been long-term and successful collaborators in their goals to better understand, prevent, and treat psychiatric disorders, particularly related to chronic and severe depressive and anxiety disorders. 

Clinical research is embedded within four  Academic Collaborative Centers at GGZ inGeest: anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, and old age psychiatry. In our  Academic Collaborative Centers clinicians and researchers closely collaborate in innovative research projects.  The aim of the Academic Collaborative Centers is to use clinical practice as a source of inspiration for new research questions on the one hand and to bring the advancing insights of the research world into clinical practice on the other. This has resulted in four Academic Collaborative Centers with the TOPGGz quality mark where the treatment and research of complex, often long-term and  therapy-resistant disorders is central. TOPGGz is a label for high quality care being provided to patients with complex psychiatric disorders and for combining this care with research activities. 

Academic Collaborative Center Depression

PI Christiaan Vinkers
In this growing and flourishing workplace, clinical care and scientific research work closely together centered around depression. At the Depression Outpatient Clinic at the location De Nieuwe Valerius we treat adults with depression whose symptoms are long-term and complex, e.g. because other psychological conditions or somatic illnesses also play a role. The clinic is also open to people for whom previous treatment within a specialised mental health unit had insufficient effect. Research in our center is focused on e.g. childhood trauma, suicide prevention and eHealth treatments. 

Academic Collaborative Center Anxiety

PI Neeltje Batelaan
The Academic Collaborative Center Anxiety Disorders includes the outpatient Department for Anxiety disorders of GGZ inGeest. We conduct clinically relevant research with the aim to better understand and improve the course of anxiety disorders. This fruitful partnership is reflected in the TOPGGz qualification (renewed in 2022) of our outpatient clinic. The goal of our center is to establish a better understanding of anxiety disorders among patients and healthcare professionals. We focus on emphasising (relapse) prevention and early intervention in order to do so.  

Academic Collaborative Center Bipolar disorders

PI Ralph Kupka
The Academic Collaborative Center Bipolar disorders includes the Academic outpatient clinics of GGZ inGeest for bipolar disorders that are based in Amsterdam (De Nieuwe Valerius) and Hoofddorp (Spaarnepoort) and together treat about 700 patients with bipolar spectrum disorder. We have a long tradition in diagnosing and treating this complex mood disorder and its often comorbid conditions, using pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and specialized psychosocial interventions. Acute manic and depressive episodes both have major challenges, as has long-term prophylactic treatment. In addition, every year we do about forty second opinions for complex diagnostics or treatment resistance, which are referred from all over the country. Given this combination of high-quality specialized patient care, clinical research, and teaching, in 2022 we were recognised as a TOPGGz center for bipolar disorders. We have a close collaboration with the TOPGGz Centres of Altrecht (Utrecht) and Dimence (Deventer). 

Academic Collaborative Center Old Age Psychiatry

PI Eric van Exel
The Academic Collaborative Center Old Age Psychiatry, consists of a group of researchers who – largely based on clinical experience – perform both observational studies and randomized controlled trials in adult and middle aged patients. All our studies and projects underscore the importance of our research into the interplay between biological, psychological, and social functioning in older adults. Our work is essential for providing both patients and professionals with evidence-based, practice-informed knowledge. Old Age Psychiatry requires specialized expertise and a tailored approach, as older adults are still too often underdiagnosed and undertreated.