Arne Popma

MD PhD

Arne is head of the Department of Psychiatry at Amsterdam UMC and professor in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is involved in two main lines of research.

First, he has been interested for decades in gaining insights into development of antisocial and aggressive behaviour in children and adolescents. Studying this within the framework of the complex interplay of biology, psychology, sociology, culture, policy-making and politics. As such he is involved in studies on genetic vulnerabilities and adaptation as well as youth justice system reform. This line of research Arne conducts within the research group led by Lucres Nauta-Jansen at the Department of Child- and Adolescent Psychiatry & Psychosocial Care at Amsterdam UMC.

Second, his scientific interest has broadened over the years. Currently exploring (the role of Psychiatry in) general mental health and flourishing through the lifespan. Triangulating knowledges from various sources and perspectives. Co-designing ecosystems in which people can flourish and have access to flexible just-in-time-just-in-place interventions. Preferably in their own context and embedded in their informal networks.

Arne likes to learn and believes (mental) health advocacy is an important task of any researcher, even more so in psychiatry, and even more so in his role as Department Head. He strives to improve his structural competencies on a daily basis.