As a psychiatrist, Eric van Exel treats patients with late-life depression, cognitive decline and catatonia. As a scientist, Eric wants to improve the quality of life for patients in the field of old age psychiatry and neurocognitive functioning, with a focus on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), novel drugs such as ketamine and sodium oxybate (GHB).

As an educator, Eric aims to improve recognition, knowledge and understanding of psychiatric disorder in the elderly.
As a psychiatrist, a scientist and an educator, Eric van Exel argues that implementing improved diagnostics and treatment is important for depressed elderly patients in primary care. In order to reduce the high suicide rates amongst the elderly and reduce the need for secondary and tertiary mental health care.