REMOVE transdiagnostically addresses the two most prevalent and costly mental disorders are Anxiety-Related Disorders (ARD) and Insomnia Disorders (ID), covering half of all mental disorders. The overarching aim is to pave the way for transdiagnostic treatment by focusing on failing overnight emotion regulation. The project integrates five approaches. The first approach utilizes slaapregister.nl to reveal overlap and distinctions of ARD and ID with respect to traits and life history and to elucidate in which ID subtype anxiety-related traits and diagnoses prevail.
The second approach utilizes big data genetics in over 1,3 million people to reveal genetic overlap and distinctions of ARD and ID. Gene-set analyses on ontology, tissue expression, and cell-specific expression will reveal functional pathways, tissues and cell types involved in vulnerability to ARD and ID.
The third approach utilizes big data brain imaging to reveal how structural and functional network deviations in ARD and ID overlap and differ. We secured access to the largest brain imaging cohort to date (UK Biobank Imaging Study, N=30,000) to use state-of-the-art multimodal connectome methodologies. We’ll combine bottom-up whole-brain analyses with specific seed-based analyses based on the tissues identified in the second approach.
The fourth experimental approach utilizes emotion induction, sleep-EEG, and multivariate autonomic assessment to investigate whether pharmacological interventions could rescue the failing overnight adaptation of emotional distress that characterizes both ARD and ID. It will yield proof of principle for treatment innovation.
The fifth approach is a randomized controlled study on the efficacy of online-supported supervised cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia to mitigate insomnia and anxiety symptoms and improve overnight emotion regulation in comorbid ARD and ID.
