Wike Seekles

Professional interests

Key words: anxiety disorders; mood disorders; primary care; minimal interventions; e-health; help-seeking behaviour.

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Projects

My first project was an effectiveness study of a stepped care model in primary care for patients with anxiety and/or mood disorders (stepped care). By means of a randomized controlled trial I tried to examin the effectiveness of such a care model in gerenal practice. The introduction of a stepped care model in primary care might be a way to enhance mental health care. In a stepped care model all patients are offered the same low intensity (evidence based) treatment as a first step. Only those who do not recover, step up to a more intensive treatment. This is in line with recent development in Dutch mental health care. The number of psychiatric nurses (or psychologists) from (specialized) mental health institutions who work together with a general practitioner in primary care is increasing. A stepped care model could provide a more effective continuity between primary care and specialized mental health care. More informations about this project can be found on the EMGO-website (EMGO)

At the moment I work on a study "Implementation of internet-based preventive interventions for depression and anxiety: role of support?". It is yet unclear whether it is necessary to offer self-help interventions (in this study "Alles onder Controle", based on problem solving treatment) with professional support or without, and, if professional support is necessary, which level of support is needed. This randomised controlled trial (Role of Support) aims to examine whether an internet-based self-help intervention with a coach is more effective than the same intervention without a coach in terms of clinical outcomes, drop-out and economic costs.

As a third "project"  I am doing some literature study on the psychological treatment of anxiety disorders in primary care.

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Cooperation

Some of my projects are in cooperation with Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA) and all projects are connected to the EMGO institute (EMGO+).

Promotors:
Prof. P. Cuijpers.
Prof. Dr. A.T.F. Beekman.

Co-promotors:
Dr. A. van Straten.
Dr. H.W.J. van Marwijk.

Publications

Journal Publications

Seekles W, Straten A van, Beekman A, Marwijk H van, Cuijpers P. Stepped care for depression and anxiety: from primary care to specialized mental health care: a randomised controlled trial testeing the effectiveness of a stepped care program among primary care patients with mood or anxiety disorders. BMC Health Services Research 2009, 9:90doi:10.1186/1472-6963-9-90.

BMC Health Services Research 2009, 9:90doi:10.1186/1472-6963-9-90

Annemieke van Straten, Wike Seekles, Nelleke J van ‘t Veer-Tazelaar, Aartjan T F Beekman and Pim Cuijpers. Stepped care for depression in primary care: what should be offered and how? Med J Aust. 2010 Jun 7;192(11 Suppl):S36-9.

www.mja.com.au/public/issues/192_11_070610/van11056_fm.html

Seekles W, van Straten A, Beekman A, van Marwijk H, Cuijpers P. Effectiveness of guided self-help for depression and anxiety disorders in primary care: A pragmatic randomized trial. Psychiatry Res. 2010 Dec 7. [Epub ahead of print].

http://http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21145112 

Teaching

Guiding students with their bachelor and master thesis.

Theses related to the following topics:

• Psychological Mechanisms
• Determinants of depression
• Nonresponse in pragmatic trials (stepped care)
• Role of support in guided self-help via internet

In the past two years I have also been a jurymember for the faculty masterthesis-price.

CV

Education / work

 2007 - present: PhD / junior researcher clinical psychology, VU University Amsterdam

2006 – 2007 – MSc in Social psychology, Utrecht University

2003 - 2006 - BSc in Psychology, University of Groningen

1996 - 2002 - Bachelor in Culturele en Maatschappelijke Vorming (Cultuur & Recreatie) (Social Work), Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden

Personal interests

Reading, travelling, scuba diving, music (concerts), internet, movies and outdoor sports. 

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