van den Brink Group - Addiction
The Amsterdam Institute for Addiction Research is part of the Psychiatric division of the Academic Medical Center from the University of Amsterdam (AMC-UvA).
Mission
Our mission is to conduct patient-centered addiction research resulting in better- evidence based treatment of patients with addictive disorders. We intend to achieve this goal through the determination of factors that play a role in effective and efficient treatments and through the exploration of mechanisms underlying successful treatments.
Vision
Our vision is that the treatment of people with addiction problems should be based on scientific evidence and delivered by knowledgeable and dedicated professionals with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Our vision is that the treatment of people with addiction problems should be based on scientific evidence and delivered by knowledgeable and dedicated professionals with a commitment to continuous improvement.
Values
Our fundamental values are a rigorous scientific orientation, high ethical standards, multidisciplinary collaboration, and a strong dedication to the improvement of the lives of patients with addictive disorders.
Main objective
The main objective of the institute is to publish scientific research in prestigious national and international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, the staff contributes to scientific discussions via conferences and debates. The institute also provides support and advice to treatment centers in their attempts to evaluate and improve the treatment of people with addictive disorders.
The main objective of the institute is to publish scientific research in prestigious national and international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, the staff contributes to scientific discussions via conferences and debates. The institute also provides support and advice to treatment centers in their attempts to evaluate and improve the treatment of people with addictive disorders.
Research overview
Our research program covers three major themes:
Psychobiological research
Research testing causes of initiation and prolongation of addictive behaviours, with topics like the psychobiology of craving, neurocognitive deficits associated with pathological gambling and addiction, neurotoxicity of ecstasy and other psychoactive substances, and neurobiological factors relevant for successful treatment process and treatment effectiveness.
Treatment evaluation research
Research testing the effectiveness of addiction treatment interventions and it’s underlying processes, with topics like treatment efficacy studies, treatment process evaluations, interventions for double diagnosis patients, and research testing patient-treatment matching procedures.
Health services research
Research testing healthcare interventions and healthcare systems, with topics like the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions, studies on the quality of health care, cost-effectiveness evaluations, clinical decision making, program evaluation, and population surveys.
Psychobiological research
Research testing causes of initiation and prolongation of addictive behaviours, with topics like the psychobiology of craving, neurocognitive deficits associated with pathological gambling and addiction, neurotoxicity of ecstasy and other psychoactive substances, and neurobiological factors relevant for successful treatment process and treatment effectiveness.
Treatment evaluation research
Research testing the effectiveness of addiction treatment interventions and it’s underlying processes, with topics like treatment efficacy studies, treatment process evaluations, interventions for double diagnosis patients, and research testing patient-treatment matching procedures.
Health services research
Research testing healthcare interventions and healthcare systems, with topics like the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions, studies on the quality of health care, cost-effectiveness evaluations, clinical decision making, program evaluation, and population surveys.