Short C.V.

Kaya Peerdeman is postdoctoral researcher & assistant professor in Prof. Evers’ research group Psychoneurobiology of Health and Disease at the Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit of Leiden University. She completed the Research Master Psychology and the Master Clinical Psychology at the University of Amsterdam (2011). Her PhD research commenced at the Radboud university medical center and continued at Leiden University under the supervision of Prof. dr. Andrea Evers, Prof. dr. Madelon Peters, and Dr. Antoinette van Laarhoven. She defended her PhD thesis ‘Harnessing placebo effects by targeting expectancies’ in February 2018.

Research

The research of Kaya Peerdeman is focused on enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms of placebo and nocebo effects (e.g., expectancies, learning processes such as conditioning and instructions, and physiological correlates) on pain and other physical symptoms. She hereby aims to contribute to improving clinical care and patients’ well-being through harnessing placebo effects and minimizing nocebo effects.

Supervision PhD candidates

• LingLing Weng, Transferability of the placebo and nocebo effect between itch and pain (CSC grant)
• Joe Blythe, Unraveling nocebo mechanisms as a cause for the sensitization of somatic symptoms (focus on itch) (NWO Vici grant prof. Andrea Evers)
• Merve Karacaoglu, Identifying patients at risk for the sensitization of somatic symptoms (NWO Vici grant prof. Andrea Evers)
• Fabian Wolters Investigating placebo and nocebo mechanisms in fatigue and circadian rhythms (NWO Vici grant and ERC consolidator grant prof. Andrea Evers, and NWO Top Talent grant)

Teaching

• Supervisor theses and research internships master tracks Health and Medical Psychology, and Clinical Neuropsychology
• Coordinator master theses Health and Medical Psychology
• Supervisor Bachelor projects Psychology
• Tutor workgroups and lecturer Health & Medical Psychology
• Tutor workgroups Evaluating Interventions in Patients with Chronic Diseases
• Lecturer on placebo and nocebo effects (Minor Medical Psychology, ErasmusMC & course The Placebo Effect, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences)
• Lecturer in course Cross-cultural Psychology of Health and illness

Media (selection)

• Research into the best possible pain expectations. Leiden University Fund.  
• IASP Early Career Research Grant Winner: A Conversation With Kaya Peerdeman. Pain Research Forum.
• Om de pijn te verzachten: De kracht van verbeelding [To soften the pain: The power of imagery]. By Janne-Marieke Karsten in Crohniek, September 2018.
• Verbeeldingskracht helpt pijn verminderen [Imagery helps reduces pain]. NPO Radio 1, Nieuws en Co, February 2018.
• Versterk medicatie-effect door juist te communiceren [Enhance medication effect by communicating correctly]. By Francine Aarts in Nuring, February 2018.
• Verwachtingen en pijnbestrijding [Expectations and pain relief]. Sleutelstad FM, Science071, June 2016.
• Artsen aller landen: schuif dat placebo-effect toch niet aan de kant! [Doctors: don't put that placebo effect aside!]. NPO Radio 1, June 2016.

Grants

• IASP Early Career Research Grant (2021).
• LUF research grant (2021).
• KNAW van der Gaag grant (2020) & LNVH Distinguished Women Scientists Fund (2019).
• Mind & Life Europe 2018 Francisco J. Varela Research Award.
• IASP travel grant (2018).

Awards

• Young Talent Award Association for Researchers in Psychology and Health (ARPH) (2019).
• Best academic paper 2015-2016, Dutch Flemish Postgraduate School for Research and Education in Experimental Psychopathology (EPP). Awarded for Peerdeman et al. (2017) European Journal of Pain.
• Best article 2015 of the unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University. Awarded for Peerdeman et al. (2015) PLoS ONE.

Memberships societies, research schools, and institutes

• Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS) - organizing committee 1^st and 2^nd official SIPS conference on placebo studies, 2017 and 2019
• Dutch Flemish Postgraduate School for Research and Education in Experimental Psychopathology (EPP)
• International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
• Association for Researchers in Psychology and Health (ARPH)
• Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC)

Relevant links

• Google Scholar
• ResearchGate
• ORCID
• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Publications