Kaya Peerdeman
Assistant professor
- Name
- Dr. K.J. Peerdeman
- Telephone
- 071 5273622
- k.j.peerdeman@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
- ORCID iD
- 0000-0001-7622-1166
Kaya Peerdeman's work focuses on the effect of biopsychosocial factors on health, with a particular interest in how expectations shape health.
More information about Kaya Peerdeman
News
-
Prepared for pain? The impact of the nocebo effect on people with chronic pain -
Early Career Award for Kaya Peerdeman -
New centre of expertise makes placebo research accessible for healthcare and society -
3 October University: ‘Artificial intelligence is like young people and sex’ -
Expectations can relieve pain
PhD candidates
Kaya Peerdeman's work focuses on the effect of biopsychosocial factors on health, with a particular interest in how expectations shape health.
Research
Kaya Peerdeman' research specifically focuses on how expectations shape health, for example through examining placebo and nocebo effects (i.e. beneficial and adverse treatment outcomes not attributable to active treatment components, respectively). She also has a particular interest in violated expectations and uncertainty. She examines how they impact health outcomes like pain and other symptoms (e.g. itch, stress) and what biopsychosocial factors are involved (e.g. anxiety, doctor-patient communication). Central in her work are mechanistic studies bridging fundamental and applied research. She works to translate findings to clinical practice in order to optimise treatments.
Major ongoing projects include the Expecting Together project on expectation-experience mismatches and expectation optimization regarding childbirth, the ECHOO Erasmus+ project on spreading knowledge on placebo and nocebo effects to European healthcare consumers, and experimental research on experiences of heat stimuli.
Short CV
Kaya Peerdeman 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. She then worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the research group. Since November 2022, she has been working as Assistant Professor within the framework of the Sector Plan for the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH), under the theme 'Mental Illness’.
She is also one of the principal investigators of the Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden. In addition, she is a member of the Psychology Research Ethics Committee, lab coordinator for the department, and co-leader of the departmental hub Expectations, Learning, and Communication in Health and Disease.
Education
- Tutor workgroups Research Topics in Health Promotion
- Coordinator master theses Health and Medical Psychology
- Supervisor theses and research internships master tracks Health and Medical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology
- Supervisor bachelor projects Psychology
- Tutor workgroups and lecturer bachelor specialisation course Health & Medical Psychology
- Tutor workgroups research master course Evaluating Interventions in Patients with Chronic Diseases
- Tutor workgroups course Perspectives on Career Orientation
- Coordinator and lecturer in elective course Cross-cultural Psychology of Health and Illness
- Lecturer in bachelor course Personality, Clinical and Health Psychology
- Lecturer on placebo and nocebo effects (Minor Medical Psychology, ErasmusMC & course The Placebo Effect, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences)
Media (selection)
- Mindfulness Success for Pain May Be Partly a Placebo Effect. Pain Medicine News.
- Research into the best possible pain expectations. Leiden University Fund.
- 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.
Supervision PhD candidates
- Merve Karacaoglu (2017-2024), Identifying patients at risk for the sensitisation of somatic symptoms (NWO Vici grant prof. Andrea Evers).
- Simone Meijer (2017-ongoing), Developing innovative treatments for the desensitisation of somatic symptoms (NWO Vici grant prof. Andrea Evers).
- Fabian Wolters (2017-ongoing), 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).
- LingLing Weng (2017-2023), Transferability of the placebo and nocebo effect between itch and pain (CSC grant).
- Joe Blythe (2017-2023), Unraveling nocebo mechanisms as a cause for the sensitisation of somatic symptoms (focus on itch) (NWO Vici grant prof. Andrea Evers).
Grants
- LUF research grant (2026).
- Andrea Evers Fund (2026).
- LU Una Europa Seed Funding (2026).
- NWO SSH Open Competition XS (2025).
- 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, 2022).
Awards
- SIPS early career award (2023).
- SIPS conference oral presentation award (2021).
- ARPH Young Talent Award (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
- Center for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies Leiden.
- International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) - vice chair Pain & Placebo SIG
- Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS) - organising committee 1st and 2nd 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).
- Sector Plan for the Social Sciences and Humanities theme Mental Illness (SSH - Mental Health - NL)
Assistant professor
- Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Psychology
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology
- Meijer Simone Evers Andrea W. M. Peerdeman Kaya J. van Middendorp Henriët (2026), Can Nocebo Effects Be Reduced via Open‐ and Closed‐Label Counterconditioning?, European Journal of Pain 30(3): e70248.
- van Lennep J.P.A., Meijer S., Karacaoglu M., Rippe R., Peerdeman K.J., Middendorp H. van & Evers A.W.M. (2025), Do patients with fibromyalgia syndrome and healthy people differ in their opinions on placebo effects in routine medical care?, Pain Practice 25(2): e70000.
- Weng L., Peerdeman K.J., Laarhoven A.I.M. van & Evers A.W.M. (2025), Generalisation of placebo and nocebo effects: current knowledge and future directions, European Journal of Pain 29(6): e70018.
- Wolters F., Peerdeman K.J., Gussekloo J., Adler L., Asenova R., Kánská Bomberová P., Collins C., Dumitra G. G., Howick J., Peštić Kreitmayer S., Kurpas D., Lazic V., Lingner H., Mallen C. D., Missiou A., Peremans L., Petrazzuoli F., Pilv-Toom L., Poortvliet R.K.E., Thulesius H. O., Torzsa P., Tsopra R., Tkachenko V., Viegas R., Evers A.W.M. & Streit S. (2025), Prescriptions of essentially placebo treatments among general practitioners in 21 countries, Jama Network Open 8(9): e2532672.
- Karacaoglu M., Peerdeman K.J., Karch J.D., van Middendorp H. & Evers EW.M. (2024), Nocebo hyperalgesia and other expectancy-related factors in daily fibromyalgia pain: combining experimental and electronic diary methods, Journal of Psychosomatic Research 182: 111676.
- Myronenko Anastasiia van der Velde Pien Derksen Suzanne M.J.C. Peerdeman Kaya J. (2024), How should uncertainty about upcoming painful procedures be communicated? An experimental study into highly uncertain pain predictions, Patient Education and Counseling 118: 108008 (108008).
- Bos D.P. A., Keesman M., Roggeveen A., Vase L., Evers A.W. M. & Peerdeman K.J. (2024), Mindfulness effects on anxiety: disentangling the role of decentering and treatment expectations, Behavior Therapy 55(5): 1059-1070.
- Peerdeman K.J., Tekampe J., Middendorp H. van, Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Rippe R.C. A., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2024), Development and validation of the general attitude towards medication questionnaire (GAMQ), BMC Psychology 12: 632.
- Westendorp J., Vliet L.M. van, Meeuwis S.H., Olde Hartman T.C., Sanders A.R.J., Jutten E., Dirven M., Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2024), Optimizing placebo and minimizing nocebo effects through communication: e-learning and virtual reality training development, BMC Medical Education 24(1): 707.
- Derksen Suzanne M. J. C. Konttinen Maria Myronenko Anastasiia Seymour Ben Peerdeman Kaya J. (2024), How the magnitude and precision of pain predictions shape pain experiences, European Journal of Pain 29(1): e4769.
- Westendorp Janine van Vliet Liesbeth M. Meeuwis Stefanie H. olde Hartman Tim C. Sanders Ariëtte R. J. Jutten Eric Dirven Monique Peerdeman Kaya J. Evers Andrea W. M. (2024), Optimizing placebo and minimizing nocebo effects through communication: e-learning and virtual reality training development, BMC Medical Education 24(1): 707.
- Blythe J.S., Peerdeman K.J., Veldhuijzen D.S. Karch, J.D. & Evers A.W.M. (2023), Electrophysiological markers for anticipatory processing of nocebo-augmented pain, PLoS ONE 18: e0288968.
- Blythe J.S., Thomaïdou A.M., Peerdeman K.J., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Schothorst M.M.E. van, Veldhuijzen D.S. & Evers. A.W.M. (2023), Placebo effects on cutaneous pain and itch: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental results and methodology, Pain 164(6): 1181-1199.
- Karacaoglu M., Meijer S., Peerdeman K.J., Dusseldorp E.M.L., Veldhuijzen D.S., Middendorp H. van & Evers A.W.M. (2023), Susceptibility to nocebo hyperalgesia, dispositional optimism, and trait anxiety as predictors of nocebo hyperalgesia reduction, Clinical Journal of Pain 39(6): 259-269.
- Karacaoglu M., Peerdeman K.J., Numans M.E., Stolk M.R., Meijer S., Klinger R., Veldhuijzen D.S., Middendorp H. van & Evers A.W.M. (2023), Nocebo hyperalgesia in patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls: an experimental investigation of conditioning and extinction processes at baseline and 1-month follow-up, The Journal of Pain 24(9): 1696-1711.
- Meijer S., Karacaoglu M., Middendorp H. van, Veldhuijzen D.S., Jensen K.B., Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2023), Efficacy of open‐label counterconditioning for reducing nocebo effects on pressure pain, European Journal of Pain 27(7): 831-847.
- Thomaïdou A.M., Blythe J.S., Peerdeman K.J., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Schothorst M.M.E. van, Veldhuijzen D.S. & Evers A.W.M. (2023), Learned nocebo effects on cutaneous sensations of pain and itch: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental behavioral studies on healthy humans, Psychosomatic Medicine 85(4): 308-321.
- Lennep J.P.A. van, Middendorp H. van, Veldhuijzen D.S., Peerdeman K.J., Blythe J.S., Thomaïdou M.A., Heyman T.D.P. & Evers A.W.M. (2023), The optimal learning cocktail for placebo analgesia: a randomized controlled trial comparing individual and combined techniques, The Journal of Pain 24(12): 2240–2256 .
- Karacaoglu Merve Peerdeman Kaya J. Numans Mattijs E. Stolk Martha R. Meijer Simone Klinger Regine Veldhuijzen Dieuwke S. van Middendorp Henriët Evers Andrea W.M. (2023), Nocebo Hyperalgesia in Patients With Fibromyalgia and Healthy Controls: An Experimental Investigation of Conditioning and Extinction Processes at Baseline and 1-Month Follow-up, The Journal of Pain 24(9): 1696-1711.
- Hohenschurz-Schmidt David Vase Lene Scott Whitney Annoni Marco Ajayi Oluwafemi K Barth Jürgen Bennell Kim Berna Chantal Bialosky Joel Braithwaite Felicity Finnerup Nanna B Williams Amanda C de C Carlino Elisa Cerritelli Francesco Chaibi Aleksander Cherkin Dan Colloca Luana Côté Pierre Darnall Beth D Evans Roni Fabre Laurent Faria Vanda French Simon Gerger Heike Häuser Winfried Hinman Rana S Ho Dien Janssens Thomas Jensen Karin Johnston Chris Juhl Lunde Sigrid Keefe Francis Kerns Robert D Koechlin Helen Kongsted Alice Michener Lori A Moerman Daniel E Musial Frauke Newell David Nicholas Michael Palermo Tonya M Palermo Sara Peerdeman Kaya J Pogatzki-Zahn Esther M Puhl Aaron A Roberts Lisa Rossettini Giacomo Tomczak Matthiesen Susan Underwood Martin Vaucher Paul Vollert Jan Wartolowska Karolina Weimer Katja Werner Christoph Patrick Rice Andrew S C Draper-Rodi Jerry (2023), Recommendations for the development, implementation, and reporting of control interventions in efficacy and mechanistic trials of physical, psychological, and self-management therapies: the CoPPS Statement, BMJ 381: e072108 ( e072108).
- Thomaidou Mia A. Blythe Joseph S. Veldhuijzen Dieuwke S. Peerdeman Kaya J. van Lennep Johan P. A. Giltay Erik J. Cremers Henk R. Evers Andrea W. M. (2022), A randomized pharmacological fMRI trial investigating d-cycloserine and brain plasticity mechanisms in learned pain responses, Scientific Reports 12(1): 19080.
- Thomaidou M.A., Blythe J.S., Veldhuijzen D.S., Peerdeman K.J., Lennep J.P.A. van, Giltay E.J., Cremers H.R. & Evers A.W.M. (2022), A randomized pharmacological fMRI trial investigating d-cycloserine and brain plasticity mechanisms in learned pain responses, Scientific Reports 12: 19080.
- Blythe J.S. Thomaidou M.A. Peerdeman K.J. van Laarhoven A.I.M. van Schothorst M.M.E. Veldhuijzen D.S. Evers A.W.M. (2022), Placebo effects on cutaneous pain and itch: a systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental results and methodology, Pain 164(6): 1181-1199.
- Floridou G.A., Peerdeman K.J. & Schaefer R.S. (2022), Individual differences in mental imagery in different modalities and levels of intentionality, Memory and Cognition 50(1): 29-44.
- Weng L., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2022), Do individual psychological characteristics predict induction and generalization of nocebo and placebo effects on pain and itch?, Frontiers in Psychiatry 13: 838578.
- Weng L., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2022), Induction and generalization of nocebo effects on itch, Experimental Dermatology 31(6): 878-889.
- Weng L. Peerdeman K.J. Della Porta D. Laarhoven A.I.M. van Evers A.W.M. (2022), Can placebo and nocebo effects generalize within pain modalities and across somatosensory sensations?, Pain 163(3): 548-559.
- Meijer S., van Middendorp H., Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2022), Counterconditioning as Treatment to Reduce Nocebo Effects in Persistent Physical Symptoms: Treatment Protocol and Study Design, Frontiers in Psychology 13: 806409.
- Peerdeman K.J., Geers A.L., Della Porta D., Veldhuijzen D.S. & Kirsch I. (2021), Underpredicting pain: an experimental investigation into the benefits and risks, Pain 162: 2024-2035.
- Smits R.M., Veldhuijzen D.S., Olde Hartman T.: Peerdeman K.J., Van Vliet L.M.: Van Middendorp H., Rippe R.C.A., Wulffraat. N.M. & Evers A.W.M. (2021), Explaining placebo effects in an online survey study: does ‘Pavlov’ ring a bell?, PLoS ONE 16(3): e0247103.
- Blythe J.S., Peerdeman K.J., Veldhuijzen D.S., Schothorst M.M.E. van, Thomaïdou M.A., Laarhoven A.I.M. van & Evers A.W.M. (2021), Nocebo effects on cowhage-evoked itch: a randomized controlled trial of classical conditioning and observational learning, Acta Dermato-Venereologica 101(1): adv00370 (adv00370).
- Evers A.W.M. & Peerdeman K.J. (2021), Hoe kennis over placebo- en nocebo-effecten kan bijdragen aan een betere gezondheidszorg, Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Dermatologie en Venereologie 31(8): 29-30.
- Peerdeman K.J., Hinnen C., Vliet L.M. van & Evers A.W.M. (2021), Pre-consultation information about one’s physician can affect trust and treatment outcome expectations, Patient Education and Counseling 104(2): 427-431.
- Thomaïdou A.M., Peerdeman K.J., Koppeschaar M.I., Evers A.W.M. & Veldhuijzen D.S. (2021), How negative experience influences the brain: a comprehensive review of the neurobiological underpinnings of Nocebo Hyperalgesia, Frontiers in Neuroscience 15: 652552.
- Thomaïdou A.M., Veldhuijzen D.S., Peerdeman K.J., Wiebing N.Z.S., Blythe J.S. & Evers A.W.M. (2020), Learning mechanisms in nocebo hyperalgesia: the role of conditioning and extinction processes, Pain 161(7): 1597-1608.
- Vliet L.M. van, Francke A.L., Meijers M.C., Westendorp J., Hoffstädt H., Evers A.W.M., Wall E. van der, Jong P. de, Peerdeman K.J., Stouthard J. & Dulmen S. van (2019), The Use of Expectancy and Empathy When Communicating With Patients With Advanced Breast Cancer; an Observational Study of Clinician–Patient Consultations, Frontiers in Psychiatry 10: e464.
- Wolters F., Peerdeman K.J. & Evers A.W.M. (2019), Placebo and Nocebo Effects Across Symptoms: From Pain to Fatigue, Dyspnea, Nausea, and Itch, Frontiers in Psychiatry 10: e470.
- Blythe J.S., Peerdeman K.J., Veldhuijzen D.S., Laarhoven A.I.M. van & Evers A.W.M. (2019), Placebo and nocebo effects on itch: A review of experimental methods, Itch 4(3): e27.
- Evers A.W.M., Peerdeman K.J. & Laarhoven A.I.M. van (2019), What is new in the psychology of chronic itch, Experimental Dermatology 28(12): 1442-1447.
- Vliet L.M. van, Francke A.L., Meijers M.C., Westendorp J., Hoffstädt H., Evers A.W.M., Wall E. van der, Jong P. de, Peerdeman K.J. & Stouthard J. Dulmen S. van (2019), The use of expectancy and empathy when communicating with patients with advanced breast cancer; an observational study of clinician–patient consultations, Frontiers in Psychiatry 10: .
- Tekampe J. Peerdeman K. J. Bartels D. J. P. van Laarhoven A. I. M. Evers A. W. M. (2018), Placebo- und Noceboeffekte bei Pruritus: Methodologische und klinische Implikationen, Der Hautarzt 69(8): 626-630.
- Peerdeman K.J., Tekampe J., Van Laarhoven A.I.M., Van Middendorp H., Rippe R.C.A., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2018), Expectations about the effectiveness of pain- and itch-relieving medication administered via different routes, European Journal of Pain 22(4): 774-783.
- Peerdeman K.J. (7 February 2018), Harnessing placebo effects by targeting expectancies (Dissertatie. Institute of Psychology, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University). Supervisor(s) and Co-supervisor(s): Evers A.W.M. & Peters M.L., Laarhoven A.I.M.
- Evers A.W.M., Colloca L., Blease C., Atlas L.Y., Benedetti F., Bingel U., Büchel C., Carvalho C., Colagiuri B., Crum A.J., Enck P., Gaab J., Geers A.L., Howick J., Jensen K.B., Kirsch I., Meissner K., Napadow V., Peerdeman K.J., Raz A., Rief W., Vase L., Wager T.D., Wampold B.E., Weimer K., Wiech K., Kaptchuk T.J., Klinger R. & Kelley J.M. (2018), Implications of placebo and nocebo effects for clinical practice: expert consensus, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics 87(4): 204-210.
- Tekampe J., Peerdeman K.J., Bartels D.J.P., Laarhoven A.I.M. van & Evers A.W.M. (2018), Placebo- und Nocebo-effekte bei Pruritus: Methodologische und klinische Implikationen, Der Hautarzt 69(8): 626-630.
- Peerdeman K.J., Tekampe J., van Laarhoven A.I.M., van Middendorp H., Rippe R.C.A., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2017), Expectations about the effectiveness of pain‐ and itch‐relieving medication administered via different routes, European Journal of Pain 22: 774-783.
- Bartels D.J.P., Van Laarhoven A.I.M., Stroo M., Hijne K., Peerdeman K.J., Donders A.R.T., Van de Kerkhof P.C.M. & Evers A.W.M. (2017), Minimizing nocebo effects by conditioning with verbal suggestion: A randomized clinical trial in healthy humans, PLoS ONE 12(9): e0182959.
- Peerdeman K.J., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Bartels D.J.P., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2017), Placebo-like analgesia via response imagery, European Journal of Pain 21(8): 1366-1377.
- Peerdeman K.J., Van Laarhoven A.I., Keij S.M., Vase L., Rovers M.M., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W. (2016), Relieving patients' pain with expectation interventions: A meta-analysis, Pain 157(6): 1179-1191.
- Evers A.W.M., Peerdeman K.J., Bartels D.J.P. & Van Laarhoven A.I.M. (2016), Placebo and nocebo effects on itch: methodological and clinical implications. In: Misery L. & Ständer S. (Eds.), Pruritus. New York: Springer. 103-110.
- Evers A.W.M. & Peerdeman K.J. (2016), Hoe het placebo-effect kan bijdragen aan een betere gezondheidszorg, Medisch-farmaceutische mededelingen 4: 45.
- Peerdeman K.J., Laarhoven A.I.M. van, Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2016), An integrative review of the influence of expectancies on pain, Frontiers in Psychology 7: 1270.
- Peerdeman K.J., Van Laarhoven A.I.M., Donders A.R.T., Hopman M.T.E., Peters M.L. & Evers A.W.M. (2015), Inducing expectations for health: Effects of verbal suggestion and imagery on pain, itch, and fatigue as indicators of physical sensitivity, PLoS ONE 10(10): e0139563.