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Diede Fennema

PhD Student

Biography

After completing a BSc in Liberal Arts and Sciences from University College Roosevelt (The Netherlands) in 2013, I went on to do a MSc in Biomedical Sciences at University College London. For my research project, I joined the laboratory of Prof. Elizabeth Shephard, investigating the microbiome of mice with regard to age, gender, and a therapeutic in the context of trimethylaminuria.   

Since October 2018, I’m part of the MRC DTP programme at King’s College London, working towards a PhD in Psychological Medicine. My project is exploring neuroimaging biomarkers capable of predicting response to antidepressant medications in major depressive disorder (MDD). There are fMRI measures in several brain regions showing clinical potential as predictors of response and non-response to selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). This project aims to evaluate three fMRI measures: self-blame-selective subgenual frontal connectivity, amygdala activation following facial emotion recognition, and resting state connectivity. 

The project is part of a larger NIHR-funded clinical trial, the Antidepressant Advisor study, which aims to improve medication choice for depression.  

Research Interests

  • Major depressive disorder  
  • Neuroimaging 
  • Biomarkers 

Research

brain trees
Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD)

The Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD) focuses on mood and anxiety disorders, common disorders which cause great suffering for many people.

antidepressants
Antidepressant Advisor Study (ADeSS)

For many people with depression, the antidepressants most usually prescribed by GPs are only somewhat helpful.

Project status: Ongoing

Therapy-Session
ADeSS study 3: fMRI study to predict treatment response in patients with depression

The aim of this study is to find better ways to predict how well a treatment works for a particular person with depression.

Project status: Ongoing

Research

brain trees
Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD)

The Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD) focuses on mood and anxiety disorders, common disorders which cause great suffering for many people.

antidepressants
Antidepressant Advisor Study (ADeSS)

For many people with depression, the antidepressants most usually prescribed by GPs are only somewhat helpful.

Project status: Ongoing

Therapy-Session
ADeSS study 3: fMRI study to predict treatment response in patients with depression

The aim of this study is to find better ways to predict how well a treatment works for a particular person with depression.

Project status: Ongoing