Evaluating the effectiveness of innovative psychological intervention tools in optimizing health outcomes: A multimethod approach

Schakel, L. (2019)

Doctoral Thesis

The main aim of this thesis is to examine the effectiveness of innovative psychological interventions on health optimization by (1) evaluating the effectiveness of innovative psychological tools, i.e., serious gaming, verbal suggestions, and internet-based interventions, to optimize various health behaviors and psychophysiological outcomes; (2) providing a concise overview of the currently existing evidence of psychological interventions in optimizing immune function in response to in vitro or in vivo immunological as well as psychophysiological challenges; and (3) incorporating various self-reporting, behavioral and psychophysiological outcome measures, but also physical and psychophysiological challenges, including psychophysiological, physical and/or cognitive stressors, to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological interventions on health outcomes. 

• Health psychology
• Serious gaming
• e-Health
• BCG-vaccination
• Verbal suggestions
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Immune system
• Health behavior
• stress

• All authors: Schakel, L.
• Supervisor: Evers, A.W.M.; Ottenhoff, T.H.M.
• Co-supervisor: Veldhuijzen, D.S.
• Committee: Elzinga, B.M.; Meijer, O.C.; Kop, W.J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University
• Date: 2019-09-10