Together with psychologists and immunologists from Utrecht, he proved as one of the first that stress affects the immune system. After obtaining his PhD he worked at the University of Amsterdam.

More information about Jos Brosschot

Short CV

Together with psychologists and immunologists from Utrecht, he proved as one of the first that stress affects the immune system. After obtaining his PhD he worked at the University of Amsterdam.

Research

Jos Brosschot's research has always focussed on the mechanisms that are responsible for the effects of the mind on the body. He has performed various laboratory- and field projects into the relation between worrying, heart activity and physical complaints. Over the years he received various grants, i.e., a KNAW grant and several NWO grants.

Expertise

• The influence of psychological stress on physiology and somatic disease, with a special focus on prolonged physiological stress responses and its psychophysiological mechanisms, such as perseverative cognition (e.g. worry, rumination etc.) and 'unconscious stress'
• Studies in real life (‘ecological momentary assessment’) using ambulatory measures of e.g. heart activity and psychological factors (stressors, perseverative cognition, unconscious stress)
• Laboratory studies of unconscious stress: its nature and physiological effects

Core publications

See also Google Scholar and ResearchGate 

• Van den Bergh, O., Brosschot, J., Critchley, H., Thayer, J. F., & Ottaviani, C. (2021). Better Safe Than Sorry: A Common Signature of General Vulnerability for Psychopathology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 16(2), 225–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620950690

• Brosschot, J.F., Verkuil, B., & Thayer, J.F. (2018). Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: Unsafe Environments and Conditions, and the Default Stress Response. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(3), 464; doi:10.3390/ijerph15030464

• Ottaviani C., Thayer, J.F., Verkuil, B., Critchley, H.D., & Brosschot, J.F. (2017). Editorial. Can't get you out of my head: Brain-body interactions in perseverative cognition. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 19 December 2017. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00634

• Brosschot, J.F. (2017). Ever at the ready for events that never happen. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 8   Article Number: 1309934. doi: 10.1080/20008198.2017.1309934

• Brosschot J.F., Verkuil B., & Thayer J.F. (2017). Exposed to events that never happen: Generalized unsafety, the default stress response, and prolonged autonomic activity, Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 74(Part B): 287-296.

• Brosschot J.F., Verkuil B., & Thayer J.F. (2016). The default response to uncertainty and the importance of perceived safety in anxiety and stress: An evolution-theoretical perspective., Journal of anxiety disorders, 41, 22-34.

• Ottaviani C., Thayer J.F., Verkuil B., Lonigro A., Medea B., Couyoumdjian A., & Brosschot J.F. (2016). Physiological concomitants of perseverative cognition: A systematic review and meta-analysis., Psychological bulletin, 142(3), 231-259.

• Brosschot, J.F. (2010). Markers of chronic stress: Prolonged physiological activation and (un)conscious perseverative cognition. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35, 46–50. 

• Brosschot, J.F., Verkuil, B., & Thayer, J.F. (2010). Conscious and unconscious perseverative cognition: Is a large part of prolonged physiological activity due to unconscious stress?  Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 69(4), 407-16.

• Verkuil, Brosschot, Gebhardt, W., & Thayer, J.F. (2010). When worries make you sick: A review of perseverative cognition, the default stress response and somatic health.   Journal of Experimental Psychopathology, 1(1), 87-118.

• Brosschot, J.F, Gerin, W., &  Thayer, J.F. (2006). Worry and health: the perseverative cognition hypothesis.  Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60, 113-124.

• Brosschot,  J.F., Pieper, S., & Thayer J.F. (2005). Expanding Stress Theory: Prolonged Activation And Perseverative Cognition. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(10), 1043-1049.

• Brosschot J.F., & Thayer J.F. (1998). Anger inhibition, cardiovascular recovery, and vagal function: a model of the link between hostility and cardiovascular disease.  Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 20(4), 1-8. 

• Brosschot J.F., Godaert G.L.R., Benschop R.J., Olff, M. & Bal­lieux, R.E., & Heijnen, C.J.  (1998). Experimental stress and immunological reactivity: a closer look at perceived uncontrollability.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 60(3), 359-361.   

• Brosschot, J.F., Benschop R.J., Go­daert G.L.R., De Smet M.B.M., Olff M., Heijn­en­ C.J., & Bal­lieux R.E. (1992). Effects of experi­men­tal psycho­logical stress on dis­tribu­tion and func­tion of perip­he­ral blood cells.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 54, 394-406. ​

Teaching

• Stress Health and Disease: course at (International) Bachelor Psychology Leiden (convenor).
• Psychology of Stress and Health: course at Leiden University College The Hague, major Global Public Health (convenor).
• Personality, Clinical and Health Psychology: course at (International) Bachelor Psychology Leiden (teacher).

Blogs

• Blog about the Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: ‘Stress? It’s safety, silly!‘. Leiden Psychology Blog, April 23, 2022.  
• Blog about critique of current stress theory & research: ‘Stress science is looking in the wrong place with the wrong theory to explain how stress influences health’. Leiden Psychology Blog, April 14, 2022.  
• Blog about poor literature searching practice in Psychology and similar sciences: ’There is No Scientific News. The failure to determine what we already know due to our poor literature searching practice’. Leiden Psychology Blog, May 2021.  
• Blog about students’ stress during the corona crisis: https://bloggedup.jimdofree.com/2020/04/17/jos-f-brosschot-phd-professor-of-health-psychology/ 

Video

• Youtube-playlist on academic literature searching: ‘Scientific Literature Searching - An example from psychology By Prof.dr. Jos Brosschot’: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoVD8APl14IBYM2hVlkI7dy0xuvPpcwgP 

Publications

Activities