Véronique de Gucht conducts research in clinical health psychology, specifically on chronic conditions and sensitivity to stimuli.

More information about Veronique de Gucht

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  09 July 2024 Podcast: Understanding High Sensitivity
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  10 June 2024 ‘High sensitivity is not a clinical diagnosis, but a personality trait you can harness’

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Véronique de Gucht conducts research in clinical health psychology, specifically on chronic conditions and sensitivity to stimuli.

Short CV

De Gucht graduated (summa cum laude) in clinical psychology from Gent University in 1989. After being certified in cognitive behavioural therapy, she obtained the diploma in continued cognitive behavioural therapy at the University of Leuven in 1999. She obtained her PhD from Leiden University in 2001 for a thesis on somatically unexplained physical complaints.

Research on chronic conditions and sensitivity to stimuli

Her current area of research can be situated in the domain of (clinical) health psychology, with a special emphasis on:

(1) medically unexplained physical complaints and syndromes, including questionnaire research aimed at the determinants of these complaints and intervention research, particularly in the field of chronic pain and chronic fatigue;

(2) the psychosocial determinants and psychological consequences of chronic diseases, including rheumatic disorders;

 (3) the concept of sensory processing sensitivity, in particular the way this concept is measured and the relationship between increased sensitivity to stimuli and psychological and physical complaints.

Training

• MSc Clinical and Developmental Psychology (Ghent University, 1989).
• Advanced degree in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Leuven University, 1999).
• PhD obtained in 2001 at Leiden University. Title PhD thesis: "Personality and affect as predictors of medically unexplained symptoms in primary care".

Grant acquisition

• Grant from Fresenius Medical Care (Germany) for a two-year study (2018-2020) on fatigue and physical activity in Chronic Kidney Disease.
• Grant from Fresenius Medical care (Germany) for a three-year study (2016-2019) on Quality of Life in patients undergoing Lipoprotein Apheresis treatment.
• PhD grant (2009-2013) of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (SFRH/BD/47579/2008 - FCT - MCTE). The objective of the research project was to pilot-test a physical activity intervention, based upon self-regulation and motivational counselling in CFS patients in Lisbon and Porto.

Managerial positions

Leiden University

• Member of the University Council (2016 - present)
• Member of the Board of Examiners of the Institute of Psychology (2015 - present)
• Member of the Council of the Institute of Psychology (2014 – present)
• Member of the Board of Psychology and Director of Research of the Institute of Psychology, Leiden University (January 2009 - May 2011)

Foreign

• Member of the Executive Board of the Belgian National Health Council (which directly advises the Belgian government on health issues) (January 2009 - present)
• Expert member of the Belgian National Health Council. (January 2004 - present)

Other international activities (selection)

• Invited lectures/seminars in Bejing (2004), London (2005), Aix-en-Provence (2005), Metz (2010), Lisbon (2011), Newcastle (2012) and Toulouse (2012/2014).
• Member of the European Health Psychology Society.
• Member of the International College of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Selected Publications (10)

De Gucht, V., Garcia, F. K., den Engelsman, M., Maes, S. (2017). Do changes in illness perceptions, physical activity, and behavioural regulation influence fatigue severity and health-related outcomes in CFS patients? Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 95, 55-61.

Marques, M., De Gucht, V., Leal, I., Maes, S. (2017). Efficacy of a randomized controlled self-regulation based physical activity intervention for Chronic Fatigue: Mediation effects of physical activity progress and self-regulation skills. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 94, 24-31.

De Gucht, V., Garcia, F. K., den Engelsman, M., Maes, S. Differences in physical and psychosocial characteristics between CFS and fatigued non-CFS patients, a case-control study (2016). International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 23, 589-594. (IF=2.19).

Knittle, K., De Gucht, V., Maes, S. (2016). Explaining physical activity maintenance after a theory-based intervention among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Process evaluation of a randomized controlled trial. Arthritis Care & Research, 68, 203-210. (IF=5.05)

De Gucht, V. (2015). Illness perceptions mediate the relationship between bowel symptom severity and health-related quality of life in IBS patients. Quality of Life Research, 24, 1845-56 (IF= 2.99)

Marques, M., De Gucht, V., Gouveia, M. J., Leal, I., & Maes, S. (2015). Differential effects of behavioral interventions with a graded physical activity component in patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue (Syndrome): an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 40, 123-137. (IF=9.86)

Adriaenssens, J., De Gucht, V., Maes, S. (2015). Determinants and prevalence of burnout in emergency nurses: A systematic review of 25 years of research. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52, 649-661. (IF=2.85)

Janssen, V., De Gucht, V., Dusseldorp, E., & Maes, S. (2013). Lifestyle Modification Programs for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 20, 620-640. (IF=3.04)

Knittle, K., De Gucht, V., Maes, S. (2012). Lifestyle- and behavior-change interventions in musculoskeletal conditions. Best Practice & Research in Clinical Rheumatology, 26, 293-304. (IF=3.49)

De Gucht, V. & Maes, S. (2006). Explaining medically unexplained symptoms: Toward a multidimensional, theory-based approach to somatization. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 60, 349-352. (IF=3.56)

Activities