Research group Clinical neuroscience in psychiatry

Beginning with studies of episodic memory and its neural substrates in schizophrenia and depression, our work expanded to emotional memory, neuroplasticity, and the effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT )on memory, brain structure, and functional adaptation. Recognizing the therapeutic potential of ECT, I co-founded the Global ECT-MRI Research Collaboration to advance international understanding of its mechanisms and optimize clinical application.

We have established the neurobiological treatment unit at the Department of Psychiary, that offers state-of-the-art treatments that are informed by the latest research developments. Our research on the (cost-)effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has contributed to the placement of rTMS in national treatment guidelines.

In addition, we are the first center in the Netherlands and one of only few in Europe/worldwide offering Magnetic Seizure Therapy (MST). Next to the more clinical applications we seek to understand the impact of modulating memories in vulnerable subjects with early child adversity and try to translate these findings to new forms of behavioral therapy.

We dedicate our clinical neuroscence work to understand mechanisms of disruptive behavior particular in patients with brain injury.

• Rovers JJE, van Eijndhoven PFP, Abbot C, Argyelan M, Bouckaert F, Brunoni AR, Espinoza RT, van Exel E, Gazdag G, van den Heuvel L, Kessler U, Loo C, McLoughlin D, Nordanskog P, Regenold WT, Sackeim H, Somers M, Takamiya A, Thirthalli J, van Waarde J, Tendolkar I, Dols A. A Global Delphi-Based Expert Consensus on Relapse Prevention Strategies Following Successful Electroconvulsive Therapy for Major Depressive Disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2026 Mar 11:appiajp20250641. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20250641.
• Liu XS, Haak KV, Figa K, Vrijsen JN, Oldehinkel M, Mulders PCR, Collard RM, van Eijndhoven PFP, Beckmann CF, Fernández G, Tendolkar I, Kohn N. Childhood adversity predicts striatal functional connectivity gradient changes after acute stress. Imaging Neurosci (Camb). 2024;2:imag-2-00269.
• van der Weerd N, Mulders P, Vrijsen J, van Oort J, Collard R, van Eijndhoven P, Tendolkar I. Childhood adversity, stress reactivity, and structural brain measures in stress-related/neurodevelopmental disorders, and their comorbidity: A large transdiagnostic cross-sectional study. Hum Brain Mapp. 2024;45(14):e70025. 
• Dalhuisen I, van Oostrom I, Spijker J, Wijnen B, van Exel E, van Mierlo H, de Waardt D, Arns M, Tendolkar I, van Eijndhoven P. rTMS as a Next Step in Antidepressant Nonresponders: A Randomized Comparison With Current Antidepressant Treatment Approaches. Am J Psychiatry. 2024;181(9):806-814. 
• Bovy L, Berkers RMWJ, Pottkämper JCM, Varatheeswaran R, Fernández G, Tendolkar I, Dresler M. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation of the Medial Prefrontal Cortex Decreases Emotional Memory Schemas. Cereb Cortex. 2020;30(6):3608-3616.
• Mulders PCR, Llera A, Beckmann CF, Vandenbulcke M, Stek M, Sienaert P, Redlich R, Petrides G, Oudega ML, Oltedal L, Oedegaard KJ, Narr KL, Magnusson PO, Kessler U, Jorgensen A, Espinoza R, Enneking V, Emsell L, Dols A, Dannlowski U, Bolwig TG, Bartsch H, Argyelan M, Anand A, Abbott CC, van Eijndhoven PFP, Tendolkar I. Structural changes induced by electroconvulsive therapy are associated with clinical outcome. Brain Stimul. 2020;13(3):696-704. 
• Kroes MC, Tendolkar I, van Wingen GA, van Waarde JA, Strange BA, Fernández G. An electroconvulsive therapy procedure impairs reconsolidation of episodic memories in humans. Nat Neurosci 2014;17(2):204-6
• Gerritsen L, Rijpkema M, van Oostrom I, Buitelaar J, Franke B, Fernández G, Tendolkar I. Amygdala to hippocampal volume ratio is associated with negative memory bias in healthy subjects. Psychol Med 2012;42(2):335-43
• van Eijndhoven P, Van Oijen K, Van Wingen G, Rijpkema M, Oude Voshaar R, Buitelaar J, Fernandez G, Tendolkar I. Amygdala volume is state dependent in the early course of depression. Biol Psychiat 2009;65(9):812-8
• Tendolkar I, Ruhrmann S, Brockhaus A, Prukrop R, Klosterkoetter J. Remembering or Knowing: Electrophysiological evidence for an episodic memory deficit in schizophrenia. Psychological Medicine 2002;32:1261-71