dr. Paula Mommersteeg

Bio

Dr. Mommersteeg has been selected for groundbreaking research 'More power to the patient', for which a crowdfunding has started between Oktober 14th and December 9th 2019.

As a biologist in our ‘Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases’ CoRPS research group, department of medical and clinical psychology, I aim to investigate the interdisciplinary research field of cardio-psychology. My research is focused on how stress, emotions and psychology affect the heart and vice versa. I collaborate with cardiology departments of the Elisabeth-Tweesteden hospital Tilburg, Verbeeten Institute Tilburg, and the Radboudumc. In 2017-2019 me and my colleagues investigated the risk of psychosocial factors in women and men for the development and progression of ischemic heart diseases, in a meta-analysis funded by ZonMw and the Dutch Heart Foundation (Hartstichting).

Expertise

My expertise is in examining the complex interplay of stress, emotions, psychology and heart disease. I have a special interest in heart disease in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease with underlying disease processes such as microvascular disease or vasospasm, sex and gender differences in heart disease, and biological mechanisms, including inflammation, stress-hormones, and disease states.

Teaching

I have developed, teach, and coordinate courses on biological psychology, psychopharmacology, and psychosomatic models of explanation. I supervise masterstudents in their research and thesis. Each year, students who participate in the psychopharmacology course develop a WIKI page on a somatic condition and psychological interaction, results can be found here http://psychopharmacologyuvt.pbworks.com/w/page/36551298/Welcome

Courses

• Biological Psychology (Dutch Program)
• Biological Psychology
• Pathology
• Psychosomatic Models of Explanation
• Psychopharmacology Medical Psychology

Recent publications

1. The role of sex and gender in somatic complaints among patients with …

   van den Houdt, S. C. M., Wokke, T., Mommersteeg, P. M. C., Widdershoven, J. W. M. G., & Kupper, H. M. (2024). The role of sex and gender in somatic complaints among patients with coronary heart disease: A longitudinal study on acute and long-term changes. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 178, Article 111601.

2. Psychosocial factors may serve as additional eligibility criteria for…

   Hummel, B., Harskamp, R. E., Bolijn, R., Moll van Charante, E. P., Galenkamp, H., Mommersteeg, P. M. C., & van Valkengoed, I. G. M. (2023). Psychosocial factors may serve as additional eligibility criteria for cardiovascular risk screening in women and men in a multi-ethnic population: The HELIUS study. Preventive Medicine, 172, Article 107515.

3. Gender roles and gender norms associated with psychological distress …

   Mommersteeg, P. M. C., van Valkengoed, I., Lodder, P., Juster, R. P., & Kupper, H. M. (2023). Gender roles and gender norms associated with psychological distress in women and men among the dutch general population. Journal of Health Psychology. Advance online publication.

4. A network analysis of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with he…

   van den Houdt, S. C. M., Mommersteeg, P. M. C., Widdershoven, J., & Kupper, N. (2023). A network analysis of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with heart disease: The role of socioeconomic status and sex. Psychosomatic Medicine, 85(5), 417-430.

5. Sex and gender differences in psychosocial risk profiles among patien…

   van den Houdt, S. C. M., Mommersteeg, P. M. C., Widdershoven, J. W. M. G., & Kupper, H. M. (2023). Sex and gender differences in psychosocial risk profiles among patients with coronary heart disease: The THORESCI-Gender study. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Advance online publication.