New Paragraph

Hello, I am Ruth J. van Holst,

I am a cognitive clinical neuroscientist and associate professor at the Amsterdam UMC.

I am fascinated by how certain behavior can spiral out of control and how this is reflected in the human brain.

Find my publications here: [GOOGLE SCHOLAR]

Are you also fascinated by cognitive neuroscience and impulsive and compulsive disorders, and want to learn more?

Feel free to contact me.

Contact me

I am the principal investigator on these current projects:

Neurocognitive studies in gambling disorder
Meta-cognitions in compulsive behaviours
The role of dopamine in meta-cognition and gambling disorder
Developing a network theory of addiction and depression in an urban population

Other roles

Principle investigator (PI) at the Centre for Urban Mental Health
Organizer of the international conference "Current Advances in Gambling Research" in 2024.
Associate Editor Board member at the journal “Journal of Behavioral Addictions”
Associate Editor Board member at the journal “European Addiction Research”
Section Editor at "PLOS Mental Health"
Chairman of the Examination board of the Research Master "Brain and Cognitive Sciences" at the University of Amsterdam
Member of the program council of Amsterdam Public Health
Expert reviewer for European grant commissions (e.g., Austrian Science Fund, Swiss National Science Foundation, Norwegian Research Council)

About me

I’m Dr. Ruth J. van Holst and work at the department of psychiatry at AmsterdamUMC.

Throughout my career, my research has focused on understanding why people make unfortunate decisions and display harmful behaviours, and importantly, why they don’t stop.

After obtaining my clinical neuropsychology Master, I did my PhD-studies focusing on gambling disorder and alcohol dependence to clarify the underlying neurocognitive mechanisms that contribute to loss of control over behaviour.

After obtaining my PhD I have been involved in multiple other research lines, many of which concern dysfunctional decision-making and habits such as game addiction and OCD, for which I collaborate with different international research groups.

My overarching aim is to contribute to a better understanding of the neurocognitive basis of impulsive and compulsive disorder and so help remediate and diminish this kind of problematic and harmful disorders.

I am thankful to have received these supporting grants

2011: ECNP Research Grant for Young Scientists

2012:NWO Rubicon Grant

2015: ABC-talent grant

2017: ABC- project grant

2019: NWO Aspasia Grant

2020: Center for Urban Mental Health - grant

2023: ZonMW - Preventie van Kansspelverslaving

2023: MSCA Doctoral Network (as co-PI, lead: Janneke Jehee)