ObjectiveAlthough multimodal interventions are recommended in patients with severe depressive and/or anxiety disorders, available evidence is scarce. Therefore, the current study evaluates the effectiveness of an outpatient secondary care interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program, delivered within a transdiagnostic framework, for patients with (comorbid) depressive and/or anxiety disorders.MethodsParticipants were 3,900 patients diagnosed with a depressive and/or anxiety disorder. The primary outcome was Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) measured with the Research and Development-36 (RAND-36). Secondary outcomes included: (1) current psychological and physical symptoms measured with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) and (2) symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress measured with the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). The healthcare program consisted of two active treatment phases: main 20-week program and a subsequent continuation-phase intervention (i.e., 12-month relapse prevention program). Mixed linear models were used to examine the effects of the healthcare program on primary/secondary outcomes over four time points: before start 20-week program (T0), halfway 20-week program (T1), end of 20-week program (T2) and end of 12-month relapse prevention program (T3).ResultsResults showed significant improvements from T0 to T2 for the primary variable (i.e., RAND-36) and secondary variables (i.e., BSI/DASS). During the 12-month relapse prevention program, further significant improvements were mainly observed for secondary variables (i.e., BSI/DASS) and to a lesser extent for the primary variable (i.e., RAND-36). At the end of the relapse prevention program (i.e., T3), 63% of patients achieved remission of depressive symptoms (i.e., DASS depression score ≤ 9) and 67% of patients achieved remission of anxiety symptoms (i.e., DASS anxiety score ≤ 7).ConclusionAn interdisciplinary multimodal integrative healthcare program, delivered within a transdiagnostic framework, seems effective for patients suffering from depressive and/or anxiety disorders with regard to HRQoL and symptoms of psychopathology. As reimbursement and funding for interdisciplinary multimodal interventions in this patient group has been under pressure in recent years, this study could add important evidence by reporting on routinely collected outcome data from a large patient group. Future studies should further investigate the long-term stability of treatment outcomes after interdisciplinary multimodal interventions for patients suffering from depressive and/or anxiety disorders.

Ghent University is delighted to host the Young Researchers Day of the Belgian Pain Society. Our vision on learning and education refers to the credo Dare to Think. After all, Ghent University wants to educate those who stand with both feet in reality and dare to venture outside the box. Ghent University encourages this through multiperspectivism, the ability to perceive oneself through someone else's eyes. Research is the driving force of Ghent University. Boundaries are pushed. Researchers make discoveries that have an impact on society at large. Moreover, the research breathes new life into education and establishes the basis for a forward-looking knowledge society.Being a pain researcher myself, I am proud to host this inspiring meeting at Ghent University. I want to express my gratitude to the Doctoral Schools of Life Sciences and Medicine from Ghent University who with the support of the Flemish Government provided the beautiful and historical facilities in which this researchers day is held. In name of the organising committee I would also like to thank the FNRS doctoral school of neuroscience for their support, and Grunenthal for sponsoring the awards.Whether you are attending this day as a participant to present and discuss your own research or as a delegate to discover novelties in pain research, my challenge to you is Dare to Think! Prof. dr. Jessica Van Oosterwijck Host from Ghent University THE BELGIAN PAIN SOCIETY MissionThe Belgian Pain Society, Belgian chapter of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP, http://www.iasp-pain.org), is a multidisciplinary scientific association which assembles the medical profession and non-medical professionals involved in chronic and acute pain. The goals of our association is to support the education for the treatment of pain, stimulate the pain research, encourage the treatment of a patient by creating a network that is adapted for the correct treatment and participate in the application of public health care. MembershipThe BPS is a multidisciplinary association which includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dentists, social workers ... As a scientific association, the missions of the BPS are to support training in assessment and pain treatment, stimulate research in this area, encourage patient treatment and participate in the implementation of health care policy. Your contribution will help support the implementation of these objectives.