Sebastiaan van Alphen

Sebastiaan van Alphen is an Unpaid Guest Professor in the Department of Personality and Psychopathology at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. His research focuses on personality disorders, particularly in geriatric populations, and the application of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy in clinical settings. He leads the ongoing project "Empirical Evaluation and Clinical Relevance of a Dimensional Model for Personality Disorders in Later Life" (FWOTM1066), exploring age-neutral assessment tools and interventions for personality dysfunction in older adults.

His work emphasizes psychometric validation of clinical instruments, such as the Dutch version of the Young Positive Schema Questionnaire, and investigates self-harm risk profiles in aging populations. He actively collaborates with institutions globally, presenting at major conferences like the American Psychological Association Annual Convention (2012) and chairing events like the ISSPD Personality Disorder Congress (2021).

Van Alphen has advised on doctoral research, including serving as a supervisor for Ellen Gielkens' PhD defense in 2023. His research spans 16 years (2010–2025), with 98 publications and a h-index of 16, addressing topics like PTSD treatment efficacy in elderly patients and frailty reduction through therapeutic interventions.