Nicolas Leenaerts, MD, PhD

Nicolas Leenaerts, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist | Post-Doctoral Researcher

Publications

You can also find my articles on my Google Scholar profile, and my preprints on PsyArXiv.

ASeeing the unseen: The neurodevelopmental factors related to visual impairments in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

Published in Pediatric Neurology, 2026

Study investigating the relation between visual outcomes and brain damage in cerebral palsy

Recommended citation: Crotti, M., Ben Itzhak, N., Mailleux, L., Kleeren, L., Decraene, L., Leenaerts, N., Lubián-Gutiérrez, M., Feys, H., & Ortibus, E. (2026). Seeing the Unseen: The Neurodevelopmental Factors Related to Visual Impairments in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy. Pediatric neurology, 178, 15–25. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2026.01.023 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Seeing_Unseen.pdf

The effect of stress on delay discounting in female patients with early-onset bulimia nervosa and alcohol use disorder: functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Published in BJPsych Open, 2025

Study exploring differences in delay discounting between patients with bulimia nervosa or alcohol use disorder and healthy controls, the impact of stress on food and alcohol delay discounting and associated changes in brain activity.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Ceccarini, J., Weygandt, M., Sunaert, S., & Vrieze, E. (2025). The effect of stress on delay discounting in female patients with early-onset bulimia nervosa and alcohol use disorder: functional magnetic resonance imaging study. BJPsych Open, 11(5), e207. doi:10.1192/bjo.2025.10821 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/the-effect-of-stress-on-delay-discounting-in-female-patients-with-early-onset-bulimia-nervosa-and-alcohol-use-disorder-functional-magnetic-resonance-imaging-study.pdf

Dynamic reconfigurations of brain subnetworks in female patients with alcohol use disorder or bulimia nervosa: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Published in European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 2025

This study investigates dynamic network reconfigurations in female patients with AUD or BN and healthy controls.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts N, Broeders TAA, Ceccarini J, Sunaert S, Schoonheim MM, Vinkers CH, Vrieze E. Dynamic reconfigurations of brain subnetworks in female patients with alcohol use disorder or bulimia nervosa: a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2025 Jul 3. doi: 10.1007/s00406-025-02055-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40608112. http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Dynamics_BN_AUD.pdf

Applying machine learning to ecological momentary assessment data to identify predictors of loss-of-control eating and overeating severity in adolescents: A preliminary investigation.

Published in Appetite, 2025

Study applying machine learning to simultaneously evaluate multiple possible predictors of LOC-eating and overeating severity in pooled and person-specific models.

Recommended citation: Hagan K, Leenaerts N, Walsh BT, Ranzenhofer L. Applying machine learning to ecological momentary assessment data to identify predictors of loss-of-control eating and overeating severity in adolescents: A preliminary investigation. Appetite. 2025 Mar 1;207:107900. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.107900. Epub 2025 Feb 6. PMID: 39922228; PMCID: PMC11884998. http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/machine_learning_overeating.pdf

Affective dynamics surrounding craving, non-heavy alcohol use and binge drinking in female patients with alcohol use disorder and controls: An experience sampling method study

Published in Addiction, 2024

Study exploring the dynamics of within-person negative and positive affect surrounding craving, non-heavy alcohol use and binge drinking in women with alcohol use disorder and female controls.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts N, Vaessen T, Sunaert S, Ceccarini J, Vrieze E. Affective dynamics surrounding craving, non-heavy alcohol use and binge drinking in female patients with alcohol use disorder and controls: An experience sampling method study. Addiction. 2025 Jan;120(1):61-76. doi: 10.1111/add.16682. Epub 2024 Oct 6. PMID: 39370555. http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Affective_Dynamics.pdf

The relation between visual functions, functional vision, and bimanual function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy

Published in Research in Developmental Disabilities, 2024

Paper investigating the relation between visual functions, functional vision, and bimanual function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (uCP)

Recommended citation: Crotti, M., Ortibus, E., Ben Itzhak, N., Kleeren, L., Decraene, L., Leenaerts, N., Feys, H., & Mailleux, L. (2024). The relation between visual functions, functional vision, and bimanual function in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Research in developmental disabilities, 152, 104792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2024.104792 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/visual_functions_palsy.pdf

The relation between stress-induced dopamine release in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, fronto-striatal functional connectivity, and negative urgency: A multimodal investigation using [18F]Fallypride PET, MRI and experience sampling

Published in Behavioural Brain Research, 2024

This study investigates the relation between stress-induced DA release in the vmPFC, fronto-striatal connectivity, and NU in daily life. Its result suggest that stress can differentially impact FC between the vmPFC and striatum, leading to a lower FC with the dorsal striatum and a higher FC with the contralateral ventral striatum. Furthermore, individuals with a higher FC between the vmPFC and dorsal striatum displayed more NU in daily life. Contrary to our hypotheses, individuals with a higher stress-induced DA release in the vmPFC also had a higher stress-induced change in fronto-striatal FC and displayed more NU in daily life.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Ceccarini, J., Sunaert, S., & Vrieze, E. (2024). The relation between stress-induced dopamine release in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, fronto-striatal functional connectivity, and negative urgency: A multimodal investigation using [18F]Fallypride PET, MRI and experience sampling. Behavioural brain research, 115138. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115138 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/BBR_PET.pdf

Person-specific and pooled prediction models for binge eating, alcohol use and binge drinking in bulimia nervosa and alcohol use disorder

Published in Psychological Medicine, 2024

Paper evaluating person-specific and pooled prediction models for binge eating, alcohol use, and binge drinking in daily life, and identifies the most important predictors

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Soyster, P., Ceccarini, J., Sunaert, S., Fisher, A., & Vrieze, E. (2024). Person-specific and pooled prediction models for binge eating, alcohol use and binge drinking in bulimia nervosa and alcohol use disorder. Psychological Medicine, 1–16. doi:10.1017/S0033291724000862 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/person-specific-and-pooled-prediction-models-for-binge-eating-alcohol-use-and-binge-drinking-in-bulimia-nervosa-and-alcohol-use-disorder.pdf

Changes in leukoencephalopathy and serum neurofilament after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

Published in Translational Oncology, 2023

In this paper, we investigated leukoencephalopathy before and after chemotherapy and its association with a serum neuroaxonal damage marker.

Recommended citation: Schroyen, G., Sleurs, C., Ottenbourgs, T., Leenaerts, N., Nevelsteen, I., Melis, M., Smeets, A., Deprez, S., & Sunaert, S. (2023). Changes in leukoencephalopathy and serum neurofilament after (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. Translational oncology, 37, 101769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101769 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Leuko_Breast.pdf

Neuronal activity and reward processing in relation to binge eating

Published in Current Opinion in Psychiatry, 2023

Narrative review on how findings concerning the neurobiological reward system in binge eating are related to changes in reward processing.

Recommended citation: Vrieze, E., & Leenaerts, N. (2023). Neuronal activity and reward processing in relation to binge eating. Current opinion in psychiatry, 36(6), 443–448. https://doi.org/10.1097/YCO.0000000000000895 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Review_Reward_Processing.pdf

The Impact of Mindfulness on Functional Brain Connectivity and Peripheral Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Complaints

Published in Cancers, 2023

In this study, we investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on brain function and inflammatory profiles in breast cancer survivors with cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Recommended citation: Melis, M., Schroyen, G., Blommaert, J., Leenaerts, N., Smeets, A., Van Der Gucht, K., Sunaert, S., & Deprez, S. (2023). The Impact of Mindfulness on Functional Brain Connectivity and Peripheral Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Complaints. Cancers, 15(14), 3632. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15143632 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Mindfulness_Cancer_FCONN.pdf

How negative affect does and does not lead to binge eating-The importance of craving and negative urgency in bulimia nervosa

Published in Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 2023

This study explores the relations between negative affect, craving, rash action, and binge eating in daily life and whether craving and rash action mediate the relationship between negative affect and binge eating.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Vaessen, T., Sunaert, S., Ceccarini, J., & Vrieze, E. (2023). How negative affect does and does not lead to binge eating-The importance of craving and negative urgency in bulimia nervosa. Journal of psychopathology and clinical science, 132(5), 621–633. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000830 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/How_negative_affect_does_and_d.pdf

The impact of mindfulness on cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints

Published in Cancer, 2023

In this study, the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention to reduce cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors, compared with physical training and a wait list control group, was investigated.

Recommended citation: Melis, M., Schroyen, G., Leenaerts, N., Smeets, A., Sunaert, S., Van der Gucht, K., & Deprez, S. (2023). The impact of mindfulness on cancer-related cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors with cognitive complaints. Cancer, 129(7), 1105–1116. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.34640 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Mindfulness_Cancer_Cognitive.pdf

Cerebral glucose changes after chemotherapy and their relation to long-term cognitive complaints and fatigue

Published in Frontiers in Oncology, 2022

Paper investigating the short-term cerebral metabolic effects of intravenous chemotherapy and their association with long-term fatigue/cognitive complaints

Recommended citation: Schroyen, G., Schramm, G., Van Weehaeghe, D., Leenaerts, N., Vande Casteele, T., Blommaert, J., Koole, M., Smeets, A., Van Laere, K., Sunaert, S., & Deprez, S. (2022). Cerebral glucose changes after chemotherapy and their relation to long-term cognitive complaints and fatigue. Frontiers in oncology, 12, 1021615. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2022.1021615 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Glucose_Chemo.pdf

The neurobiological reward system and binge eating: A critical systematic review of neuroimaging studies

Published in International Journal Of Eating Disorders, 2022

Systematic review of papers studying the neurobiological reward system in binge eating. A search was conducted of articles published until March 31, 2022. Neuroimaging studies were eligible if they wanted to study the reward system and included a group of individuals who binge eat together with a comparator group. Their results were summarized in a narrative synthesis.

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Jongen, D., Ceccarini, J., Van Oudenhove, L., & Vrieze, E. (2022). The neurobiological reward system and binge eating: A critical systematic review of neuroimaging studies. The International journal of eating disorders, 55(11), 1421–1458. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.23776 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Sys_Review_Neurobiological_Binge.pdf

The impact of COVID-19-related smell and taste disorders on a patient with bulimia nervosa: a case report

Published in Neurocase, 2022

Case report of how losing smell and taste impacts the triggers for binge eating in a patient with bulimia nervosa

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Ceccarini, J., Sunaert, S., & Vrieze, E. (2022). The impact of COVID-19-related smell and taste disorders on a patient with bulimia nervosa: a case report. Neurocase, 28(1), 72–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/13554794.2021.2024859 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/COVID_Smell.pdf

Disentangling the symptoms of schizophrenia: Network analysis in acute phase patients and in patients with predominant negative symptoms

Published in European Psychiatry, 2021

A network analysis of PANNS-items in patients with schizophrenia.

Recommended citation: Demyttenaere, K., Leenaerts, N., Acsai, K., Sebe, B., Laszlovszky, I., Barabássy, Á., Fonticoli, L., Szatmári, B., Earley, W., Németh, G., & Correll, C. U. (2021). Disentangling the symptoms of schizophrenia: Network analysis in acute phase patients and in patients with predominant negative symptoms. European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 65(1), e18. https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.2241 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/Network_Schizophrenia.pdf

How COVID-19 lockdown measures could impact patients with bulimia nervosa: Exploratory results from an ongoing experience sampling method study

Published in Eating Behaviors, 2021

Paper on the impact of the lockdown measures in Belgium on patients with bulimia nervosa

Recommended citation: Leenaerts, N., Vaessen, T., Ceccarini, J., & Vrieze, E. (2021). How COVID-19 lockdown measures could impact patients with bulimia nervosa: Exploratory results from an ongoing experience sampling method study. Eating behaviors, 41, 101505. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eatbeh.2021.101505 http://nicolasleenaerts.github.io/files/How_COVID_19.pdf