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Ferreira NS, Costa VP, Miranda JF, Cintra LO, Barbosa LS, Barbosa da Silva MG, Abreu NA, Abe RY. Psychological Stress and Intraocular Pressure in Glaucoma. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2024:S2589-4196(24)00131-5. [PMID: 39019157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2024.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) behavior after applying a standardized protocol to induce psychological stress in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS A total of 39 POAG patients were included: 18 in the stress group and 21 in the control group. METHODS Patients were randomized to undergo the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or to be included in the control group. All participants were submitted to a modified diurnal tension curve (DTC) 1 to 4 weeks before randomization, with 3 IOP measurements performed between 8:00 AM and 2:00 PM. We evaluated the response to the TSST by measuring the levels of salivary cortisol, salivary amylase, IOP, mean arterial pressure and heart rate before, immediately after, and 40 minutes after the TSST. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied to evaluate the levels of anxiety at the same time intervals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in IOP (mmHg), salivary cortisol and amylase, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and STAI scores. RESULTS At baseline, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding age (P=0.661), gender (P=0.669), salivary cortisol (P=0.104) and mean DTC IOP for the right (P=0.439) and left (P=0.576) eyes. We observed a significant mean IOP increase of 3.8 mmHg (right eye, P<0.001) and 4.1mmHg (left eye, P<0.001) when we compared IOP measurements obtained during the DTC and immediately after TSST. Salivary cortisol (5.9 nmol/L, P=0.004), salivary amylase (323,388 UL, P=0.004), mean arterial pressure (10.1mmHg, P<0.001) and heart rate (12.9bpm, P<0.001) also increased significantly after the TSST. In addition, 61.1% (11 out of 18) of the patients in the TSST group showed an IOP increase greater than 4 mmHg following the test. The STAI-state score significantly increased after the TSST compared to baseline (P<0.001) and decreased from post-stress to the recovery period (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS POAG patients present significant elevations of IOP, salivary cortisol and amylase, mean arterial pressure, heart rate and STAI scores after psychological stress induced by the TSST.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ricardo Y Abe
- Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil; Department of Ophthalmology - University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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Corbera S, Marín-Chollom AM. The Role of Anxiety and Prosocial Behaviors on Adherence Behaviors to Prevent COVID-19 in University Students in the United States: Cross-Sectional Study. JMIRX MED 2024; 5:e52970. [PMID: 38832671 PMCID: PMC11149054 DOI: 10.2196/52970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Background In situations of acute stress, individuals may engage in prosocial behaviors or risk-taking self-oriented behaviors. The COVID-19 pandemic created large stress-promoting conditions that impacted individuals' decisions to adhere to COVID-19 preventative behaviors. objectives The study aimed to examine the relationship between anxiety during the pandemic and adherence behaviors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and the moderating influence of prosocial behaviors. We hypothesized that individuals with high anxiety during COVID-19 would adhere more to preventive COVID-19 behaviors than ones with low anxiety and that this relationship would be stronger in those individuals with higher prosocial behaviors. Methods A web-based survey was administered through the SONA web-based participant tool of the psychology department of a university in the Northeastern United States. A final sample of 54 undergraduate students completed web-based questionnaires during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, from January to May 2021, which included demographic measures and surveys on prosocial behaviors, anxiety, and COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Moderation analyses were conducted using PROCESS in SPSS. Results Participants reported high levels of trait and state anxiety symptoms, most of them meeting or exceeding the cutoff criteria to be clinically meaningful (state anxiety: 47/54, 87%; trait anxiety: 38/44, 86%), and over 50% highly adhered to the COVID-19 preventive behaviors of wearing a face mask, using hand sanitizer, handwashing, coughing/sneezing into their elbow or a tissue, self-quarantining, maintaining social distance, avoiding social gatherings, and avoiding nonessential travel. No significant associations were observed between prosocial behavior, anxiety types, and adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors. However, when moderation analyses were conducted between anxiety types and adherence to COVID-19 preventive behaviors, results demonstrated a statistically significant interaction of public prosocial behavior with state anxiety (β=-.17, t53=-2.60; P=.01), predicting engagement in COVID-19 preventative behaviors. At high levels of anxiety, low levels of prosocial public behaviors were associated with higher engagement in COVID-19 preventative behaviors. In contrast, high levels of public prosocial behavior were associated with low engagement in COVID-19 preventative behaviors at higher levels of anxiety. Conclusions These results provide information that can aid in the creation of interventions that could increase adherence to COVID-19 preventative behaviors (Reviewed by the Plan P #PeerRef Community).
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Corbera
- Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, United States
| | - Amanda M Marín-Chollom
- Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, United States
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Araújo AAC, de Godoy S, Maia NMFES, Trevelin MEB, Vedana KGG, Neufeld CB, Freire NP, Ventura CAA, McAleer P, Mendes IAC. Cultural adaptation and validity evidence of the Student Nurse Stressor-15 (SNS-15) Scale for Brazil. Rev Bras Enferm 2024; 77:e20230356. [PMID: 38511790 PMCID: PMC10941680 DOI: 10.1590/0034-7167-2023-0356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to carry out the cultural adaptation and evaluation of validity evidence of the Student Nurse Stressor-15 (SNS-15) Scale for use in Brazil. METHODS psychometric study, conducted from the stages of translation, synthesis, back-translation, review by a committee of seven experts, pre-test and evaluation of measurement properties with 32 and 238 nursing students, respectively. Descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were performed. The reliability of the instrument was estimated using McDonald's Omega (ω). RESULTS EFA subsidized the distribution of the fifteen SNS-15 items into four factors. Using AFC, satisfactory fit indices were achieved (Comparative Fit Index = 0.94; Tucker-Lewis Index = 0.93; Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = 0.06; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.16) and ω = 0.86. CONCLUSIONS the Brazilian version of the SNS-15 presents evidence that confirms its validity and reliability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Simone de Godoy
- Universidade de São Paulo. Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patricia McAleer
- NetwellCASALA, Dundalk Institute of Technology. Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland
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Hendry E, McCallister B, Elman DJ, Freeman R, Borsook D, Elman I. Validity of mental and physical stress models. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 158:105566. [PMID: 38307304 PMCID: PMC11082879 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Different stress models are employed to enhance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and explore potential interventions. However, the utility of these models remains a critical concern, as their validities may be limited by the complexity of stress processes. Literature review revealed that both mental and physical stress models possess reasonable construct and criterion validities, respectively reflected in psychometrically assessed stress ratings and in activation of the sympathoadrenal system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The findings are less robust, though, in the pharmacological perturbations' domain, including such agents as adenosine or dobutamine. Likewise, stress models' convergent- and discriminant validity vary depending on the stressors' nature. Stress models share similarities, but also have important differences regarding their validities. Specific traits defined by the nature of the stressor stimulus should be taken into consideration when selecting stress models. Doing so can personalize prevention and treatment of stress-related antecedents, its acute processing, and chronic sequelae. Further work is warranted to refine stress models' validity and customize them so they commensurate diverse populations and circumstances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Hendry
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brady McCallister
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dan J Elman
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roy Freeman
- Center for Autonomic and Peripheral Nerve Disorders, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Borsook
- Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Igor Elman
- Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Modde Epstein C, Rice MJ, French JA, Kupzyk KA, Houfek JF. Social Support Buffers the Effects of Prenatal Depressed Mood: A Mixed-Methods Study. J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2024; 30:95-107. [PMID: 35081823 DOI: 10.1177/10783903211073793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Women use various coping strategies to deal with stress and depression. These strategies are shaped by social contexts over the life course and may attenuate and/or exacerbate the physiologic effects of depression. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to determine whether coping strategies (active, disengaged, or social support coping) moderate depression-related diurnal cortisol dysregulation and to explore how social context influences women's use of coping. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods study of pregnant women (N = 65) during mid-pregnancy. Cortisol was measured in saliva collected during the waking hours of the day. Participants completed the Edinburgh Depression Scale and the Brief COPE. A subset of the sample participated in semistructured qualitative interviews (n = 20). RESULTS: Social support coping, but not active or disengaged coping, moderated end-of-day cortisol levels. Among depressed women, higher use of social support was associated with lower and more dynamic (i.e., less flat) diurnal cortisol rhythms. The qualitative findings revealed how complex social dynamics related to financial insecurity, lack of mutuality, and social identity affected women's use of and access to social support. CONCLUSION: These findings support theories of the stress-buffering effects of social support. Future research is needed to examine how social determinants affect access to social support, and how early life social experiences condition women's adaptive formation of social support coping strategies over the life course. Clinically, these findings underscore the value of relationship-centered nursing care for depressed women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Crystal Modde Epstein
- Crystal Modde Epstein, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; University of North Carolina Greensboro, NC, USA
| | - Michael J Rice
- Michael J. Rice, PhD, APRN-NP, FAAN, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Jeffrey A. French, PhD, University of Nebraska at Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kevin A Kupzyk
- Kevin A. Kupzyk, PhD, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Julia F Houfek
- Julia F. Houfek, PhD, APRN-CNS, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
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Williford KM, Taylor A, Melchior JR, Yoon HJ, Sale E, Negasi MD, Adank DN, Brown JA, Bedenbaugh MN, Luchsinger JR, Centanni SW, Patel S, Calipari ES, Simerly RB, Winder DG. BNST PKCδ neurons are activated by specific aversive conditions to promote anxiety-like behavior. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1031-1041. [PMID: 36941364 PMCID: PMC10209190 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01569-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is a critical mediator of stress responses and anxiety-like behaviors. Neurons expressing protein kinase C delta (BNSTPKCδ) are an abundant but understudied subpopulation implicated in inhibiting feeding, but which have conflicting reports about their role in anxiety-like behaviors. We have previously shown that expression of PKCδ is dynamically regulated by stress and that BNSTPKCδ cells are recruited during bouts of active stress coping. Here, we first show that in vivo activation of this population is mildly aversive. This aversion was insensitive to prior restraint stress exposure. Further investigation revealed that unlike other BNST subpopulations, BNSTPKCδ cells do not exhibit increased cfos expression following restraint stress. Ex vivo current clamp recordings also indicate they are resistant to firing. To elucidate their afferent control, we next used rabies tracing with whole-brain imaging and channelrhodopsin-assisted circuit mapping, finding that BNSTPKCδ cells receive abundant input from affective, arousal, and sensory regions including the basolateral amygdala (BLA) paraventricular thalamus (PVT) and central amygdala PKCδ-expressing cells (CeAPKCδ). Given these findings, we used in vivo optogenetics and fiber photometry to further examine BNSTPKCδ cells in the context of stress and anxiety-like behavior. We found that BNSTPKCδ cell activity is associated with increased anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, increases following footshock, and unlike other BNST subpopulations, does not desensitize to repeated stress exposure. Taken together, we propose a model in which BNSTPKCδ cells may serve as threat detectors, integrating exteroceptive and interoceptive information to inform stress coping behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellie M Williford
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Anne Taylor
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - James R Melchior
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Hye Jean Yoon
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eryn Sale
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Milen D Negasi
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danielle N Adank
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jordan A Brown
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Michelle N Bedenbaugh
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joseph R Luchsinger
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Samuel W Centanni
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sachin Patel
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Erin S Calipari
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Richard B Simerly
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danny G Winder
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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Katembu S, Zahedi A, Sommer W. Childhood trauma and violent behavior in adolescents are differentially related to cognitive-emotional deficits. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1001132. [PMID: 37077195 PMCID: PMC10106606 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1001132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionConverging neurobiological and epidemiological evidence indicates that exposure to traumatic events in the early stages of development, that is, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), negatively affects the likelihood of being involved in violent behavior later in life. These problems are hypothesized to be mediated by the disruption of executive functions, in particular, the ability to inhibit inappropriate actions. Here we aimed to distinguish the contribution of inhibition in non-emotional and emotional situations (i.e., emotion regulation) and assessed the modulating influence of stress, testing Nairobi county high school students in a two-experiment study.MethodsIn Experiment 1, neutral and emotional inhibition, working memory, and fluid intelligence were measured alongside questionnaires about ACE and violent behavior. Experiment 2 replicated these relations in an independent sample and assessed whether they would be aggravated after acute experimentally induced stress.ResultsExperiment 1 results showed that ACE was positively related to both non-emotional and emotional inhibition; in contrast, violent behavior was only associated with deficient emotional inhibition. Experiment 2 findings showed that stress did not significantly affect the relation of ACE to non-emotional inhibition and emotion regulation; however, it increased deficits of violent participants in their ability to down-regulate emotions.DiscussionTogether, results suggest that deficits in emotion regulation, especially under stressful conditions, are more critical than impairments in non-emotional inhibition in predicting violent behavior in victims of childhood trauma. These findings open perspectives toward more targeted research and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Katembu
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stephen Katembu,
| | - Anoushiravan Zahedi
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Neuroscience Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, University of Muenster (Westfaelische Wilhelms-Universitaet Muenster), Münster, Germany
| | - Werner Sommer
- Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jin Hua, China
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DeMeo NN, Smyth JM, Scott SB, Almeida DM, Sliwinski MJ, Graham-Engeland JE. Introversion and the frequency and intensity of daily uplifts and hassles. J Pers 2023; 91:354-368. [PMID: 35567540 PMCID: PMC9659675 DOI: 10.1111/jopy.12731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE There is reason to believe that introversion may relate to different patterns of negative and positive experiences in everyday life ("hassles" and "uplifts"), but there is little evidence for this based on reports made in daily life as events occur. We thus extend the literature by using data from ecological momentary assessments to examine whether introversion is associated with either the frequency or intensity of hassles and uplifts. METHOD Participants (N = 242) were community-dwelling adults (63% Black, 24% Hispanic; ages 25-65; 65% women) who completed baseline measures of personality and mental health, followed by reports of hassles and uplifts 5x/day for 14 days. We present associations between introversion and hassles/uplifts both with and without controlling for mood-related factors (neuroticism, recent symptoms of depression, and anxiety). RESULTS Introversion was associated with reporting less frequent and less enjoyable uplifts, but not with overall hassle frequency or unpleasantness; exploratory analyses suggest associations with specific types of hassles. CONCLUSIONS Our results expand understanding of the role of introversion in everyday experiences, suggesting an overall association between introversion and uplifts (but not hassles, broadly) in daily life. Better understanding of such connections may inform future research to determine mechanisms by which introversion relates to health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha N. DeMeo
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University
| | - Joshua M. Smyth
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University
- College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University
| | | | - David M. Almeida
- The Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
| | - Martin J. Sliwinski
- The Center for Healthy Aging, The Pennsylvania State University
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University
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Grove JL, Carlson SE, Parkhurst KA, O’Neill JC, Smith TW. Nonsuicidal self-injury, sleep quality, and shame response to a laboratory stress task. J Clin Psychol 2023; 79:871-885. [PMID: 36223526 PMCID: PMC9925399 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) frequently functions to regulate shame-based emotions and cognitions in the context of interpersonal stress. The present study sought to examine how sleep quality (SQ) may influence this process in a laboratory setting. METHODS Participants included 72 adults (Mage = 24.28; 36 with a lifetime history of NSSI) who completed a self-report measure of prior month SQ and engaged in a modified Trier social stress task (TSST). State shame ratings were collected immediately before and following the TSST, as well as 5 min post-TSST, to allow for the measurement of shame reactivity and recovery. RESULTS No significant results emerged for NSSI history and SQ as statistical predictors of shame reactivity. However, NSSI history was significantly associated with heightened shame intensity during the recovery period of the task, and this was moderated by SQ. Simple slopes analyses revealed a conditional effect whereby poorer SQ (1SD above the mean) was associated with greater intensity of shame during recovery, but only for those with a history of NSSI. CONCLUSION Poor SQ may contribute to worrisome emotional responses to daytime stressors in those at risk for NSSI.
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10
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Performance during Presentations:A Question of Challenge and Threat Responses? CONTEMPORARY EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2023.102168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
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Is stress colorblind? Exploring endocrine stress responses in intergroup contexts using a virtual reality-based Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 147:105970. [PMID: 36368123 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Are social stress reactions dependent on the group identities of interaction partners? This study explored the role of ethnic context in modulating endocrine stress responses using a virtual reality (VR)-based adaptation of a standardized stress induction protocol, the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST-VR). Previous research found no clear link between endocrine stress response and ethnic context in the TSST, but conclusions remain limited due to the quasi-experimental nature of manipulating ethnic context in real-life face-to-face interactions. The VR adaptation of the TSST circumvents quasi-experimental limitations and thus provides a first, randomized-controlled investigation of the effects of ethnic context on endocrine stress responses. Forty-three men participated in the study, facing either an ingroup ("White") or an outgroup ("Arab") panel of interviewers. As expected, the TSST-VR produced physiological and subjective stress reactions. However, endocrine stress reactions occurred independent of interviewer ethnicity and could not be predicted based on implicit bias, explicit prejudice, or prejudice-related appearance concerns. Other physiological and subjective stress reactivity parameters also remained comparable across intergroup conditions. Implications for stress research are discussed.
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Løseth GE, Eikemo M, Trøstheim M, Meier IM, Bjørnstad H, Asratian A, Pazmandi C, Tangen VW, Heilig M, Leknes S. Stress recovery with social support: A dyadic stress and support task. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 146:105949. [PMID: 36240542 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
How does social support bolster resilience? Here, we present a new dyadic paradigm to study causal mechanisms of acute and ecologically valid social support in the laboratory. The Dyadic Stress and Support Task (DSST) consists of a psychosocial stress phase and a recovery phase. During DSST stress, a pair of participants take turns to perform public speaking and mental arithmetic in front of a panel. Unable to see or touch each other, they witness each other's performance and feedback. During DSST recovery, the pair either interact freely with each other for 5 min (social support condition) or interact separately with an experimenter (non-support condition). To establish the validity of the DSST, we tested 21 pairs of long-term close friends in a pilot study. Primary outcome measures were ratings of affective state and bodily arousal (VAS scales 0-100). Secondary outcome measures were heart rate and salivary cortisol. DSST stress successfully induced subjective Stress Activation, increased Negative Affect and decreased Positive Affect. We also observed increased heart rate and salivary cortisol. After DSST recovery, Stress Activation and Negative Affect ratings were reduced in both groups. Positive Affect was completely restored to pre-stress baseline levels in the Social support group, while remaining significantly lower in the Non-support group. The DSST successfully induced stress and negative affect and captured stress recovery in both groups. Free-form interaction with the friend enhanced recovery of affective state, supporting the validity of spontaneous interaction between friends as a model of social support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie Eikemo
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martin Trøstheim
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Diagnostic Physics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Isabell M Meier
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Diagnostic Physics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Herman Bjørnstad
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Asratian
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Centre for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | | | | | - Markus Heilig
- Centre for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Siri Leknes
- Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Diagnostic Physics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Cortisol response to psychosocial stress, mental distress, fatigue and quality of life in coronary artery disease patients. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19373. [PMID: 36371452 PMCID: PMC9653469 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23712-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to explore the relationship between cortisol response to psychosocial stress, mental distress, fatigue and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) after recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS). A cross-sectional study initially included 113 subjects (88% men, 53 ± 7 years) 1-3 weeks after ACS. Cortisol response was assessed by measuring salivary cortisol during Trier Social Stress Test. Mental distress was measured with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Type D Scale-14. Fatigue symptoms were evaluated using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20-items, while HRQoL was assessed with 36-Item Short Form Medical Outcome Questionnaire. After conducting multivariable linear regression analyses, diminished cortisol response sampled after Public speech (T3-T1, + 15 min) was significantly associated with higher anxiety symptoms (β = -0.224; p = 0.035), while diminished cortisol response sampled after preparation time (T2-T1, + 10 min) was significantly linked with the presence of Type D personality (β = -0.290; p = 0.006; β = -0.282; p = 0.008 respectively), even after controlling for confounders (i.e., sex, age, education, New York Heart Association functional class, beta-blockers and baseline levels of cortisol measures). We found that mental distress, but not fatigue and HRQoL, was linked with blunted cortisol response during anticipation time of psychosocial stress, independently of potential covariates.
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14
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A novel procedure to investigate social anxiety using videoconferencing software: A proof-of-concept study. Psychiatry Res 2022; 316:114770. [PMID: 35961154 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is very common and can be significantly disabling. New treatments are needed as the remission rate for SAD is the lowest of all the anxiety disorders. Experimental medicine models, in which features resembling a clinical disorder are experimentally induced, are a cost-effective and timely approach to explore potential novel treatments for psychiatric disorders. Following the emergence of SARS-CoV-2, there is a need to develop experimental medicine models that can be carried out remotely. We developed a novel procedure to investigate SAD (the InterneT-based Stress test for Social Anxiety Disorder; ITSSAD) that can be carried out entirely online by a single investigator, potentially reducing costs and maximising internal reliability. The procedure involves an anticipatory period followed by a naturalistic social interaction task. In a sample of 20 non-treatment-seeking volunteers with symptoms of SAD, the ITSSAD induced significant subjective anxiety and reduced positive affect. Further, increased social anxiety symptoms at baseline predicted increased anxiety during the social interaction task. This protocol needs further validation with physiological measures. The ITSSAD is a new tool for researchers to investigate mechanisms underlying social anxiety disorder.
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Aspiotis V, Miltiadous A, Kalafatakis K, Tzimourta KD, Giannakeas N, Tsipouras MG, Peschos D, Glavas E, Tzallas AT. Assessing Electroencephalography as a Stress Indicator: A VR High-Altitude Scenario Monitored through EEG and ECG. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22155792. [PMID: 35957348 PMCID: PMC9371026 DOI: 10.3390/s22155792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Over the last decade, virtual reality (VR) has become an increasingly accessible commodity. Head-mounted display (HMD) immersive technologies allow researchers to simulate experimental scenarios that would be unfeasible or risky in real life. An example is extreme heights exposure simulations, which can be utilized in research on stress system mobilization. Until recently, electroencephalography (EEG)-related research was focused on mental stress prompted by social or mathematical challenges, with only a few studies employing HMD VR techniques to induce stress. In this study, we combine a state-of-the-art EEG wearable device and an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor with a VR headset to provoke stress in a high-altitude scenarios while monitoring EEG and ECG biomarkers in real time. A robust pipeline for signal clearing is implemented to preprocess the noise-infiltrated (due to movement) EEG data. Statistical and correlation analysis is employed to explore the relationship between these biomarkers with stress. The participant pool is divided into two groups based on their heart rate increase, where statistically important EEG biomarker differences emerged between them. Finally, the occipital-region band power changes and occipital asymmetry alterations were found to be associated with height-related stress and brain activation in beta and gamma bands, which correlates with the results of the self-reported Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Aspiotis
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Andreas Miltiadous
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Konstantinos Kalafatakis
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Institute of Health Science Education, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London (Malta Campus), VCT 2520 Victoria, Malta
| | - Katerina D. Tzimourta
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece;
| | - Nikolaos Giannakeas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Markos G. Tsipouras
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, Greece;
| | - Dimitrios Peschos
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Euripidis Glavas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
| | - Alexandros T. Tzallas
- Human Computer Interaction Laboratory (HCILab), Department of Informatics and Telecommunications, University of Ioannina, Kostakioi, 47100 Arta, Greece; (V.A.); (A.M.); (K.K.); (K.D.T.); (N.G.); (E.G.)
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16
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Cheng X, Long R, Wu F. How Symbols and Social Interaction Influence the Experienced Utility of Sustainable Lifestyle Guiding Policies: Evidence from Eastern China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19074305. [PMID: 35409988 PMCID: PMC8998222 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19074305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
As the key to mitigating climate change, a sustainable lifestyle has become a focus of environment policy. Past studies have largely neglected the symbols of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies and failed to capture its effect on the experienced utility of sustainable lifestyle guiding policies (EUSLGP). To address this drawback, symbolic value was incorporated into a model consisting of social interaction and the EUSLGP. With data collected from 3257 respondents in Eastern China, ordinary least squares were applied to examine hypotheses and two-stage least squares based on the instrumental variable to verify the results. Results show that symbolic value combines self-expression value, relationship consolidation value, group identification value, and status-showing value, and is positively associated with EUSLGP. Social interaction plays a moderating role in the association between symbolic value and EUSLGP. Moreover, significant regional differences are discovered in the identified relationships. Consequently, policy suggestions, covering symbolic value, social interaction, and regional conditions, are proposed to enhance the EUSLGP for other countries and regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Cheng
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ruyin Long
- School of Business, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
| | - Fan Wu
- College of Economics and Management, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
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17
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Pearlstein JG, Johnson SL, Madole JW, Modavi K. Emotion-related impulsivity: Testing a model of arousal effects on cognitive control. Brain Neurosci Adv 2022; 6:23982128221079572. [PMID: 35237727 PMCID: PMC8883381 DOI: 10.1177/23982128221079572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The trait-based tendency to respond rashly to emotions is robustly tied to many forms of psychopathology and poor behavioural outcomes, including aggression and suicidality. Researchers have found associations between response inhibition and emotion-related impulsivity; however, effect sizes are often small. Because emotion-related impulsivity emerges in the context of heightened positive and negative emotions, arousal is a candidate trigger of impulsivity. The goals of the present study were to (1) replicate the association between emotion-related impulsivity and response inhibition, and (2) test whether emotion-related impulsivity is associated with arousal-induced decays in response inhibition performance. Participants (N = 55) completed a self-report measure of emotion-related impulsivity, and then completed a computer-based response inhibition task (the antisaccade task, in which participants must make a rapid saccadic eye movement away from a cue rather than toward it) before and after a well-validated stress induction (the Trier Social Stress Test). Psychophysiological indices of arousal were measured throughout the session. Findings provide partial support for the association between emotion-related impulsivity and pre-stress response inhibition. Contrary to hypotheses, emotion-related impulsivity did not interact with arousal to predict post-stress response inhibition performance after controlling for pre-stress response inhibition performance. Future research is needed to consider clinical samples and to assess whether emotion-related impulsivity is related to deficits in other facets of cognitive control and decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer G. Pearlstein
- University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Kiana Modavi
- University of California–Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
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18
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Rokita KI, Dauvermann MR, Mothersill D, Holleran L, Bhatnagar P, McNicholas Á, McKernan D, Morris DW, Kelly J, Hallahan B, McDonald C, Donohoe G. Current psychosocial stress, childhood trauma and cognition in patients with schizophrenia and healthy participants. Schizophr Res 2021; 237:115-121. [PMID: 34521038 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2021.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive difficulties are experienced frequently in schizophrenia (SZ) and are strongly predictive of functional outcome. Although severity of cognitive difficulties has been robustly associated with early life adversity, whether and how they are affected by current stress is unknown. The present study investigated whether acute stress reactivity as measured by heart rate and mood changes predict cognitive performance in patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals, and whether this is moderated by diagnosis and previous childhood trauma exposure. METHODS One hundred and four patients with schizophrenia and 207 healthy participants were administered a battery of tasks assessing cognitive performance after psychosocial stress induction (Trier Social Stress Test; TSST). Mood states (Profile of Mood States; POMS) and heart rate were assessed at baseline, immediately before, and after the TSST. RESULTS Both healthy participants and patients showed increases in POMS Tension and Total Mood Disturbance scores between Time Point 2 (pre-TSST) and Time Point 3 (post-TSST). These changes were not associated with variation in cognition. Although childhood trauma exposure was associated with higher stress reactivity and poorer cognitive function in all participants, childhood trauma did not moderate the association between stress reactivity and cognition. Neither was diagnosis a moderator of this relationship. DISCUSSION These findings suggest that while chronic stress exposure explains significant variation in cognition, acute stress reactivity (measured by changes in Tension and Total Mood Disturbance) did not. In the context of broader developmental processes, we conclude that stressful events that occur earlier in development, and with greater chronicity, are likely to be more strongly associated with cognitive variation than acute transient stressors experienced in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina I Rokita
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Maria R Dauvermann
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; McGovern Institute for Brain Research, MIT, Cambridge, MA 02135, USA
| | - David Mothersill
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; School of Business, National College of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laurena Holleran
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Paridhi Bhatnagar
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Áine McNicholas
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Declan McKernan
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Derek W Morris
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - John Kelly
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Pharmacology & Therapeutics, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Brian Hallahan
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Colm McDonald
- Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Department of Psychiatry, Clinical Science Institute, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Gary Donohoe
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland; Centre for Neuroimaging, Cognition & Genomics, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
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19
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Kroll SL, Mayo LM, Asratian A, Yngve A, Perini I, Heilig M. Negative self-evaluation induced by acute stress indexed using facial EMG. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 133:105402. [PMID: 34530295 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Maladaptive stress responses are a key feature of several psychiatric disorders, but findings of stress effects on social behavior are inconsistent. Using a within-subject design, we investigated, in 35 healthy participants, the effects of acute stress on psychophysiological and behavioral responses during a simulated online social interaction task. Participants were exposed to established stress and non-stress exposure procedures in two separate sessions. During the task, participants liked or disliked pictures of other putative players and, similarly, saw their own picture being judged by others. After stress exposure, corrugator muscle activity (frowning) was significantly increased when participants saw their own picture while anticipating feedback from others. Consistently, zygomatic muscle activity (smiling) for self-evaluation was lower after stress than in the non-stress session. We found self-report of stress to be a significant predictor of corrugator activity in both sessions, indicating that higher levels of subjective stress overall were accompanied by increased negative self-evaluation. Surprisingly, no stress effects were found on behavioral measures of other-evaluation (i.e., percentage of dislikes to others), but corrugator response significantly predicted the percentage of dislikes during the stress session only. Overall, our findings suggest that stress increases negative self-evaluation as indexed by elevated corrugator activity. Furthermore, stress might sharpen the consistency between corrugator activity and negative evaluation of others. Our results indicate that negative self-evaluation might be a useful therapeutic target in patients with stress-related psychiatric disorders. In this context, facial muscle activity may be an adequate biomarker for identifying stress-related differences in self-evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Kroll
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
| | - Leah M Mayo
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Anna Asratian
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Adam Yngve
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Irene Perini
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
| | - Markus Heilig
- Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden
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20
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The role of autonomy-connectedness in stress-modulating effects of social support in women: An experimental study using a virtual Trier Social Stress Test. Int J Psychophysiol 2021; 170:198-209. [PMID: 34710539 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social support is associated with mental well-being and favorable therapy outcomes. As autonomy-connectedness, the capacity for self-governance in interpersonal context, may affect reliance on others, we investigated whether stress-modulating effects of social support are moderated by autonomy-connectedness. Ninety-seven undergraduates completed measures on autonomy-connectedness and trait social anxiety, and attended a laboratory session with a friend (support) or alone (control). All underwent a virtual Trier Social Stress Test and completed anxiety, cortisol and heart rate (variability) measures. Preregistered analyses revealed that social support reduced anxiety reactivity and delayed heart rate variability decreases, but not heart rate. Contrary to hypotheses, autonomy-connectedness did not predict stress-reactivity or interact with condition. Exploratory analyses suggested effects of social support on cortisol reactivity and indicated that reported support quality varied by trait anxiety and self-awareness. Our findings underline the stress-modulating effects of social support and suggest that social support can benefit individuals with varying levels of autonomy-connectedness.
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21
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McKay SL, Fouladirad S, Cameron CA. The Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS-A): A newly adapted psychosocial stressor. Stress Health 2021; 37:715-728. [PMID: 33463030 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The role of stress on adolescents and its impact on development and mental health is of significant psychological concern. Previous research has investigated physiological changes, stressor characteristics and individual differences in stress responding. Experimental procedures that closely simulate naturally occurring psychosocial stressors have primarily been achievement-related (e.g., test taking, competitive tasks and psychomotor performance) and anxiety-provoking tasks (e.g., public speaking, improvisation and invasive medical-procedures) but few seek to elicit frustration. To address this gap, a new experimental procedure was developed and validated against the Trier Social Stress Test for Teens, with a Low Stress condition as a control. Conflict-related stressors, such as parent- and peer-related debates, have been found to be effective in provoking frustration in adolescents. The Frustration Social Stressor for Adolescents (FSS-A), a moderate frustration-provoking stressor involves a peer debate on a 'hot' topic, followed by a serial subtraction task with still-faced judges. The FSS-A procedure effectively elicited reliable and valid physiological (cortisol, heart rate) stress responses and was an effective stressor for both sexes. This new, stress protocol mirrors frustrating- and anxiety-provoking stressful situations that adolescents commonly encounter and affords a more detailed study of differential stress response patterns, increased understanding of adolescent stress, and potential for psychoeducational programming, such as directions for education and therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey L McKay
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
| | - Saman Fouladirad
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Catherine Ann Cameron
- Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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22
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Kim E, Zhao Z, Rzasa JR, Glassman M, Bentley WE, Chen S, Kelly DL, Payne GF. Association of acute psychosocial stress with oxidative stress: Evidence from serum analysis. Redox Biol 2021; 47:102138. [PMID: 34555595 PMCID: PMC8458980 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence implicates an association between psychosocial stress and oxidative stress (OxSt) although there are not yet reliable biomarkers to study this association. We used a Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and compared the response of a healthy control group (HC; N=10) against the response of a schizophrenia group (SCZ; N=10) that is expected to have higher levels of OxSt. Because our previous study showed inconsistent changes in conventional molecular markers for stress responses in the neuroendocrine and immune systems, we analyzed the same serum samples using a separate reducing capacity assay that provides a more global measurement of OxSt. This assay uses the moderately strong oxidizing agent iridium (Ir) to probe a sample's reducing capacity. Specifically, we characterized OxSt by this Ir-reducing capacity assay (Ir-RCA) using two measurement modalities (optical and electrochemical) and we tuned this assay by imposing an input voltage sequence that generates multiple output metrics for data-driven analysis. We defined five OxSt metrics (one optical and four electrochemical metrics) and showed: (i) internal consistency among each metric in the measurements of all 40 samples (baseline and post TSST for N=20); (ii) all five metrics were consistent with expectations of higher levels of OxSt for the SCZ group (three individual metrics showed statistically significant differences); and (iii) all five metrics showed higher levels of OxSt Post-TSST (one metric showed statistically significant difference). Using multivariant analysis, we showed that combinations of OxSt metrics could discern statistically significant increases in OxSt for both the SCZ and HC groups 90 min after the imposed acute psychosocial stress. Ir-reducing capacity assay (Ir-RCA) provides a robust global measure of oxidative stress in serum. The multiple oxidative stress (OxSt) output metrics of this Ir-RCA are useful for data-driven analysis. The combination of OxSt metrics can discern significant increases in OxStwithin 90 mins of an imposed psychosocial stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunkyoung Kim
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA; Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Zhiling Zhao
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA; Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - John Robertson Rzasa
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Matthew Glassman
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA
| | - William E Bentley
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA; Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA
| | - Shuo Chen
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA
| | - Deanna L Kelly
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA
| | - Gregory F Payne
- Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA; Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 20742, USA.
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23
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Gecaite-Stonciene J, Hughes BM, Burkauskas J, Bunevicius A, Kazukauskiene N, van Houtum L, Brozaitiene J, Neverauskas J, Mickuviene N. Fatigue Is Associated With Diminished Cardiovascular Response to Anticipatory Stress in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease. Front Physiol 2021; 12:692098. [PMID: 34483954 PMCID: PMC8416171 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.692098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Fatigue and psychophysiological reactions to mental stress are known to be problematic in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Currently, studies exploring the relationship between fatigue and cardiovascular reactivity to stress are scarce and inconsistent. The current study aimed to investigate the links between cardiovascular response to mental stress and fatigue in CAD patients after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods The cross-sectional study investigated 142 CAD patients (85% males, 52 ± 8 years) within 2-3 weeks after recent myocardial infarction or unstable angina pectoris. Fatigue symptoms were measured using Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory 20-items, while cardiovascular reactivity to stress [i.e., systolic (S) and diastolic (D) blood pressure (ΔBP), and heart rate (ΔHR)] was evaluated during Trier Social Stress Test (TSST). In addition, participants completed psychometric measures, including the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and the Type D Scale-14. Multivariable linear regression analyses were completed to evaluate associations between fatigue and cardiovascular response to TSST, while controlling for confounders. Results After controlling for baseline levels of cardiovascular measures, age, gender, education, heart failure severity, arterial hypertension, smoking history, use of nitrates, anxiety and depressive symptoms, Type D Personality, perceived task difficulty, and perceived task efforts, cardiovascular reactivity to anticipatory stress was inversely associated with both global fatigue (ΔHR: β = -0.238; p = 0.04) and mental fatigue (ΔSBP: β = -0.244; p = 0.04; ΔHR β = -0.303; p = 0.01) as well as total fatigue (ΔSBP: β = -0.331; p = 0.01; ΔHR: β = -0.324; p = 0.01). Conclusion In CAD patients after ACS, fatigue was linked with diminished cardiovascular function during anticipation of a mental stress challenge, even after inclusion of possible confounders. Further similar studies exploring other psychophysiological stress responses are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julija Gecaite-Stonciene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Brian M Hughes
- School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Julius Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Adomas Bunevicius
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Nijole Kazukauskiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Lisanne van Houtum
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Julija Brozaitiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Julius Neverauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
| | - Narseta Mickuviene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Palanga, Lithuania
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Mijas M, Blukacz M, Koziara K, Kasparek K, Pliczko MP, Galbarczyk A, Jasienska G. Dysregulated by stigma: Cortisol responses to repeated psychosocial stress in gay and heterosexual men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 131:105325. [PMID: 34171795 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research on pathways linking stigma with health inequalities affecting sexual minority populations, focused predominantly on exploring the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) dysregulation profiles associated with chronic stress. One of such profiles reflecting a state of increased susceptibility to disease, and not yet studied among sexual minority individuals, is impaired habituation to repeated stress of the same type. In this study we explored whether sexual identity modulates endocrine stress responses and stress responses habituation in healthy heterosexual and gay men. We also explored the associations between perceived sexual minority stigma and cortisol response to stress in the latter group. METHODS Gay (N = 49) and heterosexual (N = 40) men, aged 24.4 years, were confronted twice with the Trier Social Stress Test and provided 5 salivary cortisol samples for each of the two testing sessions. A multilevel mixed-effects approach was used to model the cortisol curve throughout the two-day procedure. Habituation to repeated stress was conceptualized as the decrease in the total cortisol levels as well as the change in the cortisol curvilinearity between the first and the second testing session. RESULTS Gay participants were characterized by significantly higher cortisol levels throughout both laboratory visits. Their cortisol levels were also predicted by perceived rejection from family due to minority sexual identity, and stigma-related vicarious trauma. Although neither group showed habituation defined as the decrease in cortisol level, the shape of the cortisol curve changed between both visits only in the heterosexual participants. CONCLUSIONS Increased cortisol levels observed in gay men are predicted by minority stressors. Combined with non-habituation, the upregulation of the HPA axis may constitute a physiological pathway linking stigma to adverse health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Mijas
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 8 Skawinska St., PL 31066 Krakow, Poland; Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, 6 Ingardena St., PL 30060 Krakow, Poland.
| | - Mateusz Blukacz
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 8 Skawinska St., PL 31066 Krakow, Poland; Institute of Psychology, University of Silesia in Katowice, 53 Grazynskiego St., PL 40126 Katowice, Poland
| | - Karolina Koziara
- Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Jagiellonian University, 6 Ingardena St., PL 30060 Krakow, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kasparek
- Institute of Sociology, Center for Evaluation and Analysis of Public Policies, Jagiellonian University, 52 Grodzka St., PL 30962 Krakow, Poland
| | - Mateusz Piotr Pliczko
- Sexology Lab, Department of Psychiatry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 21a Kopernika St., PL 31501 Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Galbarczyk
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 8 Skawinska St., PL 31066 Krakow, Poland
| | - Grazyna Jasienska
- Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 8 Skawinska St., PL 31066 Krakow, Poland
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Faber NS, Häusser JA. Why stress and hunger both increase and decrease prosocial behaviour. Curr Opin Psychol 2021; 44:49-57. [PMID: 34563979 DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Humans are regularly in suboptimal psychophysiological states like stressed or hungry. Previous research has made both claims that such impairments should decrease and that they should increase prosocial behaviour. We describe the overarching theoretical reasoning underlying these opposing predictions. Then we discuss empirical research on the two impairments most frequently studied, acute stress and acute hunger, and we find that neither alters prosocial behaviour clearly in one direction. We argue that this is because even under impairments, humans react flexibly to the incentive structure of the specific social situation they are in. Hence, either prosocial or egoistic tendencies get expressed, depending on which strategy can lead to fulfilment of the need the impairment triggered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadira S Faber
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK & Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Jan A Häusser
- Department of Social Psychology, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
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Zito M, Bilucaglia M, Fici A, Gabrielli G, Russo V. Job Assessment Through Bioelectrical Measures: A Neuromanagement Perspective. Front Psychol 2021; 12:673012. [PMID: 34456790 PMCID: PMC8387828 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.673012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During recruitment, human resource departments face two challenges: finding the right people for the job and attracting talent. Therefore, the hiring process requires both the ability to communicate a good company brand image and to understand the characteristics and potential of candidates. In this study, we used a neuroscientific approach to measure the experience of candidates during a job interview. The experiment involved 30 participants that individually took part in a job interview lasting 40 min. During the experiment, their engagement and stress levels were measured in real-time with skin conductance and electroencephalographic (EEG) data. From the results, we identified both the most stressful phases (the second and the fourth parts, relating to the explanation of the job and remuneration) and the most engaging phases (the first and the third phases, relating to the presentation of the company and the explanation of the career process) of the interview, suggesting implications for the assessment process. This study is a contribution to the field of neuromanagement, as a neuroscientific approach was applied to management issues in light of work and organizational psychology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Zito
- Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior “Carlo A. Ricciardi,” Università IULM, Milan, Italy
- Behavior and Brain Lab IULM, Neuromarketing Research Center, Università IULM, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Bilucaglia
- Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior “Carlo A. Ricciardi,” Università IULM, Milan, Italy
- Behavior and Brain Lab IULM, Neuromarketing Research Center, Università IULM, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fici
- Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior “Carlo A. Ricciardi,” Università IULM, Milan, Italy
- Behavior and Brain Lab IULM, Neuromarketing Research Center, Università IULM, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Gabrielli
- Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior “Carlo A. Ricciardi,” Università IULM, Milan, Italy
- Behavior and Brain Lab IULM, Neuromarketing Research Center, Università IULM, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Russo
- Department of Business, Law, Economics and Consumer Behavior “Carlo A. Ricciardi,” Università IULM, Milan, Italy
- Behavior and Brain Lab IULM, Neuromarketing Research Center, Università IULM, Milan, Italy
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Kuchenbecker SY, Pressman SD, Celniker J, Grewen KM, Sumida KD, Jonathan N, Everett B, Slavich GM. Oxytocin, cortisol, and cognitive control during acute and naturalistic stress. Stress 2021; 24:370-383. [PMID: 33632072 PMCID: PMC8254750 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2021.1876658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although stress is a strong risk factor for poor health, especially for women, it remains unclear how stress affects the key neurohormones cortisol and oxytocin, which influence stress-related risk and resilience. Whereas cortisol mediates energy mobilization during stress, oxytocin has anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, and analgesic effects that support social connection and survival across the lifespan. However, how these neurohormones interrelate and are associated with cognitive control of emotional information during stress remains unclear. To address these issues, we recruited 37 college-aged women (Mage = 19.19, SD = 1.58) and randomly assigned each to a one-hour experimental session consisting of either an acute stress (emotionally stressful video) or control (non-stressful video) condition in a cross-sectional manner across the semester. Salivary cortisol and oxytocin samples were collected at baseline and after the video, at which point participants also completed measures assessing affect and an emotional Stroop task. As hypothesized, the emotional stressor induced negative emotions that were associated with significant elevations in cortisol and faster Stroop reaction times. Moreover, higher baseline oxytocin predicted greater positive affect after the stressor and also better cognitive accuracy on the Stroop. Analyses examining the naturalistic stress effects revealed that basal oxytocin levels rose steeply three weeks before the semester's end, followed by rising cortisol levels one week later, with both neurohormones remaining elevated through the very stressful final exam period. Considered together, these data suggest that women's collective experiences of stress may be potentially buffered by a synchronous oxytocin surge that enhances cognitive accuracy and reduces stress "when the going gets tough".
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Affiliation(s)
- Shari Young Kuchenbecker
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
- Western Positive Psychology Association, Claremont, CA, USA
| | - Sarah D. Pressman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jared Celniker
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Karen M. Grewen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Naveen Jonathan
- Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Brendan Everett
- Department of Psychology, Chapman University, Orange, CA, USA
| | - George M. Slavich
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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The effects of stress and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on working memory: A randomized controlled trial. COGNITIVE AFFECTIVE & BEHAVIORAL NEUROSCIENCE 2021; 20:103-114. [PMID: 31898055 DOI: 10.3758/s13415-019-00755-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Recent reviews of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) show limited support for its initially cited enhancing effects on working memory (WM). They highlight the need for additional research, assessing the specific circumstances that optimize stimulation outcome. Social stress is an attractive candidate in this regard, as it affects WM and is mediated by prefrontal cortex activity; tDCS that targets these neuronal networks may, therefore, interact with social stress to affect WM. Our objective was to explore the interaction between social stress and tDCS on WM performance in a healthy cohort, 69 female participants were randomized to four experimental conditions (i.e., 2 × 2 design): stimulation (dlPFC tDCS vs. sham stimulation) and stress manipulation (Trier Social Stress Test [TSST] procedure vs. a friendly control TSST). Participants' attention, WM (assessed using an n-back task), and subjective/objective indicators of stress were assessed. A significant Stimulation × Stress Manipulation interaction was found, F(1, 65) = 6.208, p = .015, suggesting that active tDCS may increase WM performance in the no-stress conditions, while decreasing it under stress. Follow-up analyses of variance, however, were not significant (i.e., ps=.083 / .093), and Bayesian analyses were inconclusive. In conclusion, stress seems to be a crucial factor in determining the effects of tDCS, and tDCS may have an enhancing effect on WM at lower levels of stress, while being detrimental at higher stress levels (i.e., reversing the direction of effect). Possible theoretical underpinnings of the findings are discussed, while acknowledging the need for further research.
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Cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress in ADHD compared to conduct disorder and major depressive disorder: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:899-916. [PMID: 34089765 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
BERNHARD, A., J. S. Mayer, N. Fann, and C. M. Freitag. Cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress in ADHD compared to Conduct Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder: A systematic review. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV XX(X) XXX-XXX, 2020. - Heterogeneous alterations of the cortisol stress response in Attention-deficit/hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were recently reported by a systematic literature review. To investigate the moderating effect of frequent psychiatric comorbidities, we systematically searched for studies on cortisol stress response to psychosocial stress in ADHD compared to Conduct Disorder (CD) and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) following PRISMA guidelines. EBSCOhost and PubMed databases were searched in July 2020, employing relevant keywords. Nineteen studies met inclusion criteria. While blunted cortisol stress response was consistently reported in individuals with CD and/or Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), alterations of cortisol stress response were less pronounced in ADHD. Consistently blunted cortisol stress response in ADHD was only found in children with comorbid CD/ODD. Results on cortisol stress response in children and adolescents with MDD were mixed, and no indication for influence of comorbid MDD on cortisol stress response in ADHD was found. Taken together, altered cortisol stress response in ADHD is driven by comorbidity with disruptive behavior disorders. Limitations of previous research and suggestions for future studies are discussed.
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Herzberg MP, Hunt RH, Thomas KM, Gunnar MR. Differential brain activity as a function of social evaluative stress in early adolescence: Brain function and salivary cortisol. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:1926-1936. [PMID: 33427172 PMCID: PMC7909600 DOI: 10.1017/s095457942000125x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Understanding individual differences in neural responses to stressful environments is an important avenue of research throughout development. These differences may be especially critical during adolescence, which is characterized by opportunities for healthy development and increased susceptibility to the development of psychopathology. While the neural correlates of the psychosocial stress response have been investigated in adults, these links have not been explored during development. Using a new task, the Minnesota Imaging Stress Test in Children (MISTiC), differences in activation are found in fusiform gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, insula, and anterior cingulate cortex when comparing a stressful math task to a nonstressful math task. The MISTiC task successfully elicits cortisol responses in a similar proportion of adolescents as in behavioral studies while collecting brain imaging data. Cortisol responders and nonresponders did not differ in their perceived stress level or behavioral performance during the task despite differences in neuroendocrine function. Future research will be able to leverage the MISTiC task for many purposes, including probing associations between individual differences in stress responses with environmental conditions, personality differences, and the development of psychopathology.
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Abe RY, Silva TC, Dantas I, Curado SX, Madeira MS, de Sousa LB, Costa VP. Can Psychologic Stress Elevate Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Individuals? Ophthalmol Glaucoma 2020; 3:426-433. [PMID: 32768362 DOI: 10.1016/j.ogla.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate if a stress event can influence intraocular pressure (IOP) in a group of healthy individuals. DESIGN Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS A total of 28 healthy subjects were included: 17 in the stress group and 11 in the control group. METHODS The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a tool to evaluate cortisol response to psychologic stimulation based on the stress induced by public speaking. All participants underwent a modified diurnal tension curve (DTC) 1 week before the TSST, with 3 IOP measurements performed between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm. We evaluated the response to the TSST measuring the levels of salivary cortisol, IOP, and heart rate before, immediately after, and 40 minutes after TSST. The State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied to evaluate the levels of anxiety at the same time intervals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Changes in IOP (mmHg), salivary cortisol, heart rate, and STAI scores. RESULTS At baseline, there were no significant differences between case and controls regarding age (52.2 ± 6.26 vs. 53.8 ± 8.4 years, P = 0.661), gender (52.94% male vs. 45.45% female, P = 0.669), and ethnicity. Salivary cortisol (6.8 nmol/l, P < 0.001) and heart rate (7.2 beats/min, P = 0.035) increased significantly after the TSST. We observed a mean IOP increase of 1.0 mmHg (right eye, P = 0.003) and 1.1 mmHg (left eye, P = 0.004) when comparing IOP measurements obtained during the DTC and immediately after TSST. In addition, 35% (6/17) of the subjects in the TSST group showed an IOP increase higher than 2 mmHg after the test compared with 18% (2/11) in the control group. The STAI state score significantly increased after the stress event compared with baseline (P = 0.026) and decreased from poststress to the recovery period (P = 0.006) in the TSST group. The control group did not show significant changes in IOP, heart rate, salivary cortisol levels, and STAI scores. CONCLUSIONS Significant elevations of IOP, salivary cortisol, STAI scores, and heart rate occurred after inducing psychologic stress with TSST in a group of healthy individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Y Abe
- Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil; Department of Ophthalmology - University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
| | - Thairis C Silva
- Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Mariana S Madeira
- Hospital Oftalmológico de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | | | - Vital P Costa
- Department of Ophthalmology - University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
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Kerr JI, Naegelin M, Weibel RP, Ferrario A, La Marca R, von Wangenheim F, Hoelscher C, Schinazi VR. The effects of acute work stress and appraisal on psychobiological stress responses in a group office environment. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 121:104837. [PMID: 32961507 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high prevalence of office stress and its detrimental health consequences are of concern to individuals, employers and society at large. Laboratory studies investigating office stress have mostly relied on data from participants that were tested individually on abstract tasks. In this study, we examined the effect of psychosocial office stress and work interruptions on the psychobiological stress response in a realistic but controlled group office environment. We also explored the role of cognitive stress appraisal as an underlying mechanism mediating the relationship between work stressors and the stress response. METHODS AND MATERIALS Ninety participants (44 female; mean age 23.11 ± 3.80) were randomly assigned to either a control condition or one of two experimental conditions in which they were exposed to psychosocial stress with or without prior work interruptions in a realistic multi-participant laboratory setting. To induce psychosocial stress, we adapted the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups to an office environment. Throughout the experiment, we continuously monitored heart rate and heart rate variability. Participants repeatedly reported on their current mood, calmness, wakefulness and perceived stress and gave saliva samples to assess changes in salivary cortisol and salivary alpha-amylase. Additionally, cognitive appraisal of the psychosocial stress test was evaluated. RESULTS Our analyses revealed significant group differences for most outcomes during or immediately after the stress test (i.e., mood, calmness, perceived stress, salivary cortisol, heart rate, heart rate variability) and during recovery (i.e., salivary cortisol and heart rate). Interestingly, the condition that experienced work interruptions showed a higher increase of cortisol levels but appraised the stress test as less threatening than individuals that experienced only psychosocial stress. Exploratory mediation analyses revealed a blunted response in subjective measures of stress, which was partially explained by the differences in threat appraisal. DISCUSSION The results showed that experimentally induced work stress led to significant responses of subjective measures of stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system. However, there appears to be a discrepancy between the psychological and biological responses to preceding work interruptions. Appraising psychosocial stress as less threatening but still as challenging could be an adaptive way of coping and reflect a state of engagement and eustress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine I Kerr
- Mobiliar Lab for Analytics, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Chair of Technology Marketing, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Chair of Cognitive Science, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 59, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Mara Naegelin
- Mobiliar Lab for Analytics, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Chair of Technology Marketing, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Raphael P Weibel
- Mobiliar Lab for Analytics, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Chair of Technology Marketing, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Ferrario
- Mobiliar Lab for Analytics, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Chair of Technology Marketing, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roberto La Marca
- Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland; Clinica Holistica Engiadina, Plaz 40, 7542 Susch, Switzerland
| | - Florian von Wangenheim
- Chair of Technology Marketing, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics, ETH Zurich, Weinbergstrasse 56/58, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christoph Hoelscher
- Chair of Cognitive Science, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 59, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Victor R Schinazi
- Chair of Cognitive Science, Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences, ETH Zurich, Clausiusstrasse 59, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, Bond University, 14 University Drive, Robina Queensland 4226, Australia
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Goldberg X, Espelt C, Palao D, Nadal R, Armario A. Adaptability to acute stress among women survivors of intimate partner violence: protocol for a mixed-methods cross-sectional study in a laboratory setting (BRAW study). BMJ Open 2020; 10:e036561. [PMID: 33004387 PMCID: PMC7534674 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common and alarming form of violence against women, affecting around 30% of all women around the world. Using an integrative methodology, we approach IPV as a form of chronic exposure to severe stress that alters the stress-response system of exposed women. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that sustained exposure to IPV in women confers a vulnerability-to-stress profile characterised by higher neuroendocrine and behavioural responsiveness associated with a selective attentional processing bias towards threat. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Women between 21 and 50 years old from the area of Barcelona (Spain) will be invited to participate. A sample of 82 women exposed to IPV and 41 women not exposed to IPV will be included and assessed for attentional bias and response to acute stress in a laboratory condition (the Trier Social Stress Task). The study will include quantitative and qualitative measures of cognitive performance, neuroendocrine activity and face-to-face interviews to obtain an integrative description of the stress-response profile of these women. Results are expected to help build resilience strategies with a long-lasting impression on women's healthy functioning. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has obtained the approval of the local Ethics Committee ('Comité de Ética de Investigación Parc Taulí de Sabadell'; 2 018 551 V.1.2 June 2018). Besides the communication of results in peer-reviewed papers and scientific congresses, the project will inform guidelines and recommendations through policy-dialogues and workshops with relevant regional and national representatives for future work and prevention strategies. Participants will be invited to be an active part in the dissemination strategy focussed on raising awareness of coping limitations and abilities that women themselves will be able to identify throughout the study. TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS The study has been registered at the ClinicalTrails.gov database (Identifier number: NCT03623555; Pre-results).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Goldberg
- Mental Health Department, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Area, Institut d'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Carme Espelt
- Mental Health Department, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Area, Institut d'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Diego Palao
- Mental Health Department, Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Area, Institut d'Investigació I Innovació Parc Taulí I3PT, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Sabadell, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Psychobiology Unit (School of Psychology), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Antonio Armario
- Animal Physiology Unit (School of Biosciences), Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERSAM, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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Gellner AK, Voelter J, Schmidt U, Beins EC, Stein V, Philipsen A, Hurlemann R. Molecular and neurocircuitry mechanisms of social avoidance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:1163-1189. [PMID: 32997200 PMCID: PMC7904739 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03649-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Humans and animals live in social relationships shaped by actions of approach and avoidance. Both are crucial for normal physical and mental development, survival, and well-being. Active withdrawal from social interaction is often induced by the perception of threat or unpleasant social experience and relies on adaptive mechanisms within neuronal networks associated with social behavior. In case of confrontation with overly strong or persistent stressors and/or dispositions of the affected individual, maladaptive processes in the neuronal circuitries and its associated transmitters and modulators lead to pathological social avoidance. This review focuses on active, fear-driven social avoidance, affected circuits within the mesocorticolimbic system and associated regions and a selection of molecular modulators that promise translational potential. A comprehensive review of human research in this field is followed by a reflection on animal studies that offer a broader and often more detailed range of analytical methodologies. Finally, we take a critical look at challenges that could be addressed in future translational research on fear-driven social avoidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Kathrin Gellner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jella Voelter
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schmidt
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry Und Psychotherapy, University of Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Eva Carolina Beins
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Valentin Stein
- Institute of Physiology II, University Hospital Bonn, 53115, Bonn, Germany
| | - Alexandra Philipsen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - René Hurlemann
- Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany. .,Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Oldenburg, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 7, 26160, Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. .,Research Center Neurosensory Science, University of Oldenburg, 26129, Oldenburg, Germany.
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Spellenberg C, Heusser P, Büssing A, Savelsbergh A, Cysarz D. Binary symbolic dynamics analysis to detect stress-associated changes of nonstationary heart rate variability. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15440. [PMID: 32963263 PMCID: PMC7509783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72034-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological stress may have harmful physiological effects and result in deteriorating health. Acute psychological stress acts also on cardiac autonomic regulation and may lead to nonstationarities in the interbeat interval series. We address the requirement of stationary RR interval series to calculate frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and use binary symbolic dynamics derived from RR interval differences to overcome this obstacle. 24 healthy subjects (12 female, 20–35 years) completed the following procedure: waiting period, Trier Social Stress Test to induce acute psychological stress, recovery period. An electrocardiogram was recorded throughout the procedure and HRV parameters were calculated for nine 5-min periods. Nonstationarities in RR interval series were present in all periods. During acute stress the average RR interval and SDNN decreased compared to rest before and after the stress test. Neither low frequency oscillations (LF), high frequency oscillations (HF) nor LF/HF could unambiguously reflect changes during acute stress in comparison to rest. Pattern categories derived from binary symbolic dynamics clearly identified acute stress and accompanying alterations of cardiac autonomic regulation. Methods based on RR interval differences like binary symbolic dynamics should be preferred to overcome issues related to nonstationarities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conrad Spellenberg
- Medical Anthropology, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany.
| | - Peter Heusser
- Medical Anthropology, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Arndt Büssing
- Medical Anthropology, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313, Herdecke, Germany.,Quality of Life, Spirituality and Coping, Institute of Integrative Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Andreas Savelsbergh
- Division of Functional Genomics, Center for Biomedical Research and Education ZBAF, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Dirk Cysarz
- Integrated Curriculum for Anthroposophic Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany.,Physiologic Rhythm Research, Witten/Herdecke University, Herdecke, Germany
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Tollenaar MS, Overgaauw S. Empathy and mentalizing abilities in relation to psychosocial stress in healthy adult men and women. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04488. [PMID: 32904299 PMCID: PMC7452492 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress has many consequences for our wellbeing, both physically and psychologically, underscoring the need to study markers of differential sensitivity to stressful situations. We examined associations between empathy and mentalizing abilities and psycho-physiological responses to a psychosocial stress task. We conducted two highly comparable studies, the first in men (N = 52) and the second in women (N = 72). Each study started with a self-report empathy measure and a mentalizing test [Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET)] followed by the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a control task. Stress reactivity was confirmed in both men and women with significantly higher levels of cortisol, blood pressure, and subjective stress levels in response to the TSST compared to the control task. Higher accuracy on the RMET significantly predicted higher cortisol and heart rate reactivity, while self-reported empathic concern significantly predicted higher subjective stress reactivity. These associations were found in men, and when men and women were analyzed together. This indicates that higher levels of mentalizing and empathic abilities may confer sensitivity to socially stressful situations. While a moderation analysis indicated no gender differences in these associations, the findings could not be directly replicated in women. This suggests that gender may impact such associations and that replication of the findings in larger samples is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke S. Tollenaar
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, the Netherlands
| | - Sandy Overgaauw
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, the Netherlands
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Adli M, Schöndorf J. [Does the city make us ill? The effect of urban stress on emotions, behavior, and mental health]. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2020; 63:979-986. [PMID: 32638033 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-020-03185-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Urban life correlates with a higher risk for several mental diseases. A stress-dependent pathomechanism is considered to play a crucial role. Likewise, current data indicate a higher responsivity of the brain to social stress in urban residents. At the same time, city dwellers live under more advantageous conditions, encountering better access to education, personal evolvement, healthcare, and cultural diversity. It can be assumed that a higher exposition to chronic social stress in urban areas - in combination with other risk factors (social, psychological, or genetic) - can turn into a pathogenic factor, particularly in the case of impeded access to resilience-promoting resources of the city. It urgently remains to be explained which social groups are at increased risk and which urban planning and political measures to counteract social stress prove to be health protective. Therefore, we call for an interdisciplinary research approach, which incorporates urban research, medicine, and neuroscience and encourages a transdisciplinary knowledge exchange with politics, civil society, and citizens. With regard to the rapid pace of urbanization worldwide, further research and action is urgently required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazda Adli
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland. .,Fliedner Klinik Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland.
| | - Jonas Schöndorf
- Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Campus Charité Mitte, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Deutschland
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Effects of Improvisation Training on Student Teachers’ Behavioral, Neuroendocrine, and Psychophysiological Responses during the Trier Social Stress Test. ADAPTIVE HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND PHYSIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40750-020-00145-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Teaching involves multiple performance situations, potentially causing psychosocial stress. Since the theater-based improvisation method is associated with diminished social stress, we investigated whether improvisation lessened student teachers’ stress responses using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST; preparatory phase, public speech, and math task). Moreover, we studied the influence of interpersonal confidence (IC) – the belief regarding one’s capability related to effective social interactions – on stress responses.
Methods
The intervention group (n = 19) received a 7-week (17.5 h) improvisation training, preceded and followed by the TSST. We evaluated experienced stress using a self-report scale, while physiological stress was assessed before (silent 30-s waiting period) and during the TSST tasks using cardiovascular measures (heart rate, heart rate variability [HRV]), electrodermal activation, facial electromyography (f-EMG), and EEG asymmetry. Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA-axis) reactivity was assessed through repeated salivary cortisol sampling.
Results
Compared to the control group (n = 16), the intervention group exhibited less f-EMG activity before a public speech and higher HRV before the math task. The low IC intervention subgroup reported significantly less stress during the math task. The controls showed a decreased heart rate before the math task, and controls with a low IC exhibited higher HRV during the speech. Self-reported stress and cortisol levels were positively correlated during the post-TSST preparatory phase.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that improvisation training might diminish stress levels, specifically before a performance. In addition, interpersonal confidence appears to reduce stress responses. The decreased stress responses in the control group suggest adaptation through repetition.
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Santangelo A, Monteleone AM, Casarrubea M, Cassioli E, Castellini G, Crescimanno G, Aiello S, Ruzzi V, Cascino G, Marciello F, Ricca V. Recurring sequences of multimodal non-verbal and verbal communication during a human psycho-social stress test: A temporal pattern analysis. Physiol Behav 2020; 221:112907. [PMID: 32275912 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.112907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a widely used protocol to study human psycho-social stress responses. Quantitative reports of non-verbal behaviors have been carried out by means of the Ethological Coding System for Interviews (ECSI). However, no data have described whether and how non-verbal and verbal behaviors take part in the composition of multimodal sequences of communication during the test. METHOD Five non-verbal ECSI categories and four verbal behaviors related with communication were included in the Ethogram. A focal sampling was employed to ensure a high temporal resolution of the behavioral annotation. T-Pattern Analysis was employed to detect statistically-grounded behavioral sequences. RESULTS As a first step, frequency, overall duration and mean time length were reported for each component of the Ethogram. Besides, T-Pattern Analysis revealed that communication during TSST is organized according to a complex temporal patterning. We found 51 different sequences (T-patterns): 8 T-patterns included exclusively non-verbal behaviors; 17 T-patterns included verbal behaviors and 26 T-patterns encompassed mixed non-verbal and verbal behaviors. T-patterns were discussed depending on their putative functional meaning since non-verbal behaviors almost did not overlap within patterns. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of an Ethogram including non-verbal and verbal components highlights the multimodal human communication in TSST. T-Pattern Analysis unveils the real-time interplay among these components. In this study results are discussed according to Jakobson's six constitutive factors of communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Santangelo
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | | | - Maurizio Casarrubea
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Cassioli
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giovanni Castellini
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Crescimanno
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Stefania Aiello
- Laboratory of Behavioural Physiology, Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), Human Physiology Section "Giuseppe Pagano", University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Valeria Ruzzi
- University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Giammarco Cascino
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Francesca Marciello
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", Section of Neurosciences, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valdo Ricca
- Psychiatric Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Passarelli TO, Buchanan TW. How Do Stress and Social Closeness Impact Prosocial Behavior? Exp Psychol 2020; 67:123-131. [DOI: 10.1027/1618-3169/a000482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Abstract. Factors such as time pressure and psychosocial stress may increase or decrease prosocial behavior depending on a number of factors. One factor that consistently positively impacts prosocial behavior is relationship status: Prosocial behavior is more likely toward kin than toward strangers. The interactions among stress, kin relationships, and prosocial behavior were examined in two separate experiments. In Study 1, 79 university students were asked to decide how much money to donate to family members, friends, or strangers, either under time pressure or with no time constraints. Participants donated more to close kin and friends than to strangers, but time pressure did not increase prosocial behavior. In Study 2, 94 university students completed the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups (TSST-G) or a control task, followed by a similar donation task as used in Study 1. Participants donated more to close kin and friends than to strangers, but stress did not influence donation amounts. These results do not support the hypothesis that stress due to time pressure or psychosocial factors increases prosocial behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tony W. Buchanan
- Department of Psychology, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Armario A, Labad J, Nadal R. Focusing attention on biological markers of acute stressor intensity: Empirical evidence and limitations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 111:95-103. [PMID: 31954151 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
ARMARIO, A, J. Labad and R. Nadal. Focusing attention on biological markers of acute stressor intensity: empirical evidence and limitations. NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS. The availability of biological markers that objectively quantify stress is a highly relevant issue. However, experimental evidence suggests that most physiological changes elicited by emotional stressors do not reflect their intensity and are not useful for this purpose. Thus, we review experimental evidence in animals and humans about the putative validity of neuroendocrine and sympathetic/parasympathetic variables to measure stress. Plasma levels of some hormones (e.g. ACTH, glucocorticoids, prolactin and catecholamines) have been found to reflect, at least under certain conditions, the intensity of emotional stressors in animals and probably in humans. However, the temporal resolution of hormone changes is insufficient to reflect the very dynamic psychological processes taking place while experiencing stressors. Cardiovascular parameters (e.g. heart rate and blood pressure) have much better temporal resolution but their validity as markers of stressor intensity either in animals or humans is problematic. Skin conductance and pupil dilation appear to be promising. Additional and more systematic studies are needed to demonstrate the actual validity of stress-induced physiological changes to quantify stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Armario
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; Animal Physiology Unit (Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology), Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain.
| | - Javier Labad
- CIBERSAM, Spain; Department of Mental Health, Parc Taulí Hospital Universitari, I3PT, Spain; Department of Psychiatry and Legal Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roser Nadal
- Institut de Neurociències, Spain; CIBERSAM, Spain; Psicobiology Unit, Faculty of Psychology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Spain
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Boyle CC, Stanton AL, Eisenberger NI, Seeman TE, Bower JE. Effects of stress-induced inflammation on reward processing in healthy young women. Brain Behav Immun 2020; 83:126-134. [PMID: 31580931 PMCID: PMC7324155 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2019.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anhedonia, or loss of interest or pleasure, is a feature of depression and transdiagnostic construct in psychopathology. Theory and compelling evidence from preclinical models implicates stress-induced inflammation as a psychobiological pathway to anhedonic behavior; however, this pathway has not been tested in human models. Further, although anhedonia may reflect dysregulation in multiple dimensions of reward, the extent to which stress-induced inflammation alters these dimensions is unclear. Thus, the current experimental study used a standardized laboratory stressor task to elicit an inflammatory response and evaluate effects of stress-induced inflammation on multiple behavioral indices of reward processing. METHODS Healthy young women (age 18-25) completed behavioral reward tasks assessing reward learning, motivation, and sensitivity and were randomized to undergo an acute psychosocial stressor (n = 37) or a no-stress active control (n = 17). Tasks were re-administered 90-120 min post-stress to coincide with the peak of the stress-induced inflammatory response. Blood samples were collected for assessment of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) at baseline and 90 and 120 min post stressor. RESULTS Stress-induced IL-6 was associated with increased response bias during reward learning and increased motivation when probability of receiving a reward was low. Sensitivity to reward in the context of a motivation task was not altered in association with stress-induced IL-6. CONCLUSIONS Contrary to hypotheses, mild increases in IL-6 following acute stress were associated with increased reward responsiveness during reward learning and selective increases in motivation. Results contribute to an emerging and nuanced literature linking inflammation to reward processing, and demonstrate that behavioral effects of stress-induced inflammation may be detected in the laboratory setting. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03828604.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe C. Boyle
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Corresponding author at: Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, Medical Plaza 300, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States. (C.C. Boyle)
| | - Annette L. Stanton
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Naomi I. Eisenberger
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Teresa E. Seeman
- Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Julienne E. Bower
- Norman Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States,Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
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Pearlstein JG, Staudenmaier PJ, West AE, Geraghty S, Cosgrove VE. Immune response to stress induction as a predictor of cognitive-behavioral therapy outcomes in adolescent mood disorders: A pilot study. J Psychiatr Res 2020; 120:56-63. [PMID: 31634750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alleviates symptoms of depression in youth with bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Empirical research has linked inflammatory markers to depressive symptoms and acute psychosocial stress; however, a gap remains as to whether immune response to stress may serve as a putative mechanism of treatment. This preliminary pilot study determined the modest feasibility of assessing psychobiological response to stress as a predictor of CBT outcomes for youth with mood disorders. We evaluated whether participation in a 10-session group-CBT intervention for mood disorders altered inflammatory response to a laboratory psychosocial stress induction and if this alteration in immune stress responsivity was related to a decrease in depressive symptoms. Thirty-four youth (age M = 15.03, SD = 1.91) diagnosed with BD or MDD participated in a 10-session CBT group and pre- and post-group assessments; twenty-eight participants who completed the group had usable cytokine data. Pre- and post-group assessments included stress induction with the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) during which inflammatory cytokines were measured at baseline (time 0) and after the TSST at 30, 60, and 90 min. Results suggest it is modestly feasible to measure immune response to stress alongside CBT treatment for adolescent mood disorders. Our findings were mixed; across seven cytokines, hierarchical linear models indicated two cytokines, IL6 and IL12, were sensitive to acute laboratory stress. We also found significant correlations between life stress, inflammation, and depression both pre- and post- CBT group. Inflammation pre-group, as measured by IL12 and IL1 β predicted depressive symptoms following treatment. Although we did not find significant within-subject reductions in inflammation, chronic stress predicted changes in IL β, signaling the central role of chronic stress. This study offers preliminary evidence that immune responsivity to stress induction could serve as a mechanism of treatment for mood disorders in youth, indicating a potential marker for more personalized model of healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy E West
- University of Southern California, United States
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Gecaite J, Burkauskas J, Bunevicius A, Brozaitiene J, Kazukauskiene N, Mickuviene N. The association of cardiovascular reactivity during the Trier Social Stress Test with quality of life in coronary artery disease patients. J Psychosom Res 2019; 126:109824. [PMID: 31522009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2019.109824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Knowledge of objective psychophysiological stress parameters and its relationship to health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is limited in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim was to investigate the association of cardiovascular reaction to psychosocial stress with HRQoL in patients with CAD. METHODS One-hundred and thirty-six patients (84.6% men, age 52 ± 8) within 2-3 weeks after acute coronary syndromes (ACS) during cardiac rehabilitation were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Patients were evaluated for HRQoL (SF-36 questionnaire), symptoms of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) and Type D personality (DS14 scale). Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) was employed to evaluate cardiovascular reactivity (systolic and diastolic blood pressure [BP], and heart rate [HR]) to psychosocial stress. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to test for the associations between cardiovascular reactivity and HRQoL, while controlling for possible confounders. RESULTS After controlling for baseline levels of HR, gender, age, NYHA functional class, AH, Type D personality, symptoms of anxiety and depression, use of beta-blockers, and history of smoking, the SF-36 Social functioning scale (β = -0.182; p = .03) and SF-36 Vitality scale (β = -0.203; p = .03) was associated with prolonged HR recovery following stress evoking tasks. No associations were found between HRQoL and BP measures during the TSST. CONCLUSION In CAD patients who have experienced ACS, HRQoL was associated with prolonged HR recovery after mental stress, even after controlling for potential confounder. Future studies should investigate the possible role of mediating factors involved in the mechanisms relating cardiovascular stress response and HRQoL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julija Gecaite
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Julius Burkauskas
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Adomas Bunevicius
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Julija Brozaitiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Nijole Kazukauskiene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
| | - Narseta Mickuviene
- Laboratory of Behavioral Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Vyduno al. 4, LT-00135 Palanga, Lithuania.
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Mascret N, Vors O, Marqueste T, Casanova R, Cury F. Social support from evaluative familiar persons - a buffer against stress? Preliminary evidence of neuroendocrine and psychological responses. ANXIETY, STRESS, AND COPING 2019; 32:534-544. [PMID: 31264445 DOI: 10.1080/10615806.2019.1638680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Social support may have a stress-buffering effect when an individual is or could be negatively judged by others, but paradoxically may also exacerbate stress. The aim of our study was to examine these findings when social support was provided by a positive or negative evaluative audience composed of familiar and close others (teachers). Design and Methods: 84 men were confronted with the Trier Social Stress Test for Groups through a 3 (negative, positive, no-audience) x 2 (familiar, unfamiliar) experimental design with four measurement points of cortisol levels and state anxiety. We also tested whether closeness with the committee members predicted these variables for the participants in the familiar conditions. Results: Using both a frequentist and a Bayesian approach, familiarity and social support did not have stress-buffering effects (or merely anecdotal effects) on cortisol levels but buffered self-reported anxiety only for the participants faced with a supportive audience composed of familiar persons. Closeness with the experimenters was not a significant predictor of the stress responses. Conclusions: Because these results are preliminary evidence, further investigations into the relations between support provider and recipient during evaluative tasks would be worthwhile to better explain opposing findings found in this growing literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Mascret
- a Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM , Marseille , France
- b SFERE-Provence, FED 4238 , Marseille , France
| | - Olivier Vors
- a Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM , Marseille , France
- b SFERE-Provence, FED 4238 , Marseille , France
| | | | - Rémy Casanova
- a Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM , Marseille , France
| | - François Cury
- a Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, ISM , Marseille , France
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Endocrine and psychological stress response in simulated doctor-patient interactions in medical education. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 105:172-177. [PMID: 30292650 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Training of doctor-patient interactions by means of patient actors is considered a useful didactic tool in medical education. However, though students report it as being highly stressful little systematic research has verified this notion. AIMS To assess the endocrine and psychological stress responses of students in the doctor vs. the observer role in simulated doctor-patient interactions. METHODS Salivary cortisol and anxiety was assessed in N = 86 participants of a mandatory course on doctor-patient interactions on three consecutive days. During two of these days they were in the observer role and gave feedback to another student and on one of these days they were in the doctor role and were being given feedback. Saliva was sampled at 4 points in time per day: prior to interaction (T1); after watching the video of the interaction (T2); after feedback (T3); after observation of another interaction (T4). Assessments on observer days took place at the respective time points and at the same time of the day. 3-way mixed ANOVAs were computed with the factors "day of data sampling" (F1); "day with doctor role" (F2); "measurement time"(F3). RESULTS Significant two-way interactions F1 × F2 and three-way interactions F1 × F2 × F3 were observed both for cortisol and for anxiety (all p < .001). Neither cortisol nor anxiety were related to task severity. Anxiety at T1 correlated with cortisol increase from T1 to T2 (r = .266; p = .013). DISCUSSION Results confirm that playing the doctor role in a simulated doctor-patient interaction represents a significant stressor in medical students. Effect sizes considerably exceed those observed in laboratory stress. This brings about new questions regarding moderating factors, effects of repetitions and relationship to medical performance. The ecological validity of this stressor can also make it a useful tool in basic endocrine research.
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Erkens VA, Nater UM, Hennig J, Häusser JA. Social identification and contagious stress reactions. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 102:58-62. [PMID: 30513501 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.11.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Contagious stress describes the transmission of stress from a stressed person to an observer, which we examined at the neuroendocrine and the affective level. We tested whether a shared social identity moderates contagious stress. Ninety-four participants participated in groups of four. After inducing either a shared social or a personal identity, participants observed a confederate undergoing the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a standardized social-evaluative stressor. Salivary cortisol and affective stress were assessed multiple times before and after the observation of the TSST. We found a physiologically significant contagious stress reaction on a neuroendocrine level for 17% of all participants. Additionally, we found an increase in observers' self-reported stress. Contrary to our expectations, the manipulation of social identity had no effect on contagious stress. Our variation of the TSST is a viable methodological strategy to increase standardization as well as experimental economy in studies examining contagious stress.
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Kofman YB, Eng ZE, Busse D, Godkin S, Campos B, Sandman CA, Wing D, Yim IS. Cortisol reactivity and depressive symptoms in pregnancy: The moderating role of perceived social support and neuroticism. Biol Psychol 2019; 147:107656. [PMID: 30703466 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Perinatal depression negatively impacts mother-infant health and well-being. Previous work has linked cortisol reactivity to perinatal depressive symptoms, but moderating effects including social support and neuroticism, have not been studied. Forty-nine pregnant women (9-30 weeks' gestational age; GA) provided saliva samples in response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and to awakening (cortisol awakening response, CAR), and completed questionnaires on perceived social support, personality, and depressive symptoms. Two hierarchical logistic regressions, one including the TSST response and one including the CAR as predictor variables, suggest that cortisol reactivity, social support from the baby's father, and neuroticism contribute to depressive symptoms, controlling for GA (both p < .01). Significant statistical interactions among predictors of pregnancy depressive symptoms were, however, only found in the model using the CAR. Findings highlight the importance of considering biopsychosocial interactions in studies predicting perinatal depressive symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin B Kofman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4562 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
| | - Zoe E Eng
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4562 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
| | - David Busse
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4562 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
| | - Sophia Godkin
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4562 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA
| | - Belinda Campos
- Department of Chicano and Latino Studies, University of California, Irvine, 3151 Social Science Plaza, Irvine, CA 92697-5100, USA
| | - Curt A Sandman
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Early Human and Lifespan Development Program, 1 University Drive, Orange, CA 92866, USA
| | - Deborah Wing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of California, Irvine, 333 City Blvd. West, Suite 1400, Orange CA 92868, USA
| | - Ilona S Yim
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, 4562 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, Irvine, CA 92697-7085, USA.
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β-Eudesmol, an Oxygenized Sesquiterpene, Reduces the Increase in Saliva 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylglycol After the "Trier Social Stress Test" in Healthy Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Study. Nutrients 2018; 11:nu11010009. [PMID: 30577513 PMCID: PMC6356403 DOI: 10.3390/nu11010009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hops, the immature inflorescences of the female hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) are one of the main components of beer and provides flavor and bitterness. β-Eudesmol, an oxygenated sesquiterpene, is reported to accumulate in a particular hop cultivar. Recently, we revealed that β-Eudesmol ingestion affected autonomic nerve activity in an animal model. The effect on humans has not been elucidated, therefore, we investigated the effects of β-Eudesmol on reducing objective and subjective markers related to sympathetic nerve activity after the application of mental stress in healthy participants. Fifty participants (male and female aged 20 to 50 years) were randomly assigned to two groups. Five minutes before taking the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) as a mental stressor, participants in each group ingested a beverage containing β-Eudesmol, the active beverage, or a placebo beverage that did not contain β-Eudesmol. Saliva 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), a major product of noradrenaline breakdown and a representative marker of sympathetic nerve activity, was significantly lower just after the TSST in the active group compared with the placebo group. Saliva cortisol, a marker of the endocrine stress response system, was not significantly different between the two groups. No adverse events related to test beverage ingestion were observed. This is the first experimental evidence of β-Eudesmol effect for mental stress in human.
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Effects of post-exposure naps on exposure therapy for social anxiety. Psychiatry Res 2018; 270:523-530. [PMID: 30340182 PMCID: PMC6292728 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder (SAD) utilizes fear extinction, a memory process enhanced by sleep. We investigated whether naps following exposure sessions might improve symptoms and biomarkers in response to social stress in adults undergoing 5-week exposure-based group SAD therapy. Thirty-two participants aged 18-39 (18 females) with SAD were randomized. Before and after treatment, participants completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and underwent a Trier Social Stress Test with psychophysiological monitoring (mpTSST) that included skin conductance (SCL), electromyographic (EMG) and electrocardiographic recording, and an auditory startle procedure while anticipating the social stressor. At sessions 3 and 4, exposure was followed by either a 120-min polysomnographically monitored sleep opportunity (Nap, N = 17) or wakefulness (Wake, N = 15). Primary hypotheses about SAD symptom change (LSAS) and EMG blink-startle response failed to differ with naps, despite significant symptom improvement (LSAS) with therapy. Some secondary biomarkers, however, provided preliminary support for enhanced extinction learning with naps, with trend-level Time (pre-, post-treatment) × Arm interactions and significant reduction from pre- to post treatment in the Nap arm alone for mpTSST SCL and salivary cortisol rise. Because of the small sample size and limited sleep duration, additional well-powered studies with more robust sleep interventions are indicated.
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