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Koehler-Dauner F, Peter L, Roder E, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Waller C, Buchheim A. A Pilot Study on the Influence of Maternal Attachment Representations on Maternal Heart Rate Mediated by Perceived Stress. Brain Sci 2024; 14:412. [PMID: 38790391 PMCID: PMC11117884 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14050412] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Past findings have suggested that there is a link between attachment representations and reactions towards stress (subjective and physiological). The aim of this study was to examine the mediating effect of perceived stress on the association between attachment representation and physiological changes, specifically heart rate. As part of a long-term study investigating the transgenerational transmission of childhood maltreatment, n = 163 mothers participated in multiple assessments. The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) was used to measure maternal attachment representation, categorizing individuals as securely or insecurely attached. Perceived daily stress was assessed using the Perceived Stress Scale 14 (PSS-14), and maternal baseline heart rate (HR) was measured via electrocardiography during a laboratory visit. The results revealed that the representation of secure attachment had a significant reducing effect on both the mother's perceived daily stress and heart rate. Furthermore, the association between secure attachment representation and heart rate was mediated by perceived stress. This study emphasizes the role of attachment representation in maternal well-being, highlighting its impact on stress and physiological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Koehler-Dauner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany; (L.P.); (J.M.F.); (U.Z.)
| | - Lena Peter
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany; (L.P.); (J.M.F.); (U.Z.)
| | - Eva Roder
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (E.R.); (C.W.)
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany; (L.P.); (J.M.F.); (U.Z.)
- German Center for Mental Health (DZPG), Partner Site Ulm, 89077 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, 89073 Ulm, Germany; (L.P.); (J.M.F.); (U.Z.)
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (E.R.); (C.W.)
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, 90419 Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria;
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Buchheim A, Ziegenhain U, Kindler H, Waller C, Gündel H, Karabatsiakis A, Fegert J. Identifying Risk and Resilience Factors in the Intergenerational Cycle of Maltreatment: Results From the TRANS-GEN Study Investigating the Effects of Maternal Attachment and Social Support on Child Attachment and Cardiovascular Stress Physiology. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:890262. [PMID: 35923749 PMCID: PMC9341217 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.890262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a developmental risk factor and can negatively influence later psychological functioning, health, and development in the next generation. A comprehensive understanding of the biopsychosocial underpinnings of CM transmission would allow to identify protective factors that could disrupt the intergenerational CM risk cycle. This study examined the consequences of maternal CM and the effects of psychosocial and biological resilience factors on child attachment and stress-regulatory development using a prospective trans-disciplinary approach. Methods Mother-child dyads (N = 158) participated shortly after parturition (t 0), after 3 months (t 1), and 12 months later (t 2). Mothers' CM experiences were assessed at t 0, attachment representation at t 1 and psychosocial risk and social support were assessed at t 1 and t 2. At t 2, dyads participated in the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). Children's attachmen status were classified as organized vs. disorganized, including their level of disorganized behavior, and heart rate (HR) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were recorded as stress response measures of the autonomic nervous system. Maternal caregiving during SSP was assessed using the AMBIANCE scale. Child's single nucleotide polymorphisms rs2254298 within the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and rs2740210 of the oxytocin gene (OXT) were genotyped using DNA isolated from cord blood. Results Maternal CM experiences (CM+) were significantly associated with an unresolved attachment status, higher perceived stress and more psychological symptoms. These negative effects of CM were attenuated by social support. As expected, maternal unresolved attachment and child disorganized attachment were significantly associated. Maternal caregiving did not mediate the relationship between maternal and child attachment but influenced children's HR and RSA response and disorganized behavior. Moreover, the rs2254298 genotype of the OXTR gene moderated the stress response of children from mothers with CM. Children carrying the rs2740210 risk allele of the OXT gene showed more disorganized behavior independent from maternal CM experiences. Conclusion We replicated and extended existing CM and attachment models by co-examining maternal attachment, social support, and child genetic susceptibility on child attachment and cardiovascular stress regulation. The findings contribute to an extended understanding of risk and resilience factors and enable professionals to target adequate services to parents and children at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Buchheim
- Department of Clinical Psychology II, Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Nürnberg, Germany
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Alexander Karabatsiakis
- Department of Clinical Psychology II, Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jörg Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
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Köhler-Dauner F, Roder E, Gulde M, Mayer I, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Waller C. Maternal Sensitivity Modulates Child's Parasympathetic Mode and Buffers Sympathetic Activity in a Free Play Situation. Front Psychol 2022; 13:868848. [PMID: 35529563 PMCID: PMC9068013 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.868848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Behavioral and physiological (self-)regulation in early life is crucial for the understanding of childhood development and adjustment. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a main player in the regulative system and should therefore be modulated by the quality of interactive behavior of the caregiver. We experimentally investigated the ANS response of 18–36-month-old children in response to the quality of maternal behavior during a mother–child-interacting paradigm. Method Eighty mothers and their children came to our laboratory and took part in an experimental paradigm, consisting of three episodes: a resting phase (E1), a structured play phase (E2), and a free play situation (E3) between mothers and their child. Children’s and mother’s heart rate (HR), the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity via the pre-ejection period (PEP) and the left ventricular ejection time (LVET), and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity via the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were continuously measured by an electrocardiogram. Maternal sensitivity of interactive behavior was assessed by using the Emotional Availability (EA) Scales. Results Children of mothers with insensitive behavior had a significantly lower RSA at baseline, showed a lack of RSA withdrawal during structured and free play, and had shorter LVET across all episodes compared to children of sensitive mothers. Conclusion Our findings depict the influence of low-quality maternal interaction on the child’s ANS regulation, in calm and more stressful play situations. The overall higher SNS mode with impaired PNS reactivity may negatively influence child’s ANS homoeostasis, which may result in a long-term impact on mental and physical wellbeing. Further, the maternal sensitivity may function as a buffer for the stress response of their child. These results could serve as a basis for the development of appropriate psychoeducational programs for mothers of low sensitivity in their interaction with the child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Köhler-Dauner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Roder
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Manuela Gulde
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Inka Mayer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Nuremberg General Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
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Nazzari S, Reali P, Ceppi E, Giorda R, Piazza C, Bianchi AM, Reni G, Frigerio A. Respiratory Sinus Aarrhythmia (RSA) stress response in preschool age varies by serotonin transporter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR): A preliminary report. J Exp Child Psychol 2022; 219:105413. [PMID: 35303525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jecp.2022.105413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The serotonin transporter promoter region polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) has been implicated in stress regulation, with increased stress reactivity often being found in carriers of the low-expressing short (S) allele. Nevertheless, the role of the 5-HTTLPR in influencing parasympathetic stress reactivity, as indexed by Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA), is still unknown. This study examined, for the first time, whether the 5-HTTLPR was associated with variations in RSA response to maternal separation in a sample of 69 healthy 5-year-old children. Preschoolers' RSA was measured during an age-adapted version of the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP). The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism was tested as a predictor of RSA dynamic response to the SSP through multilevel models. A significant interaction between 5-HTTLPR and SSP episodes was found. In particular, whereas a significant decrease in RSA levels was observed during the stranger episode in the whole sample, S allele carriers showed a significant decrease in RSA levels from the stranger episode to the first separation episode, followed by an increase for the rest of the procedure. Albeit preliminary, data support the view that the 5-HTTLPR may contribute to individual differences in RSA stress reactivity from preschool age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nazzari
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy.
| | - Pierluigi Reali
- Department of Electronics Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Elisa Ceppi
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Roberto Giorda
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Caterina Piazza
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Bianchi
- Department of Electronics Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Alessandra Frigerio
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute, IRCCS Eugenio Medea, 23842 Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
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Reali P, Piazza C, Tacchino G, Songia L, Nazzari S, Reni G, Frigerio A, Bianchi AM. Assessing stress variations in children during the strange situation procedure: comparison of three widely used respiratory sinus arrhythmia estimation methods. Physiol Meas 2021; 42. [PMID: 34325412 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6579/ac18ff] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Objective.The respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) is a well-known marker of vagal activity that can be exploited to measure stress changes. RSA is usually estimated from heart rate variability (HRV). This study aims to compare the RSA obtained with three widely adopted methods showing their strengths and potential pitfalls.Approach.The three methods are tested on 69 healthy preschoolers undergoing a stressful protocol, the strange situation procedure (SSP). We compare the RSA estimated by the Porges method, the univariate autoregressive (AR) spectral analysis of the HRV signal, and the bivariate AR spectral analysis of HRV and respirogram signals. We examine RSA differences detected across the SSP episodes and correlation between the estimates provided by each method.Main results.The Porges and the bivariate AR approaches both detected significant differences (i.e. stress variations) in the RSA measured across the SSP. However, the latter method showed higher sensitivity to stress changes induced by the procedure, with the mean RSA variation between baseline and first separation from the mother (the most stressful condition) being significantly different among methods: Porges, -17.5%; univariate AR, -18.3%; bivariate AR, -23.7%. Moreover, the performances of the Porges algorithm were found strictly dependent on the applied preprocessing.Significance.Our findings confirm the bivariate AR analysis of the HRV and respiratory signals as a robust stress assessment tool that does not require any population-specific preprocessing of the signals and warn about using RSA estimates that neglect breath information in more natural experiments, such as those involving children, in which respiratory frequency changes are extremely likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierluigi Reali
- Electronics Information and Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Caterina Piazza
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Giulia Tacchino
- Electronics Information and Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Letizia Songia
- Electronics Information and Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Sarah Nazzari
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Reni
- Bioengineering Laboratory, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Alessandra Frigerio
- Child Psychopathology Unit, Scientific Institute IRCCS E. Medea, Bosisio Parini, LC, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Bianchi
- Electronics Information and Bioengineering Department, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy
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Studying caregiver-infant co-regulation in dynamic, diverse cultural contexts: A call to action. Infant Behav Dev 2021; 64:101586. [PMID: 34118652 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2021.101586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Caregivers and infants co-regulate their physiology, emotions, and behavior in a way that is dynamically responsive to each other and the contexts in which they live. This paper is an introduction and call to action for researchers interested in understanding how to study caregiver-infant interactions in the home and diverse cultural contexts, including marginalized communities. We argue that research will be more valid, culturally relevant, and tapped-in to the daily lives of caregivers and infants if there is partnership and collaboration with the caregivers in the design of the questions, data collection and analysis, and distribution of the findings. We recommend dynamically assessing emotions, behaviors, and physiology using repeated sampling methods including ecological momentary assessments (EMA), salivary bioscience, and actigraphy. We aim to extend current practices of studying caregiver-infant co-regulation by measuring fluctuations of daily life and considering sociocultural factors that shape naturalistic caregiver-infant interactions. Using methodological advancements and community-based participatory research approaches can enable developmental scientists to measure life as it is actually lived.
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Christensen JS, Wild H, Kenzie ES, Wakeland W, Budding D, Lillas C. Diverse Autonomic Nervous System Stress Response Patterns in Childhood Sensory Modulation. Front Integr Neurosci 2020; 14:6. [PMID: 32132906 PMCID: PMC7040227 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2020.00006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The specific role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in emotional and behavioral regulation—particularly in relation to automatic processes—has gained increased attention in the sensory modulation literature. This mini-review article summarizes current knowledge about the role of the ANS in sensory modulation, with a focus on the integrated functions of the ANS and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and their measurement. Research from the past decade illustrates that sympathetic and parasympathetic interactions are more complex than previously assumed. Patterns of ANS activation vary across individuals, with distinct physiological response profiles influencing the reactivity underlying automatic behavioral responses. This review article advances a deeper understanding of stress and the complex stress patterns within the ANS and HPA axis that contribute to allostatic load (AL). We argue that using multiple physiological measurements to capture individual ANS response variation is critical for effectively treating children with sensory modulation disorder (SMD) and sensory differences. We consider the relative contributions of automatic vs. deliberately controlled processes across large-scale neural networks in the development of sensorimotor function and their associated links with arousal patterns and sensory over- and under-responsivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heather Wild
- Psychology Program, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Erin S Kenzie
- Systems Science Program, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Wayne Wakeland
- Systems Science Program, Portland State University, Portland, OR, United States
| | | | - Connie Lillas
- NeuroRelational Framework (NRF) Institute, Pasadena, CA, United States
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Köhler-Dauner F, Roder E, Krause S, Buchheim A, Gündel H, Fegert JM, Ziegenhain U, Waller C. Reduced caregiving quality measured during the strange situation procedure increases child's autonomic nervous system stress response. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health 2019; 13:41. [PMID: 31695745 PMCID: PMC6824052 DOI: 10.1186/s13034-019-0302-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysfunctional maternal behavior has been shown to lead to disturbances in infant's regulatory capacities and alterations in vagal reactivity. We aim to investigate the autonomic nervous system (ANS) response of the child during the strange situation procedure (SSP) in relation to the quality of maternal behavior. METHODS Twelve month after birth, 163 mother-child-dyads were investigated during the SSP. Heart rate (HR) and both, the parasympathetic branch (PNS) via the respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and the sympathetic branch (SNS) via the left ventricular ejection time (LVET) of the ANS were continuously determined during the SSP using electrocardiogram (ECG) and impedance cardiogram (ICG) measures. Maternal behavior was assessed by using the AMBIANCE measure. RESULTS The ANS response in infants of mothers with disruptive behavior compared to infants of non-disruptive mothers was significantly altered during the SSP: HR increased especially when infants of disruptive mothers were alone with the stranger (F (1, 161) = 4.15, p = .04) with a significant vagal withdrawal when being in contact with the stranger despite of presence of the mother (F (1, 161) = 5.11, p = .03) and a significant increase in vagal tone during final reunion (F (1, 161) = 3.76, p = .05). HR increase was mainly based on a decrease in LVET (F (1, 161) = 4.08, p = .05) with a maximum infant's HR when the stranger came into the room instead of the mother. CONCLUSION Both, SNS and PNS branches of the child are significantly altered in terms of an ANS imbalance, especially during contract to a stranger, in relation to dysfunctional maternal behavior. Our findings suggest the importance of supporting high quality caregiving that enables the infant to adapt adequately to stressful interpersonal situations which is likely to promote later health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Köhler-Dauner
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Eva Roder
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sabrina Krause
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Harald Gündel
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg M. Fegert
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ute Ziegenhain
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm Medical University of Ulm, Steinhövelstraße 5, 89075 Ulm, Germany
| | - Christiane Waller
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg General Hospital, Nuremberg, Germany
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