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Skvortsova A, Meeuwis SH, Derksen S, Kerkkänen K, Sutter E, Evers AWM, Veldhuijzen DS. The role of self-reported and physiological stress in nocebo hyperalgesia. Biol Psychol 2024; 190:108818. [PMID: 38762001 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2024.108818] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Negative expectations can increase pain sensitivity, leading to nocebo hyperalgesia. However, the physiological and psychological factors that predispose individuals to this phenomenon are still not well understood. The present study examined whether stress induced by a social stressor affects nocebo hyperalgesia, and whether this effect is mediated by self-reported and physiological stress responses. We recruited 52 healthy participants (15 men) who were randomly assigned to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a control condition (a friendly version of the TSST). Nocebo hyperalgesia was induced using negative suggestions combined with a validated pain conditioning paradigm. We assessed self-reported (anxiety and stress) and physiological (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, and skin conductance) responses to stress. Both groups exhibited significant nocebo hyperalgesia. The stress group showed higher levels of anxiety, self-reported stress, and cortisol levels compared to the control group while no significant differences were found in other physiological markers. The stress and control groups did not differ in the magnitude of nocebo hyperalgesia, but anxiety levels partially mediated the effects of the stress test on nocebo hyperalgesia. Our findings suggest that an external social stressor does not directly affect nocebo hyperalgesia, but that increased anxiety due to the stressor enhances its magnitude. Thus, it may be worthwhile to investigate whether reducing stress-related anxiety in clinical settings would help alleviate nocebo effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Skvortsova
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - S H Meeuwis
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - S Derksen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - K Kerkkänen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - E Sutter
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
| | - A W M Evers
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands; Medical Delta, Leiden University, Technical University Delft and Erasmus University, the Netherlands.
| | - D S Veldhuijzen
- Health, Medical and Neuropsychology unit, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
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Drăgoi CM, Nicolae AC, Ungurianu A, Margină DM, Grădinaru D, Dumitrescu IB. Circadian Rhythms, Chrononutrition, Physical Training, and Redox Homeostasis-Molecular Mechanisms in Human Health. Cells 2024; 13:138. [PMID: 38247830 PMCID: PMC10814043 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020138] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
A multitude of physiological processes, human behavioral patterns, and social interactions are intricately governed by the complex interplay between external circumstances and endogenous circadian rhythms. This multidimensional regulatory framework is susceptible to disruptions, and in contemporary society, there is a prevalent occurrence of misalignments between the circadian system and environmental cues, a phenomenon frequently associated with adverse health consequences. The onset of most prevalent current chronic diseases is intimately connected with alterations in human lifestyle practices under various facets, including the following: reduced physical activity, the exposure to artificial light, also acknowledged as light pollution, sedentary behavior coupled with consuming energy-dense nutriments, irregular eating frameworks, disruptions in sleep patterns (inadequate quality and duration), engagement in shift work, and the phenomenon known as social jetlag. The rapid evolution of contemporary life and domestic routines has significantly outpaced the rate of genetic adaptation. Consequently, the underlying circadian rhythms are exposed to multiple shifts, thereby elevating the susceptibility to disease predisposition. This comprehensive review endeavors to synthesize existing empirical evidence that substantiates the conceptual integration of the circadian clock, biochemical molecular homeostasis, oxidative stress, and the stimuli imparted by physical exercise, sleep, and nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Manuela Drăgoi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (C.M.D.); (A.C.N.); (A.U.); (D.M.M.)
| | - Alina Crenguţa Nicolae
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (C.M.D.); (A.C.N.); (A.U.); (D.M.M.)
| | - Anca Ungurianu
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (C.M.D.); (A.C.N.); (A.U.); (D.M.M.)
| | - Denisa Marilena Margină
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (C.M.D.); (A.C.N.); (A.U.); (D.M.M.)
| | - Daniela Grădinaru
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania; (C.M.D.); (A.C.N.); (A.U.); (D.M.M.)
| | - Ion-Bogdan Dumitrescu
- Department of Physics and Informatics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020956 Bucharest, Romania;
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Bonapersona, Born FJ, Bakvis P, Branje S, Elzinga B, Evers A, van Eysden M, Fernandez G, Habets PC, Hartman CA, Hermans EJ, Meeus W, van Middendorp H, Nelemans S, Oei NY, Oldehinkel AJ, Roelofs K, de Rooij SR, Smeets T, Tollenaar MS, Joëls M, Vinkers CH. The STRESS-NL database: A resource for human acute stress studies across the Netherlands. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2022; 141:105735. [PMID: 35447495 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Stress initiates a cascade of (neuro)biological, physiological, and behavioral changes, allowing us to respond to a challenging environment. The human response to acute stress can be studied in detail in controlled settings, usually in a laboratory environment. To this end, many studies employ acute stress paradigms to probe stress-related outcomes in healthy and patient populations. Though valuable, these studies in themselves often have relatively limited sample sizes. We established a data-sharing and collaborative interdisciplinary initiative, the STRESS-NL database, which combines (neuro)biological, physiological, and behavioral data across many acute stress studies in order to accelerate our understanding of the human acute stress response in health and disease (www.stressdatabase.eu). Researchers in the stress field from 12 Dutch research groups of 6 Dutch universities created a database to achieve an accurate inventory of (neuro)biological, physiological, and behavioral data from laboratory-based human studies that used acute stress tests. Currently, the STRESS-NL database consists of information on 5529 individual participants (2281 females and 3348 males, age range 6-99 years, mean age 27.7 ± 16 years) stemming from 57 experiments described in 42 independent studies. Studies often did not use the same stress paradigm; outcomes were different and measured at different time points. All studies currently included in the database assessed cortisol levels before, during and after experimental stress, but cortisol measurement will not be a strict requirement for future study inclusion. Here, we report on the creation of the STRESS-NL database and infrastructure to illustrate the potential of accumulating and combining existing data to allow meta-analytical, proof-of-principle analyses. The STRESS-NL database creates a framework that enables human stress research to take new avenues in explorative and hypothesis-driven data analyses with high statistical power. Future steps could be to incorporate new studies beyond the borders of the Netherlands; or build similar databases for experimental stress studies in rodents. In our view, there are major scientific benefits in initiating and maintaining such international efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonapersona
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University,Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - F J Born
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University,Utrecht, The Netherlands; Charité University, Berlin,Germany
| | - P Bakvis
- Clinical Psychology unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University,The Netherlands; SEIN, Epilepsy Institute in the Netherlands,Heemstede,The Netherlands
| | - S Branje
- Department of Youth & Family, Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - B Elzinga
- Clinical Psychology unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University,The Netherlands
| | - Awm Evers
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - M van Eysden
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University,Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - G Fernandez
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center,Nijmegen,The Netherlands
| | - P C Habets
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry,DeBoelelaan 1117, Amsterdam,The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neurosciences, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Stress, and Sleep (MAPSS),Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C A Hartman
- Department of Psychiatry and Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen,Groningen,The Netherlands
| | - E J Hermans
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center,Nijmegen,The Netherlands
| | - W Meeus
- Department of Youth & Family, Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - H van Middendorp
- Health, Medical & Neuropsychology unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University, The Netherlands
| | - S Nelemans
- Department of Youth & Family, Utrecht University,Utrecht,The Netherlands
| | - N Y Oei
- Amsterdam Brain and Cognition (ABC), University of Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands; Department of Developmental Psychology, Addiction Development and Psychopathology(ADAPT)-Lab, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, University of Amsterdam,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - A J Oldehinkel
- Department of Psychiatry and Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen,Groningen,The Netherlands
| | - K Roelofs
- Radboud University Nijmegen: Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour and Behavioural Science Institute
| | - S R de Rooij
- Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - T Smeets
- Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, Center of Research on Psychological disorders and Somatic diseases (CoRPS), Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University,Tilburg,The Netherlands
| | - M S Tollenaar
- Clinical Psychology unit, Institute of Psychology and Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition, Leiden University,The Netherlands
| | - M Joëls
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen,Groningen,The Netherlands
| | - C H Vinkers
- Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Psychiatry,DeBoelelaan 1117, Amsterdam,The Netherlands; Amsterdam Neurosciences, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Stress, and Sleep (MAPSS),Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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