Stalder, Tobias
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Publication Access status: Open Access , Facilitating relaxation and stress reduction in healthy participants through a virtual reality intervention: study protocol for a non-inferiority randomized controlled trialBackground Repeated or chronic stress is considered a major source of disease, in terms of both somatic and mental illnesses. The prevention of stress-related disease by interventions for relaxation has thus increased societal relevance. In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will compare a newly developed virtual reality (VR) environment for relaxation to an active control group applying a freely chosen relaxation method. To test if our VR environment supports relaxation in a situation of acute stress, a standardized stress induction protocol will precede the relaxation phase. Methods One hundred healthy participants will be recruited from the University of Siegen and randomly assigned to the VR or the active control group that will be free to choose their own relaxation strategy. The multi-sensory VR includes visual, acoustic, and haptic features to induce a strong feeling of presence. The laboratory testing will comprise a baseline measurement, a stress induction, a relaxation intervention, and a recovery measurement. The primary outcomes are self-reported stress and relaxation measured with a visual analog scale (VAS) at pre- and post-baseline, at the start, middle, and end of the stress induction, at pre- and post-relaxation, at pre- and post-recovery, and in the evening of testing. Secondary outcomes are the physiological parameters, namely heart rate and heart rate variability, tonic skin conductance level as well as the number of non-specific skin conductance responses, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and respiratory rate recorded during the four experimental phases as well as state mood, and state rumination assessed at four time points (pre- and post-stress, post-relaxation, and in the evening of testing). Finally, post-event processing will be assessed after relaxation and in the evening of testing. Repeated measures ANOVAs will be performed to test for statistical effects of group, time, and group × time interaction. Discussion The newly developed, multi-sensory VR offers an intervention for relaxation without prior training. Its immersive character might increase efficacy compared to other relaxation methods, especially in situations of acute stress. Future directions could be the development of a mobile version of the VR to enhance accessibility for users. To achieve a transfer of training effects to real life, VR components should successively be eliminated until relaxation is practiced without guidance by the VR.Source Type:Article365 164 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Access status: Open Access , Failure to replicate the association between fractional anisotropy and the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTTLPR, rs25531)Recent work underlines the importance of alterations in white matter (e.g., measured by fractional anisotropy (FA)) as a neural vulnerability marker for psychiatric disorders. In this context, the uncinate fasciculus (UF), which connects the limbic system with prefrontal areas, has repeatedly been linked to psychiatric disorders, fear processing, and anxietyrelated traits. Individual differences in FA may partly be genetically determined. Variation in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter gene (serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region [5-HTTLPR]) is a particularly promising candidate in this context, which has been linked to psychiatric disorders as well as to limbic and prefrontal reactivity. However, findings on the association between the 5-HTTLPR and FA within the UF-tract have been heterogeneous. The present study investigated this relationship and extended previous work by considering different genetic classification approaches as well as sex effects in a human sample (n = 114). All participants were genotyped for the 5-HTTLPR and the rs25531 polymorphism. As a main result, we did not find any significant relationship between the 5-HTTLPR and FA in the UF-tract although power analyses showed an adequate power. In addition, genotype effects were neither found when different classification approaches were used nor when analyses were carried out in males or females only. The present findings suggest that the association of the 5-HTTLPR and FA seems to be a more labile phenomenon than previously assumed. Possible explanations and limitations are discussed.Source Type:Article596 249 - Some of the metrics are blocked by yourconsent settings
Publication Access status: Open Access , Repressive and vigilant coping styles in stress and relaxation: evidence for physiological and subjective differences at baseline, but not for differential stress or relaxation responsesIntroduction: Previous research suggested differential stress reactivity depending on individuals’ coping style, e.g., as classified by the model of coping modes. Specifically, stronger physiological reactivity and weaker subjective stress ratings were found for repressors than for sensitizers. However, it remains to be investigated (i) whether these findings, which are largely based on social stress induction protocols, also generalize to other stressors, (ii) whether repressors vs. sensitizers also exhibit differential stress recovery following the application of a relaxation method, and (iii) which stress reactivity and recovery patterns are seen for the two remaining coping styles, i.e., fluctuating, and non-defensive copers. The current study thus examines stress reactivity in physiology and subjective ratings to a non-social stressor and the subsequent ability to relax for the four coping groups of repressors, sensitizers, fluctuating, and non-defensive copers. Methods: A total of 96 healthy participants took part in a stress induction (Mannheim Multicomponent Stress Test) and a subsequent relaxation intervention. Subjective ratings of stress and relaxation, heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure were assessed during the experiment. HR and blood pressure are markers of the sympathetic stress response that can be regulated by relaxation, while HRV should increase with relaxation. To investigate long-term relaxation effects, subjective ratings were also assessed on the evening of testing. Results: Despite successful stress induction, no differential responses (baseline to stress, stress to relaxation) were observed between the different coping groups on any of the measures. In contrast, a strong baseline effect was observed that persisted throughout the experiment: In general, fluctuating copers showed lower HR and higher HRV than non-defensive copers, whereas repressors reported lower subjective stress levels and higher levels of relaxation during all study phases. No differences in subjective ratings were observed in the evening of testing. Conclusion: Contrary to previous research, no differential stress reactivity pattern was observed between coping groups, which could be due to the non-social type of stressor employed in this study. The novel finding of physiological baseline differences between fluctuating and non-defensive individuals is of interest and should be further investigated in other stressor types in future research.Source Type:Article324 140