The Impact of the Social Context on The Development of Secondary Hyperalgesia: An Experimental Study

Social support has been shown to reduce pain ratings and physiological responses to acute pain stimuli. Further, this relationship is moderated by adult attachment styles. However, these effects have not been characterized in experimentally induced symptoms of chronic pain, like Secondary Hyperalgesia (SH) which is characterized by an increased sensitivity of the skin surrounding an injury. We aimed to examine whether social support via handholding from a romantic partner can attenuate the development of experimentally induced SH. Thirty-seven women, along with their partners, participated in two experimental sessions one week apart. In both sessions, SH was induced using an electrical stimulation protocol. In the support condition, the partner was seated across from the participant holding the participant’s hand during the electrical stimulation, while in the alone condition, the participant went through the stimulation alone. Heart rate variability was measured for both the participant as well as the partner before, during and after the stimulation. We found that the width of the area of hyperalgesia was significantly smaller in the support condition and there was a similar non-significant trend in thelength. Although attachment styles did not moderate this effect, increasing attachment avoidance was associated with both, a smaller width of hyperalgesia, and a smaller increase in the sensitivity on the stimulated arm. For the first time, we show that social support can attenuate the development of secondary hyperalgesia and that attachment avoidance may be associated with an attenuated development of secondary hyperalgesia.</p

The Impact of the Social Context on The Development of Secondary Hyperalgesia: An Experimental Study

Social support has been shown to reduce pain ratings and physiological responses to acute pain stimuli. Further, this relationship is moderated by adult attachment styles. However, these effects have not been characterized in experimentally induced symptoms of chronic pain, like Secondary Hyperalgesia (SH) which is characterized by an increased sensitivity of the skin surrounding an injury. We aimed to examine whether social support via handholding from a romantic partner can attenuate the development of experimentally induced SH. Thirty-seven women, along with their partners, participated in two experimental sessions one week apart. In both sessions, SH was induced using an electrical stimulation protocol. In the support condition, the partner was seated across from the participant holding the participant’s hand during the electrical stimulation, while in the alone condition, the participant went through the stimulation alone. Heart rate variability was measured for both the participant as well as the partner before, during and after the stimulation. We found that the width of the area of hyperalgesia was significantly smaller in the support condition and there was a similar non-significant trend in the length. Although attachment styles did not moderate this effect, increasing attachment avoidance was associated with both, a smaller width of hyperalgesia, and a smaller increase in the sensitivity on the stimulated arm. For the first time, we show that social support can attenuate the development of secondary hyperalgesia and that attachment avoidance may be associated with an attenuated development of secondary hyperalgesia

The impact of the social context on the development of secondary hyperalgesia:an experimental study

Social support has been shown to reduce pain ratings and physiological responses to acute pain stimuli. Furthermore, this relationship is moderated by adult attachment styles. However, these effects have not been characterized in experimentally induced symptoms of chronic pain, such as secondary hyperalgesia (SH) which is characterized by an increased sensitivity of the skin surrounding an injury. We aimed to examine whether social support by handholding from a romantic partner can attenuate the development of experimentally induced SH. Thirty-seven women, along with their partners, participated in 2 experimental sessions 1 week apart. In both sessions, SH was induced using an electrical stimulation protocol. In the support condition, the partner was seated across from the participant holding the participant's hand during the electrical stimulation, whereas in the alone condition, the participant went through the stimulation alone. Heart rate variability was measured for both the participant as well as the partner before, during, and after the stimulation. We found that the width of the area of hyperalgesia was significantly smaller in the support condition. Attachment styles did not moderate this effect of social support on the area width. Increasing attachment avoidance was associated with both a smaller width of hyperalgesia and a smaller increase in the sensitivity on the stimulated arm. For the first time, we show that social support can attenuate the development of secondary hyperalgesia and that attachment avoidance may be associated with an attenuated development of secondary hyperalgesia

The modulation of acute stress on Model-Free and Model-Based reinforcement learning in Gambling Disorder

ABSTRACTBackground and aimsExperiencing acute stress is common in behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder. Additionally, like most substance-induced addictions, aberrant decision-making wherein a reactive habit-induced response (conceptualized as a Model-free [MF] in reinforcement learning) suppresses a flexible goal-directed response (conceptualized as a Model-based [MB]) is also common in gambling disorder. In the current study we investigated the influence of acute stress on the balance between habitual response and the goal-directed system.MethodsA sample of N = 116 pathological gamblers (PG) and healthy controls (HC) performed an acute stress task – the Socially Evaluated Cold pressure task (SECPT) – or a control task. Self-reported stress and salivary cortisol were collected as measures of acute stress. Following the SECPT, participants performed the Two-Step Markov Task to account for the relative contribution of MB and MF strategies. Additionally, verbal working-memory and IQ measures were collected to account for their mediating effects on the orchestration between MB/MF and the impact of stress.ResultsBoth groups had comparable baseline and stress-induced cortisol response to the SECPT. Non-stressed PG displayed lower MB learning than HC. MANOVA and regression analyses showed a deleterious effect of stress-induced cortisol response on the orchestration between MB and MF learning in HC but not in PG. Neither working memory nor IQ mediated these effects.Discussion and ConclusionsDespite normal cortisol response to stress, we found an abnormal pattern of modulation of stress on the orchestration between MB and MF learning among PG.</jats:sec

The modulation of acute stress on model-free and model-based reinforcement learning in gambling disorder.

Experiencing acute stress is common in behavioral addictions such as gambling disorder. Additionally, like most substance-induced addictions, aberrant decision-making wherein a reactive habit-induced response (conceptualized as a Model-free [MF] in reinforcement learning) suppresses a flexible goal-directed response (conceptualized as a Model-based [MB]) is also common in gambling disorder. In the current study we investigated the influence of acute stress on the balance between habitual response and the goal-directed system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy for Severe Alcohol Use Disorder: Protocol for a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, 7-month Parallel-Group Phase II Superiority Trial

info:eu-repo/semantics/inPres

Psilocybin-assisted therapy for severe alcohol use disorder: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 7-month parallel-group phase II superiority trial

Abstract Background A significant number of individuals with alcohol use disorder remain unresponsive to currently available treatments, which calls for the development of new alternatives. In parallel, psilocybin-assisted therapy for alcohol use disorder has recently yielded promising preliminary results. Building on extant findings, the proposed study is set to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary clinical efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy when incorporated as an auxiliary intervention during inpatient rehabilitation for severe alcohol use disorder. Moreover, it intends to pinpoint the modifications in the two core neurocognitive systems underscored by dual-process models of addiction. Methods In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 7-month parallel-group phase II superiority trial, 62 participants aged 21–64 years will be enrolled to undergo psilocybin-assisted therapy as part of a 4-week inpatient rehabilitation for severe alcohol use disorder. The experimental group will receive a high dose of psilocybin (30 mg), whereas the control group will receive an active placebo dose of psilocybin (5 mg), both within the context of a brief standardized psychotherapeutic intervention drawing from key elements of acceptance and commitment therapy. The primary clinical outcome is the between-group difference regarding the change in percentage of heavy drinking days from baseline to four weeks posthospital discharge, while safety and feasibility metrics will also be reported as primary outcomes. Key secondary assessments include between-group differences in terms of changes in (1) drinking behavior parameters up to six months posthospital discharge, (2) symptoms of depression, anxiety, trauma, and global functioning, (3) neuroplasticity and key neurocognitive mechanisms associated with addiction, and (4) psychological processes and alcohol-related parameters. Discussion The discussion outlines issues that might arise from our design. Trial registration EudraCT 2022-002369-14 and NCT06160232