Gehirnaktivierung während sozial bedrohlicher Reize, Situationen und deren Antizipation bei Personen mit einer sozialen Angststörung

Kennzeichnend für Personen mit einer sozialen Angststörung ist die Angst, von anderen Personen negativ bewertet zu werden. Soziale Situationen, in denen die Betroffenen dem Urteil anderer ausgesetzt sein könnten, werden daher vermieden oder nur unter Angst durchgestanden. In bildgebenden Studien zeigen sozialängstliche Personen eine abnorme Aktivierung verschiedener Hirnareale, die mit gesteigerten Angstreaktionen (Amygdala), dysfunktionalen interozeptiven (insulärer Kortex) sowie abnormen selbstreferentiellen und emotionsregulatorischen Prozessen (frontale Kortexareale) assoziiert werden. Zur Untersuchung der neuronalen Korrelate der sozialen Angststörung wurden bislang v.a. emotionale Gesichtsausdrücke als angstauslösende Stimuli genutzt. Studien, welche die Hirnaktivierungsmuster mit anderen störungsrelevanten Stimuli bzw. während einer Symptomprovokation untersuchten, sind rar und deren Ergebnisse widersprüchlich. Darüber hinaus wurde der zeitliche Verlauf differentieller Hirnaktivierungen bislang nur unzureichend untersucht. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden drei Studien durchgeführt, welche die Hirnaktivierungsmuster bei Personen mit einer sozialen Angststörung während der Verarbeitung störungsrelevanter Wörter (Studie 1), dem Durchleben (Studie 3) bzw. der Antizipation einer sozial bedrohlichen Situation (Studie 2) untersuchten. Bei der Auswertung wurden zeitliche Aspekte der Hirnaktivierung berücksichtigt. Bisherige Ergebnisse zu differentiellen Aktivierungsmustern der Amygdala, des insulären Kortex sowie frontaler Kortexareale bei Personen mit einer sozialen Angststörung konnten bestätigt werden. Zudem zeigten sich zeitlich variable Aktivierungsunterschiede v.a. in der Amygdala und in frontalen Arealen. Darüber hinaus konnte während antizipatorischer sozialer Angst ein spezifisches Hirnaktivierungsmuster nachgewiesen werden, was bei der Aufrechterhaltung des Störungsbildes eine entscheidende Rolle zu spielen scheint

Intelligent Learning Management by Means of Multi-sensory Feedback

AbstractAlong with new manufacturing paradigms such as Industry 4.0, based on cyber-physical systems or ubiquitous manufacturing and the rapid development of underlying technologies, the importance of lifelong learning as an integrated part of the overall activities within manufacturing companies increases. Herewith, a holistic learning culture and modern learning environments are required. To allow the learner to independently acquire knowledge and skills in a learning factory an intelligent learning management system and extensive feedback information to the learner are needed. A central approach is to pursue the new interactive knowledge transfer through the multi-sensory approach combined with innovative feedback processes, enabling a learning process with all human senses

Are reframing strategies more effective than empathy in processing trauma reports? A pilot study

Listening to trauma reports can lead to the development of symptoms associated with secondary traumatization. This is particularly relevant for psychotherapists in practice, where psychologists need to estabilish effective strategies for processing and coping with such emotionally challenging events. This explorative study investigated adaptive reframing strategies for future therapists listening to trauma stories compared to feeling empathy for the client. In a mixed design, 42 postgraduate psychology students were randomly instructed to objectively distance themselves, reappraise, or feel empathetic while watching a video of a presumed trauma patient reporting a single violent act. An overall ANOVA did not reveal a difference between the reframing groups and the empathy group (between subjects manipulated) in their skin conductance level and heart rate variability during the video, as well as their change in state depression and state anxiety over the three measurements (before the video, after the video, and 2 days later). Nevertheless, an explorative t-test showed a significantly weaker rise in state depression and state anxiety from before the video to after the video in the reframing groups compared to the empathy group. This supports the suggestion that reframing strategies can be discussed as a protective factor against health issues such as secondary traumatization in therapists and should be examined in further studies in more detail

Face masks reduce interpersonal distance in virtual reality

During the COVID-19 pandemic several behavioral measures have been implemented to reduce viral transmission. While these measures reduce the risk of infections, they may also increase risk behavior. Here, we experimentally investigate the influence of face masks on physical distancing. Eighty-four participants with or without face masks passed virtual agents in a supermarket environment to reach a target while interpersonal distance was recorded. Agents differed in wearing face masks and age (young, elderly). In addition, situational constraints varied in whether keeping a distance of 1.5 m required an effortful detour or not. Wearing face masks (both self and other) reduced physical distancing. This reduction was most prominent when keeping the recommended distance was effortful, suggesting an influence of situational constraints. Similarly, increased distances to elderly were only observed when keeping a recommended distance was effortless. These findings highlight contextual constraints in compensation behavior and have important implications for safety policies

Entwicklung und Evaluation einer Emotionsregulations-App

Hintergrund: Ein adäquater bzw. kompetenter Umgang mit schwierigen Emotionen ist bei Personen mit psychischen Störungen oft eingeschränkt. Mit dem Training emotionaler Kompetenzen (TEK) nach Berking (2017) existiert ein gut strukturiertes Behandlungsmanual, mit dem man emotionale Kompetenzen störungsübergreifend trainieren kann. In Studien zeigte sich durch das TEK eine Verbesserung emotionaler Kompetenzen und eine Symptomreduktion bei Patienten mit psychischen Störungen. Aufgrund der hohen Strukturiertheit des TEK eignet es sich gut für eine digitalisierte Anwendung. Ziel: Eine TEK-App könnte u. a. die Wartezeit auf einen Psychotherapieplatz überbrücken sowie das Potenzial therapierelevanter Übungen besser ausschöpfen. Aktuell existiert eine smartphonegestützte Version des TEK, welche in Ergänzung zum TEK-Gruppentraining eingesetzt werden kann. Das langfristige Ziel ist die Entwicklung einer TEK-App-Vollversion. Methode: Hierfür werden Erkenntnisse aus der Forschung herangezogen, um die bisherigen Probleme smartphonegestützter Gesundheitsförderung gezielt zu adressieren und zu minimieren. In klinischen Studien soll dann die Effektivität der TEK-App überprüft werden. Ergebnisse: Erste Ergebnisse deuten auf eine gute Akzeptanz der TEK-Trainings-App durch die Anwenderinnen und Anwender hin, wenn diese in das Gruppentraining eingebettet ist. Ergebnisse der Effektivität der TEK-App-Vollversion stehen noch aus. Diskussion: Die Effektivität der TEK-App soll bei Personen mit psychischen Störungen, die auf einen Psychotherapieplatz warten, sowie im Kontext der Nachsorge evaluiert werden. Langfristig soll die TEK-App von der fortschreitenden Entwicklung der Sensortechnologie und künstlichen Intelligenz profitieren und Biosignale emotionaler Vorgänge durch die App erfasst und rückgemeldet werden

The Effect of Digital Mindfulness Interventions on Depressive, Anxiety, and Stress Symptoms in Pregnant Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction. Pregnancy is a unique time in a woman’s life that can be both exciting and challenging. It is also a period that can be associated with significant stress, anxiety, and depression, which can have negative consequences for both the mother and the baby. Mindfulness interventions are known to be a well-suited treatment and prevention method for psychiatric symptoms in pregnancy, and web-based applications have been explored. We here present an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized–controlled trials to investigate the effect of digital-based mindfulness interventions on depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms during pregnancy. Methods. The systematic literature search and data extraction was performed by two independent raters. It resulted in 13 eligible studies overall comprising 1373 participants. We conducted random-effects meta-analyses for depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms after completion of a digital mindfulness intervention (compared to a control group). Results. Digital mindfulness intervention methods were significantly able to reduce depression (g = −0.47, 95% CI [−0.9; −0.09]) and anxiety symptoms (g = −0.41, 95% CI [−0.77; −0.05]), but not stress symptoms. These effects were moderated by the attrition rate (βDepression = 0.025, pDepression Anxiety = 0.022, pAnxiety Stress = 0.022, pStress p = 0.024). Conclusions. Digital mindfulness interventions are a promising method to reduce mental health symptoms in pregnant women. We identified certain parameters moderating this effect, for example, primiparity and the attrition rate

Evaluating the feasibility and exploring the efficacy of an emotion-based approach-avoidance modification training (eAAMT) in the context of perceived stress in an adult sample — protocol of a parallel randomized controlled pilot study

Abstract Background Stress levels and thus the risk of developing related physical and mental health conditions are rising worldwide. Dysfunctional beliefs contribute to the development of stress. Potentially, such beliefs can be modified with approach-avoidance modification trainings (AAMT). As previous research indicates that effects of AAMTs are small, there is a need for innovative ways of increasing the efficacy of these interventions. For this purpose, we aim to evaluate the feasibility of the intervention and study design and explore the efficacy of an innovative emotion-based AAMT version (eAAMT) that uses the display of emotions to move stress-inducing beliefs away from and draw stress-reducing beliefs towards oneself. Methods We will conduct a parallel randomized controlled pilot study at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. Individuals with elevated stress levels will be randomized to one of eight study conditions (n = 10 per condition) — one of six variants of the eAAMT, an active control intervention (swipe-based AAMT), or an inactive control condition. Participants in the intervention groups will engage in four sessions of 20–30 min (e)AAMT training on consecutive days. Participants in the inactive control condition will complete the assessments via an online tool. Non-blinded assessments will be taken directly before and after the training and 1 week after training completion. The primary outcome will be perceived stress. Secondary outcomes will be dysfunctional beliefs, symptoms of depression, emotion regulation skills, and physiological stress measures. We will compute effect sizes and conduct mixed ANOVAs to explore differences in change in outcomes between the eAAMT and control conditions. Discussion The study will provide valuable information to improve the intervention and study design. Moreover, if shown to be effective, the approach can be used as an automated smartphone-based intervention. Future research needs to identify target groups benefitting from this intervention utilized either as stand-alone treatment or an add-on intervention that is combined with other evidence-based treatments. Trial registration The trial has been registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien; DRKS00023007 ; September 7, 2020)

The Small Protein YmoA Controls the Csr System and Adjusts Expression of Virulence-Relevant Traits of .

Virulence gene expression of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis changes during the different stages of infection and this is tightly controlled by environmental cues. In this study, we show that the small protein YmoA, a member of the Hha family, is part of this process. It controls temperature- and nutrient-dependent early and later stage virulence genes in an opposing manner and co-regulates bacterial stress responses and metabolic functions. Our analysis further revealed that YmoA exerts this function by modulating the global post-transcriptional regulatory Csr system. YmoA pre-dominantly enhances the stability of the regulatory RNA CsrC. This involves a stabilizing stem-loop structure within the 5'-region of CsrC. YmoA-mediated CsrC stabilization depends on H-NS, but not on the RNA chaperone Hfq. YmoA-promoted reprogramming of the Csr system has severe consequences for the cell: we found that a mutant deficient of ymoA is strongly reduced in its ability to enter host cells and to disseminate to the Peyer's patches, mesenteric lymph nodes, liver and spleen in mice. We propose a model in which YmoA controls transition from the initial colonization phase in the intestine toward the host defense phase important for the long-term establishment of the infection in underlying tissues