How we see the world: Inflexible interpretation updating as a predictor and moderator of PTSD symptoms in high-risk occupations.

Objective: The way we interpret information shapes our perception of reality. Predictive processing frameworks propose that the ability to update interpretations based on disconfirming information is key to recovery from potentially traumatic events (PTEs). However, direct evidence for this assumption is scarce and comes from studies using paradigms with low ecological validity.

Can glucose facilitate fear exposure? Randomized, placebo-controlled trials on the effects of glucose administration on fear extinction processes.

Previous studies showed that glucose has beneficial effects on memory function and can enhance contextual fear learning. To derive potential therapeutic interventions, further research is needed regarding the effects of glucose on fear extinction. In two experimental studies with healthy participants (Study 1: N = 68, 39 females; Study 2: N = 89, 67 females), we investigated the effects of glucose on fear extinction learning and its consolidation.

A Relaxed Horse-A Relaxed Client? An Experimental Investigation of the Effects of Therapy Horses' Stress on Clients' Stress, Mood, and Anxiety.

Equine-assisted therapies are becoming increasingly popular for addressing physical and psychological disabilities in clients. The role of the horse's welfare in equine-assisted service receives increasing attention in research. Several studies have shown that horses are able to perceive human emotions and respond to human stress responses.

Childhood emotional maltreatment and sensitivity to social rejection in emerging adults.

Background: Enhanced responsiveness to social rejection may be a transdiagnostic mechanism through which childhood emotional maltreatment predisposes individuals to interpersonal and mental health problems. To investigate this mechanism, as a first step, more detailed investigations are needed regarding the assumed association of childhood emotional maltreatment with rejection sensitivity in later life.

Objective: The present work examines the hypothesis that among different subtypes of childhood maltreatment, in particular forms of emotional maltreatment (emotional abuse and neglect) relate to rejection sensitivity in emerging adults.

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training as an adjunct to trauma-focused psychotherapy in traumatized refugees and asylum seekers: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

Refugees with exposure to multiple traumatic events are at high risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Narrative exposure therapy (NET) is an effective treatment for the core symptoms of PTSD, but it does not reliably reduce depressive symptoms. Endurance exercise on the other hand was consistently found to be effective in treating depression making it a promising adjunct to NET.

Generation climate crisis, COVID-19, and Russia-Ukraine-War: global crises and mental health in adolescents.

Climate change, COVID-19, and the Russia-Ukraine War are some of the great challenges of our time. These global crises affect young people in a particularly vulnerable phase of their lives. The current study aimed to assess the impact of these crises on mental health (depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life) in secondary school students in Germany.

To sleep or not to sleep, that is the question: A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effect of post-trauma sleep on intrusive memories of analog trauma.

Distressing intrusive memories of a traumatic event are one of the hallmark symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Thus, it is crucial to identify early interventions that prevent the occurrence of intrusive memories. Both, sleep and sleep deprivation have been discussed as such interventions, yet previous studies yielded contradicting effects.

The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans.

Background: Several studies have investigated the relationship between emotional attachment to pets and mental health with the majority of studies finding a negative relationship between emotional attachment to pets and mental health. Interestingly, attachment to pets differs from attachment to humans with studies showing that humans with an insecure attachment style form a particularly strong emotional attachment to their companion animals. Human attachment style is also related to mental health with secure attachment being associated with superior mental health.

Prospective associations between intelligence, working memory capacity, and intrusive memories of a traumatic film: Potential mediating effects of rumination and memory disorganization.

Background And Objectives: Field research indicates that lower intelligence may predispose trauma-exposed individuals towards the development of re-experiencing symptoms. However, this assumption requires further testing in controlled prospective studies. In the current analog study, we tested whether lower fluid intelligence and lower working memory capacity (WMC) independently contribute to intrusion development.

Correlates of mental health in occupations at risk for traumatization: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hospitals, police stations, and fire departments are highly demanding workplaces. Staff members are regularly exposed to various stressors including traumatic events. Correspondingly, several studies report high rates of mental health issues among these occupations.

On-line anxiety level detection from biosignals: Machine learning based on a randomized controlled trial with spider-fearful individuals.

We present performance results concerning the validation for anxiety level detection based on trained mathematical models using supervised machine learning techniques. The model training is based on biosignals acquired in a randomized controlled trial. Wearable sensors were used to collect electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity, and respiration from spider-fearful individuals.

Pre-rehabilitation sense of coherence as a predictor of symptom change after rehabilitation.

Sense of coherence (SOC) constitutes the key component of salutogenesis theory. It reflects individuals' confidence that their environment is comprehensible and manageable and that their lives are meaningful. Research demonstrates a strong cross-sectional relationship between SOC and mental health.

The Relationship between Dog Ownership, Psychopathological Symptoms and Health-Benefitting Factors in Occupations at Risk for Traumatization.

Individuals working in high-risk occupations (e.g., emergency staff) are exposed to high levels of occupational stress including traumatic events.

Differential effects of sleep on explicit and implicit memory for potential trauma reminders: findings from an analogue study.

: Recent findings suggest that disruptions of sleep-related memory processing are involved in the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms. More specifically, exposure to an analogue traumatic event resulted in fewer intrusive memories, when it was followed by sleep instead of continued wakefulness. However, competing evidence suggests that sleep deprivation may reduce intrusive re-experiencing.

Cortisol administration after extinction in a fear-conditioning paradigm with traumatic film clips prevents return of fear.

Cortisol is a stress hormone and potent modulator of learning and memory processes. If administered after learning, cortisol can enhance memory consolidation. Yet it is unknown whether cortisol administration after fear extinction learning strengthens extinction memory.

[Sensitivity and Specificity of the Reizdarm-Fragebogen].

Background: The Reizdarm-Fragebogen (RDF) is the first German questionnaire to assess subjectively perceived symptom severity of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Thus far, this was only possible in the context of a medical examination by a practitioner. The goal of the current study was to assess differences in RDF scores among IBS patients and other clinical and non-clinical populations.

REM theta activity predicts re-experiencing symptoms after exposure to a traumatic film.

Background: Extensive empirical evidence indicates that sleep plays an active role in memory consolidation. Moreover, sleep has been found to preferentially enhance emotional memories and may modulate affective reactions to previously encountered stimuli. Notably, recent findings suggest that disruptions of sleep-related memory processing could be involved in posttraumatic symptom development such that sleep disturbances may accelerate symptoms of intrusive re-experiencing.

Mental Health in Anesthesiology and ICU Staff: Sense of Coherence Matters.

Hospitals, and particularly intensive care units (ICUs), are demanding and stressful workplaces. Physicians and nurse staff are exposed to various stressors: emergency situations, patients' deaths, and team conflicts. Correspondingly, several studies describe increased rates of PTSD symptoms and other mental health problems in hospital staff.

Therapy Dogs as a Crisis Intervention After Traumatic Events? - An Experimental Study.

Animal-assisted therapy has been proposed as a treatment adjunct for traumatized patients. In animal-assisted crisis response, dogs are used directly after a traumatic event to reduce stress and anxiety. However, to date there are few controlled studies investigating the effects of therapy dogs on PTSD symptoms and to our knowledge there is no study investigating the effects of a therapy dog intervention directly after a traumatic event.

Effects of heart rate variability biofeedback during exposure to fear-provoking stimuli within spider-fearful individuals: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Specific phobias are among the most common anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy is the treatment of choice for specific phobias. However, not all patients respond equally well to it.

From neuroscience to evidence based psychological treatments - The promise and the challenge, ECNP March 2016, Nice, France.

This ECNP meeting was designed to build bridges between different constituencies of mental illness treatment researchers from a range of backgrounds with a specific focus on enhancing the development of novel, evidence based, psychological treatments. In particular we wished to explore the potential for basic neuroscience to support the development of more effective psychological treatments, just as this approach is starting to illuminate the actions of drugs. To fulfil this aim, a selection of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and neuroscientists were invited to sit at the same table.

Repeated cortisol administration does not reduce intrusive memories - A double blind placebo controlled experimental study.

PTSD is a severe mental disorder, which may develop after exposure to traumatic events and is characterized by intrusive memories. Intrusions are sudden brief sensory memories of the traumatic event, that cause immense distress and impairment in every day functioning. Thus, the reduction of intrusive memories is one of the main aims of PTSD therapy.

Memory control ability modulates intrusive memories after analogue trauma.

Background: Most people suffer from intrusive memories in the aftermath of trauma. For survivors' well-being, it is key that these intrusions are controlled. Memory control can be exerted through retrieval suppression.

Startle eye-blink modulation by facial self-resemblance and current mood.

Although salient stimuli are known to modulate startle eye-blink responses, and one's own face is considered of particular salience, effects of facial self-resemblance on startle responsiveness have not been systematically investigated. For the present study, pictures from the FACES database (rated as neutral) were digitally morphed to resemble the participants' (N=37) faces to varying degrees (25-50-75%). Perceptually matched geometrical shapes served as a control condition.

Presence of a dog reduces subjective but not physiological stress responses to an analog trauma.

Dogs are known to have stress and anxiety reducing effects. Several studies have shown that dogs are able to calm people during cognitive and performance stressors. Recently, therapy dogs have been proposed as a treatment adjunct for post-traumatic stress disorder patients.