Psychological, endocrine, central nervous and genetic predictors of chronic stress responses in daily life - a prospective-longitudinal quasi-experiment

慢性压力是几种疾病的重要危险因素。然而，虽然有足够的证据表明压力和疾病之间存在这种联系，但对这种联系的生物心理学机制仍然知之甚少。基于非稳态负荷模型，我们建议在一个前瞻性纵向和准实验设计的项目中研究相关机制，该设计要求研究队列在确定的未来时期内将暴露于长期和显著的应激阶段。此外，它需要允许招募一个对照组。这些要求在很大程度上由第一国民议会（筹备）满足。这是德国大学系统中最紧张的学术考试时期之一。平均而言，学生在考试前一年就开始了紧张的准备工作，这对接下来几个月的经历和行为产生了重大影响。我们计划纳入500名法学院学生，n=250名来自里根斯堡大学（队列A），n=250名来自其他巴伐利亚法学院（队列B）。每个队列中的一半受试者将在14个月的应激期内接受研究，而另一半受试者将在同样长的时间内接受研究，没有特别的应激暴露。智能手机和基于网络的平台的使用允许在真实的时间内、重复地并且以高生态有效性评估真实的生活中的压力相关变量。在心理内分泌水平上，我们计划重复收集唾液和头发样本，以评估皮质醇分泌的变化。非稳态负荷模型提出，急性和慢性应激反应显着调制个体间的差异。为了确定这种差异，将评估与压力相关的心理特征和健康行为的预测价值。为了探索神经元对急性应激反应的预测价值，受试者将暴露于我们小组最近开发的fMRI应激范式。此外，遗传因素对应激反应有显著影响。在满足基因-环境-（准）实验的所有要求的分析中，我们打算专注于神经肽S-系统的遗传变异性。它具有显著的抗焦虑作用，对应激反应系统的显著影响已被令人信服地证明。本研究的总体目的是显着的生物心理学慢性应激反应的机制相关的预测因素在人类的识别作出贡献。我们认为，拟议的前瞻性纵向和准实验性项目计划利用创新方法的协同组合，是实现这一目标的一个非常有希望的方法。

Chronic stress is a significant risk factor for several disorders. However, while there is ample evidence for this association between stress and malady, the biopsychological mechanisms mediating this link are still poorly understood. Based on the allostatic load model we propose investigating relevant mechanisms in a project with a prospective-longitudinal and quasi-experimental design.This design requires a research cohort that will be exposed to a long-lasting and significant stress phase in a determined future period. Moreover, it needs to allow for the recruitment of a control group. These requirements are met to a high degree by the (preparation for) the erste juristische Staatsprüfung. This state examination is one of the most stressful academic exam periods in the German university system. On average students start one year prior to the exam with an intense preparation that substantially influences experience and behavior in the following months. We plan including 500 law students, n=250 from the University of Regensburg (cohort A) and n=250 from other Bavarian law schools (cohort B). Half of the subjects in each cohort will be studied over the 14-months stress period while the other half will be studied over an equally long period without particular stress exposure.The individual experience will be measured with repeated ambulatory assessments. The use of smartphones and web-based platforms allows assessing stress related variables in real life, in real time, repeatedly and with high ecological validity. On the psychoendocrine level we plan a repeated collection of saliva and hair samples to assess changes in cortisol secretion. The allostatic load model proposes that acute and chronic stress responses are significantly modulated by interindividual differences. To identify such differences, the predictive value of stress related psychological traits and of health behavior will be assessed. In order to explore the predictive value of neuronal responses to acute stress, subjects will be exposed to a fMRI stress paradigm that has been recently developed by our group. In addition, genetic factors have a significant influence on stress responses. In an analysis fulfilling all requirements for a gene-environment-(quasi-)experiment we intend to focus on genetic variability in the neuropeptide S-system. NPS has pronounced anxiolytic effects and a significant influence on stress response systems has been convincingly documented. The general aim of the present study is to significantly contribute to the identification of mechanistically relevant predictors of biopsychological chronic stress responses in humans. In our view, the proposed prospective-longitudinal and quasi-experimental project that plans utilizing a synergistic combination of innovative methods is a very promising approach to achieve this goal.