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风险因素。然而，虽然有充分的证据表明压力和疾病之间存在这种联系，但调节这种联系的生物心理学机制仍然知之甚少。基于非平衡载荷模型，我们建议采用前瞻性、纵向和准实验的设计来研究项目中的相关机制。这一设计需要一个研究队列，该队列将在确定的未来一段时间内暴露于一个长期且显著的应力阶段。此外，它还需要允许招募一个对照小组。这些要求在很大程度上得到了法律学学院的(筹备)的满足。这次州级考试是德国大学系统中压力最大的学术考试阶段之一。平均而言，学生在考试前一年就开始了紧张的准备工作，这在很大程度上影响了接下来几个月的体验和行为。我们计划包括500名法律系学生，其中250人来自雷根斯堡大学(A组)，250人来自巴伐利亚其他法学院(B组)。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，而不会受到特别的压力暴露。个人经历将通过反复的动态评估来衡量。使用智能手机和基于网络的平台可以实时、重复地评估现实生活中与压力相关的变量，并具有很高的生态有效性。在精神内分泌水平上，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。平衡负荷模型认为，急性和慢性应激反应显著地受到个体间差异的调节。为了确定这些差异，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，受试者将暴露在我们小组最近开发的功能磁共振应激范式中。此外，遗传因素对应激反应也有显著影响。在一项满足基因-环境(准)实验的所有要求的分析中，我们打算关注神经肽S系统中的遗传变异性。NPS具有显著的抗焦虑作用，并且已有令人信服的证据表明，NPS对应激反应系统有重大影响。本研究的总体目的是为确定生物心理学慢性应激反应的机制相关预测因子做出重要贡献。在我们看来，拟议的前瞻性-纵向和准实验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.