1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany, ²Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Innsbruck, Austria; Bunck@mpipsykl.mpg.de

Anxiety and learning/memory are hypothesized to be linked phenomena, as patients suffering from anxiety disorders and depression display changes in cognitive abilities. To mimic the clinical situation, wild type CD1 mice (NAB) were selected and inbred for extremes in anxiety-related behaviour in the elevated plus maze test to generate (HAB) versus low anxiety-related behaviour (LAB) mice. To study the interplay between emotionality and cognition, HAB, NAB and LAB mice were subjected to various social and non-social learning tasks. The general ability to recognise a familiar stimulus animal was assessed by the social recognition test. As a more sophisticated measure of social memory, the social discrimination task (SD) was performed. Furthermore, we used a contextual and cued fear-conditioning (FC) paradigm to investigate extinction abilities. The results clearly indicate that all three lines show social recognition abilities with a similar decline in olfactory investigation of the same stimulus. Remarkably, in the SD only HAB mice succeeded in identifying a familiar animal even after 120 min interexposure interval, indicating that the SD can be used to reveal differences in cognitive abilities between the mouse lines. Interestingly, in both FC paradigms HAB mice displayed delayed extinction compared to both, NAB and LAB animals. The data suggest that hyper-anxiety typical of HABs is linked to enhanced social memory abilities and resistance to extinction.

Further analyses of the interaction between emotionality and cognition will focus on anxiety- and cognition-related neuropeptide systems, the effects of antidepressants and extinction-facilitating drugs.

7B_01_S

Stress and common health complaints

Holger Ursin

Unifob health, University of Bergen, Norway

According to the Cognitive Activation Theory of Stress (CATS – Ursin and Eriksen 2004), a formal system of systematic definitions, the term “stress” is used for stress stimuli, the stress experience, the non-specific, general stress response, and the experience of the stress response. The stress response is normal, healthy, and necessary alarm. If sustained there may be a risk of illness and disease. The level and duration of the alarm depends on the expectancy of the outcome of stimuli and the specific responses available for coping.

The most common health complaints are subjective health complaints like muscle pain, tiredness and mood changes. These are normal aches of short duration and low intensity for most people. For some the pains and complaints are substantial and long-lasting with serious implications for functioning. There are no sharp or obvious limits in the distribution of health complaints, separating ‘normal’ and endurable pain and complaints, and intolerable complaints that need professional help. These conditions are most often unspecific, and are the most common reason for encounters with health professionals, and the most frequent reason for sick leave and disability. There is a striking comorbidity for all these conditions. This may be explained by psychobiological sensitization within neural loops, which has been suggested as a mechanism for these conditions (Ursin 1997).

7B_02_S

Low-energy stress-related disorders. Diagnostic utility of bio-psychosocial markers

Bengt B. Arnetz^1,2 , Ulla Maria Anderberg², Ingrid Anderzen², and Christina Halford²

2 Division of Social Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala Sciences Park, 751 05 Uppsala, Sweden

It is commonly difficult to differentiate low energy states due to stress-related disorders from depression.¹ The aim of the present study was to evaluate possible differences in symptoms, psychiatric co-diagnosis, and biological stress markers in patients suffering from stress-related disorders versus depression. 150 patients that had been referred by primary care physicians to an academic stress medicine center were evaluated by a physician using structured psychiatric tools, the center’s validated stress-assessment visual analogue scales, biological stress markers, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index. Patients with depression, >20 points on MADRS, scored significantly lower on the global energy scale, self rated health, and quality of sleep as compared to patients suffering from stress-related disorders. Depressed patients scored higher on the global stress scale. Depressed patients rated themselves to be less rested following a night’s sleep. Depressed patients scored lower with regard to satisfaction with their family and job situations. It is suggested that studies involving either stress-related disorders or depression more carefully screen the participants with regard to biopsychosocial characteristics. A substantial number of patients being referred for stress-related disorders also suffer from psychiatric co-morbidity.

¹ Arnetz, BB, Ekman R. (Eds). Stress in health and disease. Wiley-VCH. Weinheim, Germany. ISBN-13 978-3-527-31221-4.

7B_03_S

Stress and the heart: The physiological basis for the development of cardiac risk in depression and anxiety disoders

Gavin Lambert

Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia (gavin.lambert@baker.edu.au )

Until recently it was thought that no more than 50% of clinical coronary heart disease was explicable in terms of classical cardiac risk factors such as dyslipidemia, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. Recent large scale epidemiological studies have increased our understanding of the mechanisms generating cardiac risk and have provided evidence indicating that psychosocial factors, particularly depressive illness (MDD), anxiety states, and acute and chronic mental stress are involved here, “triggering” clinical cardiovascular events, and possibly also contributing to hypertension and atherosclerosis development. Although the underlying mechanisms in play are most likely multi factorial in origin the sympathetic nervous system is undoubtedly paramount in many cases. Using noradrenaline isotope dilution methodology and direct nerve recording coupled with invasive blood sampling techniques we have examined cardiac sympathetic activity in patients with MDD and also panic disorder (PD). By sampling blood also from the internal jugular vein we have been able to gain insight into brain monoamine turnover in these conditions and have directly evaluated the effects of SSRI therapy on brain monoamines in these conditions. The pattern of sympathetic activation is very different in patients with MDD (bimodal) or PD (normal). Brain monomaine turnover is different in each group, with brain noradrenaline turnover being reduced in MDD yet normal in PD. Interestingly, in both MDD and PD brain serotonin turnover, surprisingly, is markedly elevated before treatment and is significantly diminished following SSRI therapy. Clearly, the role of brain monoamines and their relation to generating increased cardiac risk merits further attention.

7B_04_S

Intermittent neurogenic stress delays onset of diabetes in rats: Selye’s eustress?

Holly E. Bates, A Sirek, MA Kiraly, JTY Yue, D Goche Montes, SG Matthews, and M Vranic

University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. holdoug@yahoo.ca

Acute stress deteriorates glycemic control in diabetes. We hypothesized that chronic intermittent restraint stress (1hr/d, 5d/wk for 13wks) of male ZDF rats, a model of Type 2 Diabetes, would accelerate development of diabetes. Intermittent stress lowered food intake by 15%. Thus, pair fed rats were included to distinguish between the effects of reduced food intake and of stress per se. Surprisingly, intermittent stress delayed development of fed and fasting hyperglycemia, effects mediated partly by reduced food intake, but also by intermittent stress per se. The stress-induced reduction in food intake improved insulin secretion and ß-cell mass, suggesting these as mechanisms for reduced food intake to improve glycemia. However, intermittent stress per se also led to HPA axis adaptations. Although basal ACTH levels did not differ, intermittent stress prevented the 30% increase in basal corticosterone (CORT) with food restriction, which could predict 20% of the variation in fed glycemia. In addition, intermittent stress led to habituation of restraint-induced CORT responses to lower levels than those induced by food removal. These CORT adaptations with intermittent stress were consistent with adaptation of mRNA levels for hippocampal MR, paraventricular nucleus AVP, and anterior pituitary POMC. Thus, intermittent restraint stress per se delays hyperglycemia, presumably via adaptations in the HPA axis that prevent the hypercorticosteronemia caused by food restriction. Since hypercortisolemia deteriorates glycemic control, adaptation to repetitive, predictable stress may be beneficial for glucose regulation. Thus, as Hans Selye noted when coining eustress, not all stress is deleterious.

7B_05_S

STRESS, QUALITY OF LIFE AND MULTIPLE CHRONIC DISEASES: Patterns Emerging From a Large National Sample, Australia

Agnes Walker

Australian Centre for Economic Research on Health, Australian National University CANBERRRA 0200 AUSTRALA, Agnes.Walker@anu.edu.au

OBJECTIVES: to study the associations between multiple chronic diseases and quality of life and psychological distress scores.

METHODS: analysis of unit record cross sectional data from Australian national surveys for the population aged 20 years or more. Identification of an appropriate indicator of multiple chronic diseases (ie comorbidities). Use of logistic regression techniques to study associations between (a) comorbidities and demographic, socioeconomic and risk factor variables and (b) quality of life (general and psychological distress) and demographic, socioeconomic and health status indicators.

RESULTS: older people, obese persons, women, persons with low socioeconomic status and those living alone had significantly greater probability of having three or more chronic illnesses than did other 20+ year olds (p<0.0001). Also people with comorbidities and/or with poor self-rated general health; those living alone; people with low educational qualifications; and persons with low socioeconomic status were more likely to feel dissatisfied, unhappy or terrible about their lives and of having moderate, high or very high psychological distress scores than did the rest of the 20+ year old population (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: age and obesity were found to be major risk factors for comorbidities. In turn, comorbidities and self-rated health were negatively associated with quality of life - whether indicated by how people felt about their lives generally, or by the extent of their psychological distress.

7B_06_S

The long-term impact of perceived stress on sleep quality

Leif W. Rydstedt

University West, Trollhättan, Sweden

Jason J. Devereux, Mark Cropley, Georgia Michalianou

University of Surrey, Guildford, UK

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the long-term impact of perceived stress on sleep quality. The sample consisted of 70 British white-collar workers (age m=42, 31% females) that participated in a survey study and also volunteered for a field study about 4 years later. Hierarchic regression analysis was used with age and gender entered in the first step and an indicator of baseline sleep quality in the second step of the equation, while perceived stress at baseline (measure by the 10-item version of PSS, aiming at stress the last month) was entered in the third step. The result showed that perceived stress level at baseline significantly predicted (R² =.049, p<.05) sleep quality (measured by PSQI) 4 years later. This finding suggest that even more momentarily perceived stress may reflect a more chronic strain influence.

7C_01_S

Alterations of the catecholamine-cytokine balance in depression

Szelényi J. and Vizi E.S.

Institute of Experimental Medicine, Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, 43. Szigony str., H-1083 Budapest, Hungary

Cytokines are involved both in various immune reactions and in controlling certain events in the central nervous system. In our earlier studies it was shown that monoamine neurotransmitters, released in stress situations, represent a tonic sympathetic control on cytokine production and on the balance of proinflammatory/antiinflammatory cytokines. Basic and clinical studies have provided evidence that the biophase level of monoamines, determined by the balance of their release and uptake, is involved in the pathophysiology and treatment of depression, while inflammatory mediators might also have role in its etiology. In this work we studied the role of changes in norepinephrine (NE) level on the LPS evoked TNF-a and IL-10 response both in the plasma and in the hippocampus of mice. We demonstrated that the LPS induced TNF-a response is in direct correlation with the biophase level of NE as it is significantly higher when the release of NE of vesicular origin was completely inhibited in an animal model of depression (reserpine treatment) and it is significantly lower in case of increasing biophase level of NE by genetical (NETKO) or chemical (desipramine) disruption of NE reuptake. IL-10 was changed inversely to the TNF-a level only in the desipramine treated animals. Our results showed that depression is related both to changes in peripheral and in hippocampal inflammatory cytokine production and to monoamine neurotransmitter levels. Since several antiinflammatory drugs have also antidepressant effect we hypothesized that inhibitors of the monoamine uptake system might have multiple targets and are also able to modulate the LPS-induced inflammatory responses, which might contribute to their antidepressant effect.

This work was supported by grants OTKA T-046896 and ETT 298/2006

7C_02_S

Cytokine actions in the brain mediate the increased prevalence of depression in diseases with an inflammatory component

Robert Dantzer

Integrative Immunology & Behavior Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Physically ill patients experience a high prevalence of affect disorders that are exacerbated by relatively minor infections. Activation of the peripheral innate immune system induces signs of sickness that culminate in depressive-like behavior in adult mice. This response is exaggerated in aged mice whose innate immune system is chronically activated. Peripheral inflammation is relayed to the brain by both the sensory nerves that innervate the site of inflammation and the overflow of inflammatory mediators that enters the general circulation. In response to these stimuli, brain macrophage-like cells produces cytokines that directly or indirectly affect neuronal function. Activation of indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO), a key enzyme in the metabolism of tryptophan, is an important mechanism for the depressive-like effects of immune activation. Enhanced activity of this enzyme in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha and/or interferon-gamma induces the production of neurotoxic kynurenine metabolites and decreases the bioavailability of tryptophan, which ultimately impacts on serotoninergic neurotransmission. The development of depressive-like behavior in mouse in response to acute or chronic activation of the peripheral innate immune system is temporarily correlated with IDO activation in the brain and at the periphery. Furthermore pretreatment with 1-methyl-tryptophan, a competitive antagonist of IDO, abrogates depressive-like behavior but not sickness behavior in mice during the course of inflammation. These preclinical findings emphasize the role of cytokines and their metabolic effects in the pathophysiology of inflammation-associated depression. Supported by NIMH (R01 MH-71349 and MH-079829).

7C_03_S

Long photoperiod-iduced glucocorticoid resistance and decreased negative selection in double-positive thymocytes of female but not male mice. Mechanisms and possible implication in the geographical distribution of autoimmune diseases

Georges Maestroni

The mammalian immune response is circadian and is regulated through daily alterations of darkness and recently defined specific pathway of non-visual light. The endogenous pace maker that drives this circadian cycle is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. Light reaches the SCN through non-rod, non-cone intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells. The nervous pathway connecting the non-visual light detection in the SCN of the hypothalamus leads to a release of neurohormones from the pituitary, pineal, adrenal glands, and the gonads that finally reach the lymphoid organs. We found that exposure of adult female but not male mice to long photoperiod (22 hours light: 2 hours dark, LP) for 8 days decreased the glucocorticoid sensitivity of the thymus gland. Dexamethasone –induced apoptosis was decreased in double positive thymocytes and this effect was apparent only in vivo but not in vitro. This effect was not observed in prebubertal female mice and in adult gonadectomized mice as well as in beta-2 adrenergic receptor gene deficient mice. We exposed to the LP DO11.10 mice transgenic for a T cell receptor recognizing an ovalbumin peptide. The peptide was then injected intraperitoneally to induce intrathymic negative selection. The LP-exposed mice showed a significantly reduced negative selection of double positive thymocytes. Intrathymic negative selection is mediated by endogenous glucocorticoids and generates tolerance to self –antigens. As the seasonal variation of the photoperiod increases with the latitude, we might have disclosed a basic mechanism explaining the gender and geographical distribution of autoimmune disorders which are more frequent in women and show a north-south gradient of incidence.

7C_04_S

Maternal stress and the prenatal programming of infant immunity

Christopher L. Coe, Gabriele R. Lubach

University of Wisconsin, 22 N. Charter Street, Madison, WI, USA, ccoe@wisc.edu

Background. While stress can influence immune responses at any point in the life span, our research has shown that the effects are larger and more lasting in the young and aged host. In particular, during fetal and infant development, the maturational trajectory of immunity can be permanently altered. This presentation will focus on changes seen after manipulation of the in utero environment and the role of placental and neuroendocrine processes in mediating the immune alterations. Methods. Pregnancy conditions of rhesus monkeys were manipulated in several ways, including by psychological disturbance of the gravid female, administration of dexamethasone acutely, dietary treatments, or viral infection. The impact on the infants’ immune, endocrine, brain, and behavioral development was assessed.

Results. Maternal stress, or antenatal administration of corticosteroids, significantly affected immune responses at birth and continued to have an effect on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine responses up to 2 years of age. These immune changes were associated with changes in the gut microbiota (including reduced Lactobacilli and Bifidobacter), which increased the risk for infection with enteric pathogens. A novel pathway mediating the effect of maternal stress on the fetus was also identified: a reduction in the placental transfer of iron. Lower iron stores at birth increased the risk for an iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in the growing infants. The anemia emerging at 4-8 months of age provided a second postnatal hit to the immune system. In addition, infant monkeys from stressed pregnancies evinced behavioral and neural changes, including immature neuromotor reflexes at birth, greater emotionality during the first year of life, and a smaller hippocampus as juveniles. Smaller hippocampal size was associated with less neurogenesis, and a more reactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Conclusions. Stressful and challenging events during fetal life can significantly impact the development of immunity at a vulnerable point in ontogeny and change the regulatory set points for several physiological systems postnatally.

7C_06_S

Stress triggered neuronal plasticity in spleen in interaction with immunocytes

C. Liezmann¹, M. Daniltchenko¹, S. Pavlovic Masnikosa¹, B. F. Klapp¹, E. M. J. Peters¹

1 University-Medicine Charité, Charité Center 12 for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Psychoneuroimmunology, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany; eva.peters@charite.de

Stress is considered as a factor which induces or aggravates inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis. An influence of stress on the interaction of peripheral nerve fibers with cells of the cutaneous immune system (mast cells, dendritic cells) with following modulation of an inflammation reaction could be proven recently. In this context, Substance P (SP) - a sensory neuropeptide - was revealed as an important stress mediator with its own stress axis in the skin. Here we postulate stress-dependent communication between nerve fibers and immune-competent cells with effect on the course of inflammatory skin diseases in the spleen. To address this question, we employed a combined mouse model of experimental allergic dermatitis (AD) and stress. AD was induced in C57BL/6 mice by double sensitization (i.p) and an intradermal challenge using chicken egg ovalbumin. Animals were additionally exposed to sonic stress for 24h prior to challenge. In this model stress leads to a relative hyperinnervation of the immune-competent areas of the spleen. At the same time, an increased number of antigen-presenting cells (APC) can be observed in these arreas and contacts between nerve fibers and APC were found. Further analysis of quality and function of neuro-immune interaction will reveal the role of the observed stress-induced alterations in the spleen in atopic disease .

7D_01_S

Socioeconomic and psychosocial determinants of chronic stress in a changing society

Maria S. Kopp

Institute of Behavioral Sciences, Semmelweis University, H-1089 Budapest, Nagyvárad t. 4, Hungary kopmar@net.sote.hu

In the last decades in the transforming societies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) premature mortality increased dramatically, especially among men. In Hungarostudy 2002 survey 12.640 persons were interviewed in their homes. They represent the Hungarian population according to age, sex and 150 sub-regions above age 18. Socioeconomic, psychosocial, work and family related factors, behavioral and self-reported health measures were recorded. From the latest Hungarostudy 2006 follow-up study 1130 men and 1529 women were included into the present study, who in 2002 were between the age of 40-69. By 2006 99 men (8.8%) and 53 women (3.6%) died in the 40-69 age group. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, work related measures, such as job insecurity and low social support from co-workers predicted significantly the all-cause mortality among men. Low education and low personal income were connected with premature mortality only among men. Living with the spouse was significant protective factor against early death only among men, whereas dissatisfaction with personal relations was a significant risk factor among women. Beck Depression score and self-rated health were much more important predictors of premature death among men than among women. In the transforming society of Hungary middle aged men are much more vulnerable to the work and socioeconomic deprivation related chronic stress factors than women in the same age groups. Chronic stress is proposed as an integrating model that can be applied to understand the gender differences in premature mortality during social transformation.

7D_02_S

7D_03_S

Work stress and health in the cultural context of globalisation

Johannes Siegrist

University of Duesseldorf, Germany

Economic globalisation has far-reaching impact on the socio-cultural life and the health of populations in modern and rapidly developing societies. Technological progress goes along with the spread of a Western lifestyle that increases the risk of non-communicable diseases. Importantly, a globally expanding market of capital, goods and labour results in an increase of stressful working conditions among large parts of employed people, in addition to the afflictions of unemployment.

Based on the discoveries of two leading theoretical models, a wide range of health-adverse effects of stressful work has now been identified. In these models, stressful work is defined as either a combination of high demand and low control in one's job, and as an imbalance between high effort spent and low reward received in turn, where rewards include money, esteem, and promotion prospects including job security. This latter model is of particular interest in the context of globalisation as it points to violations of a fundamental principle of economic and social exchange, reciprocity.

Major research findings from epidemiological and experimental studies of work stress and health are demonstrated, with special emphasis on rapidly transforming societies. In the final part, policy implications of current scientific evidence are discussed, with a focus on worksite health promotion, and promising preliminary findings from intervention studies are reported. Yet, given the scale of challenge, coordinated international strategies towards healthy work will be needed.

7D_04_S

Psychosocial Stress Management Programs in Transforming Societies

Redford B. Williams, M.D.

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

Populations living in societies undergoing major transition can be subjected to mounting levels of stress that have the potential to produce serious health problems in some or all segments of the population. Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1989, for example, there has been a marked increase in annual mortality in countries of the former Soviet Block, most marked in Russia where the annual mortality increased from 600/100,000 to 900/100,000 – producing an excess of 400,000 deaths per year. Another example is India, where a continuing dramatic expansion of the economy has created another set of social, political and economic upheavals. A recent WHO report estimates that by 2010, 65% of the world’s cardiac cases will be persons of Indian descent, both in India and elsewhere. It is likely that a significant proportion of these increasing mortality and cardiac problems are a result of the stresses encountered in these transforming societies. While all might agree that the ideal solution would be to ameliorate the social, political, and economic conditions that are creating the health-damaging stress, that may be a solution that is easier to contemplate than to implement. In this presentation I will review experiences with one structured stress management program, the Williams LifeSkills Workshop, that has been implemented, with appropriate adaptations to the different cultures, in the Far East and Hungary. In both regions, results indicate that training in coping skills can be implemented with results that clearly document reduced stress levels. To have a favorable impact on the health problems in these regions at the public health level, however, it will be necessary to develop and implement delivery systems that can disseminate this training on a mass scale. I will conclude by considering how mass media and the internet might be used to do this.

Pikhart H¹, Bobak M¹, Pajak A², Malyutina S³, Kubinova R⁴, Peasey A¹, Marmot M¹.

Background: It has been shown in the past that psychosocial factors (at work and outside work) are associated with various health outcomes. It is thought that they influence health partly through health behaviours. Aims: To examine the association between the effort-reward imbalance (ERI), overcommitment and control over general life, and several alcohol related measures in three populations in Central and Eastern Europe in the HAPIEE Study. Methods: The sample of population aged 45–69 years old in Novosibirsk (Russia), Krakow (Poland), and 6 Czech towns completed a questionnaire in 2002-2005 that included ERI, overcommitment (OC), control over life, and a number of sociodemographic variables. Annual alcohol intake, annual number of drinking sessions, the mean dose of alcohol per drinking session, and binge drinking were calculated from graduated frequencies in the questionnaire. Data were also available on problem drinking (>2 positive answers on CAGE questionnaire). Only men who were full-time working at the time of interview were used for the analysis (N=6700). Results: After controlling for age and country, the measures of problem drinking were associated with ERI, OC and control over life. Adjustment for socioeconomic position did not substantially change the results. When all 3 psychosocial constructs were used at the same model, the estimated effects were reduced but still associated with the alcohol related outcomes. Conclusions: Stress at work and outside work expressed by ERI, OC and control over life is associated with problem drinking in these populations.

7E_01_S

ACHIEVING STRESSLESS PREDICTABLE PERIO / IMPLANT EXCELLENCE

Dr André P. SAADOUN, DDS, MS

The creation of an esthetic implant restoration with gingival architecture in harmony with the adjacent dentition is a formidable challenge. The process of soft and hard tissue healing must be understood and incorporated into a carefully coordinated sequence of therapy.

The essential prerequisites in order to establish an optimal aesthetic implant restoration should always remain a precise, comprehensive biological and prosthetic diagnosis as well as the choice of the most conservative, appropriate, and least traumatic treatment for the patient to prevent any injury to the periodontal and dental structure and achieve a successful outcome.

The final objective is to achieve an optimal crown restoration surrounded by its natural gingival environment, using delicate ossoeus and/or muco-gingival plastic surgery.

A major evolution in implantology has taken place with tapered and rough surface implants, inserted in a one-step, non-submerged surgical protocol.

It is important to identify complications and clinical mistakes and their implications on the final esthetic outcome.

7E_02_S

The role of stress in periodontal disease

B.Willershausen, A.Kasaj, A.Pistorius

Department of Operative Dentistry, Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz Germany

In the last two decades several investigations have been carried out on associations between stress factors and periodontitis and a number pathogenesis models have been discussed and examined. As a physiologic measure of stress urin levels of corticosteroids have been used, and increased free cortisol levels in the urine of periodontitis patients as compared with controls have been encountered. It was shown that emotional stress may interfere with normal immune function and may result in increased levels of circulating hormones that can effect the periodontium. Stressful life events appear to lead to a greater prevalence of periodontal disease and individuals with financial worries, distress, depression or inadequate coping mechanisms have a more sever loss of clinical attachment. Furthermore, it could be demonstrated that anxiety and stress may have a negative influence on the response to periodontal therapy and that patients responding less well to periodontal treatment have more psychosocial strain and a more passivedependent personality. Although epidemiologic data on the association of stress and periodontal disease is still limited, it appears that stress may be a putative risk factor for periodontitis.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide an overview, based on own data obtained from controlled clinical studies, on the association of stress, distress and coping behaviours with periodontal disease.

7E_03_S

Hypnosis in dentistry

Krause W.R.

psychiatrie@harz-klinikum.de

In daily practice dentists are faced with a wide array of psychological problems including dental fear, gagging, psychogenic denture intolerance, bruxism, atypical facial pain etc. Although several hypnotherapeutic methods can be used rather effectively to solve most of these problems [1,2], only few dentists use such techniques in his/her practice. Therefore the aim of the lecture is to introduce the possibilities of hypnotherapy in dentistry and to inspire the audience's effort to use this method in the dental practice. For this purpose author will summarize the theoretical background and basic clinical knowledge of hypnotherapy, and will describe how hypnosis can be used for a wide spectrum of dental problems. References: (1): Krause, W-R.: Hypnose und Autogenes Training. In Schultz, JH.: Hypnosetechnik. Praktische Anleitung zum Hypnotisieren für Ärzte. 9. Auflage, bearbeitet und ergänzt von G. Iversen und W-R. Krause. Gustav Fischer Verlag, Stuttgart, 1994. (2): Staats, J., Krause, W-R.: Hypnotherapie in der zahnärztlichen Praxis. Hüthig Verlag, Heidelberg, 1995.

7E_04_S

Psychosomatic dentistry in Hungary. Trends and progress in the last 10 years

Fábián T.K.

Clinic of Prosthetic Dentistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

Following a rather long brake, an increase of interest in psychosomatic dentistry occurred in the middle of nineties in Hungary. From this time up to the present 67 written publications were published from the Faculty of Dentistry of the Semmelweis University Budapest related to this topic. During this time all together 32 researchers participated in this multidisciplinary project including 13 dentists, 6 psychologists, 5 biochemists, 1 psychiatrist, 1 teacher, 5 dental student and 1 psychology student. Research topics included epidemiology of dental fear, clinical treatment of dental fear and several oro-facial psychogenic symptoms, and stress related biochemical changes of saliva. The lecture will summarize the most important data and results of this 10 years project and give a broad outline of research possibilities in the next future.

7E_05_S

Differential elicitation of the saliva level of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) , a metabolite of noradrenaline, induced by mental stress testing

Satoshi Horiuchi, Akira Tsuda, Hisayoshi Okamura, Jumpei Yajima

E-mail: satosato.007@nifty.com

3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) is a principal metabolite of noradrenaline derived from the brain. Therefore, to assess the saliva levels of MHPG is considered as a non-invasive tool for measuring central noradrenergic activity. From previous findings, although it is suspected that changes in the saliva level of MHPG varies among modes of mental stress testing, very few studies have tested this possibility directly. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test different elicitation of the saliva level of MHPG induced Stroop Color Word Conflict Test (SCWCT) and Uchida-Kraepelin Test (UKT) as modes of mental stress testing in ten male healthy volunteers. The participants performed these two tasks at about the same time on two different days according to their schedule available. The order of the tasks was counterbalanced. MHPG responses varied among tasks; only loading SCWCT resulted in the significant increase in MHPG level in the saliva even while both SCWCT and UKT induced similar degree of subjective stress state. These results provide evidence that mental work load induces increase in levels of MHPG specifically, suggesting that there are specific situational dimension(s) which activates the central noradrenergic nervous system. Combined with previous studies focusing on individual difference, future attempts to clarify the dimension (s) would improve our understanding of brain noradrenergic activity induced by acute stress.

7E_06_S

Autogenic training in the treatment of atypical facial pain.

cadolive@usp.br

The southern muriqui (Brachyteles. arachnoides), the largest Neotropical primate species, is on the verge of extinction with critically endangered status (IUCN 2000). We validated noninvasive endocrine monitoring techniques for this species by quantifying fecal estrogens and progestins in 4 adult females as well as fecal metabolites of testosterone and glucocorticoids in 4 adult males and 1 sub-adult male. The study was conducted over a period of 11 months under two different environmental conditions: a) Two adult males, two adult females and a young male living on an island of 600 m^2, with natural vegetation, at Curitiba Zoo (PPC) and b) two adult couples housed in a large cage of 15.40X5.85X4.70m at Rio de Janeiro Primate Center (CPRJ). Fecal samples were collected at least every other day over four continuous periods of 20 to 24 days with 45-day intervals between to subsequent sampling periods. Reproductive behavior was observed on the same schedule. Fecal steroids were extracted by dilution in ethanol. We used radioimmunoassay (RIA) in solid phase to quantify fecal estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, and glucocorticoid metabolites. Estrogen and progestin concentrations in female feces varied individually over a wide range (0.03 to 145.56µg/g of dried feces for progestins and 0.002 to 71.57µg/g of dried feces for estrogens). Three females did not show any ovarian activity over specific periods of the study, while ovarian cyclicity was observed over all sample periods in one female from CPRJ. Despite of their low levels of fecal reproductive steroids, all females displayed proceptive behavior and copulations. Surprisingly, despite of their semi-free ranging condition, the PPC males showed significantly higher concentrations of fecal glucocorticoids and lower concentration of fecal testosterone than the caged CPRJ males (p<0.05). As expected, the lowest concentration of testosterone metabolites (p<0.05) was found in the feces of the sub-adult male. For all males, copulations occurred when testosterone levels were the highest and peaks of glucocorticoid concentration were related to stressful situations such as copulation or fight. Therefore, this study shown that the quantification of fecal steroid metabolites was effective for reproductive monitoring as well as for assessing the physiological response to stressful events.

7G_06_S

The impact of secondary sex characteristics (SSC) and social behavior to cortisol and sexual hormones in female primates

B. Wallner¹, J. Dittami² and I. H. Machatschke²

Primates living in multi male–female associations can develop SSC during sexual active periods. Size of SSC is dependent on fluctuating sex-steroids. Males intensify socio-sexual contact with females showing exaggerated SSC.

We investigated the socio-endocrine impact of SSC in three different species: Facial and anogenital redness in Japanese macaques (JM) during the breeding and non-breeding season, perineal swellings in Barbary macaques (BM) treated with the contraceptive levonorgestrel during non-sexual periods, and perineal swellings in chimpanzees (Ch) during intact cycle periods. Data from JM and BM were collected under semi-natural, from Ch under caged conditions. Fecal samples were used for analyses of sex steroid and cortisol (CORT) metabolites.

In BM, multiple regressions showed a negative relationship between SSC size and CORT and a positive one between swelling size and intersexual socio-positive contact. Females with enlarged SSC had lower progesterone levels and increased estradiol-progesterone ratios.

Ch females housed with males showed decreased CORT during late and decreasing tumescence of the SSC. In single housed individuals, increased CORT was related to decreased plasma FSH. Paired females had shorter cycle length.

In JM, a light and a dark group could be discerned with regard to redness. In the dark group, intensity of redness increased during the breeding season and correlated with the amount of socio-sexual behavior. These females had significantly elevated CORT and sex steroid titers.

In conclusion, reduced HPA activity in females is associated with exaggerated SSC and intensified male contact when male mating competition for females is diminished (e.g., BM, Ch).

Module 7 – Poster lectures:

7A_02_P

COGNITIVE DEFICITS CAUSED BY CHRONIC STRESS CAN BE PREVENTED BY THE GINKGO BILOBA AND HYPERICUM PERFORATUM ADMINISTRATION

Jan J. Braszko, Anna Walesiuk, Emil Trofimiuk

Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Bialystok, Waszyngtona 15A, 15-274 Białystok, Poland

Exposure to chronic restraint stress in rats as well as the psychosocial stress in humans has been shown to alter cognitive functions such as learning and memory and has been linked to the pathophysiology of mood and anxiety disorders. Anxiolytic/sedative/antidepressant agents used in the management of the stress-related disorders have several side effects and are not cost-effective.

Therefore, in this study we investigated efficacy of the orally given two natural medicines: extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGB 761, 100 mg/kg) and dried, standardized confection of crude Hypericum perforatum (350 mg/kg), in the prevention of the post-stress memory dysfunctions.

Male Wistar rats (150-160 g) were stressed for 21 days by placing them for 2 h daily in a tight restraint tubes. There were separate sets of experiments testing effects of EGB 761 and H. perforatum. To define specific role of the rat stress hormone (cortisol in humans) we ran also groups injected daily with corticosterone (5 mg/kg subcutaneously).

Each experimental set consisted of 6 groups of animals: CONTROL, STRESS, corticosterone (CORT), EXTRACT (EGB 761 or H. perforatum), EXTRACT + STRESS, EXTRACT + CORT.

Both, STRESS and CORT groups displayed considerable and statistically significant deficits in memory: spatial [measured in the Morris Water Maze (MWM) (p<0.05) and the Barnes Maze (BM) (p<0.05)], visuo-spatial [measured in the Object Recognition (OR) (p<0.01) Test] and non-spatial associative [measured in an inhibitory avoidance (IA) (p<0.01) Test].

Both, EGB 761 and H. perforatum administered daily during the stress procedure or chronic corticosterone treatment totally abolished most of these deficits. Interestingly, in naive rats EGB 761 improved memory of the positively (curiosity - OR) reinforced behaviour more than that of the negatively (water immersion – MWM, exposure – BM, electric current – IA) reinforced ones. The latter, however, were better remembered by the animals receiving H. perforatum. There were only minor differences between the beneficial actions of EGB 761 and H. perforatum on the deficits caused by stress- and corticosterone.

In conclusion, G. biloba and H. perforatum appear to contain agents able to effectively counteract increasingly important stress-induced cognitive deficits.

7A_04_P

Upregulation of synaptotagmin and TrkB is involved in chronic exercise-enhanced learning and memory behavior in mice

Hsiun-ing Chen¹*, Yu-Fan Liu², and Chauying J. Jen¹

Department of Physiology¹ and Institute of Basic Medical Sciences², College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan. *E-mail: hichen@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Acute severe exercise elevates stress hormone levels and impairs cognitive function in rodents. In contrast, chronic exercise improves cognitive function without affecting resting stress hormone levels. It is known that synaptotagmin, a Ca²⁺-dependent synaptic vesicle protein, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) play important roles in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory behavior. However, whether chronic exercise can improve learning and memory by upregulating these molecules remains unraveled. To answer this question, male BALB/c mice were used as the animal model. After 4 weeks of treadmill exercise training, the ability of learning and memory was evaluated by one-trial passive avoidance test (PA), an aversive learning task. Hippocampal synaptotagmin and TrkB protein expressions were determined by Western blotting, and BDNF was measured by ELISA. Our results showed that after chronic treadmill exercise, 1) the retention latency of PA was increased; 2) protein levels of hippocampal TrkB and synaptotagmin were elevated; 3) TrkB or synaptotagmin protein expression was positively correlated with PA performance. These data suggest that the upregulation of synaptotagmin and TrkB may contribute to the chronic exercise-facilitated hippocampus-dependent cognitive function.

7A_05_P

Towards the Genetic Dissection of Anxiety

Czibere L, Bunck M, Frank E, Keßler MS, Kohli M, Bettecken T and Landgraf R

To investigate the genetic background of anxiety-related and depression-like behaviour in mice, two lines, selectively inbred for high (“HAB”) and low anxiety-related behaviour (“LAB”), starting out from outbred CD1 mice. As mutations in the genome are assumed to make up for the majority of genetic differences, we plan to pinpoint them with a linkage analysis approach. For this, the ‘Mouse Medium Density Linkage Panel’ by Illumina, was used to genotype 1449 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HAB and LAB mice, as well as in F1 progeny (HABxLAB).

The animals tested were derived from generation 20 or higher, providing a solid basis for genetically homogenous lines.

In a first analysis, out of the 1449 loci tested, for 225 autosomal loci HAB and LAB mice both displayed homozygosity, but for different alleles. Cross-mated animals (F1, HABxLAB) were all heterozygous for these loci.

Compared to an inter-strain analysis approach using two standard inbred mouse strains (e.g. BALB/c and C57BL6), where animals do not only differ in their anxiety-related behaviour, our intra-strain analysis considerably reduces the number of informative SNPs. Therefore, in our mouse lines, the number of informative false positive SNPs, relevant to the behavioural phenotype, will be much lower.

Interestingly, about 1/3 of the opposite homozygous SNPs are concentrated on only 5 chromosomes, whereas two chromosomes contained just 3 and 6 of these SNPs.

Altogether, the Illumina Mouse Medium Density Linkage Panel seems to provide a sufficient number of informative SNPs as to allow the identification of a linkage region, causative for the development of the anxiety trait. We are planning to genotype a larger number of freely segregating F2 generation animals (F1xF1). From this we expect being able to identify true candidate regions for anxiety-related behaviour.

7A_06_P

A reward-seeking model for distinguishing adaptation and stress

Seamus Decker

sdecker@anthro.umass.edu

Lack of a unifying concept for distinguishing adaptation from stress with research on psychoneuroendocrine (PNE) processes such as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) response to psychosocial conditions has led to at least four distinct types of errors: (i) failure to distinguish adaptive PNE activation, i.e., “arousal,” from maladaptive PNE activation, i.e., “stress;” (ii) failure to distinguish response from conditions that provoked the response, i.e., either stressors or a vulnerability of some sort; (iii) assumption that subjective distress and psychobiological activation are equivalent and interchangeable; and (iv) failure to distinguish differences in the causes and consequences of response which is episodic, ephemeral and moderated compared to response which is repetitious, prolonged, or exaggerated. Distinguishing adaptive from maladaptive response depends on a clear understanding of the adaptive purposes of PNE processes such as HPA response to psychosocial conditions, and attention to the context and consequences of any specific pattern of response. This paper presents a novel and unifying model in which episodic cortisol response to psychosocial factors is conceived as an adaptation to perceived loss of reward. Reward is conceived broadly as being the myriad of social or behavioral factors that may lead to specific psychobiological states of “reward” (e.g., increased activity in specific dopaminergic regions of the pre-frontal cortex). By testing this conceptual model, researchers stand to make substantial contributions to understanding of how the HPA works in everyday life, and effects on human health and well-being.

7A_07_P

Responsiveness of the OK-list: a new rating scale for clinical diagnosis and treatment evaluation of psychological symptoms of chronic stress

E Dorant MD PhD, AJM Schmidt PhD, GM van der Molen PhD

Maastricht University, Health Organization, Policy and Economics, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, Netherlands; E.Dorant@beoz.unimaas.nl

Objective. A new rating scale for clinical diagnosis and treatment evaluation of complaints of chronic stress was developed in The Netherlands. This OK-list consists of 22 universally applicable complaint-like items, scorable on a 5-point Likert scale. Psychometric evaluation showed high validity, reliability and unidimensionality. In this study we evaluate the responsiveness of the OK-list in patients suffering from chronic stress syndrome, equivalent to the clinical end state of severe burnout.

Methods. A single group repeated measurements design was used. Intake and end-of-treatment information on level of chronic stress complaints was collected with the OK-list. Responsiveness was assessed using paired T-test, SRM and a graphical illustration presenting means for each chronic stress complaint. For parallel comparison SCL-90R data were used. Results were calculated for two subgroups defined by concurrent depression using data collected with the Beck Depression Inventory.

Results. Comparison with SCL-90R revealed parallel lowering of OK-scores between intake and end-of-treatment in both subgroups. All paired T-tests were statistically significant (p-values <0.001) and SRMs were close to 1.5, well above the cut-off score for high responsiveness. Differences between intake and end-of-treatment mean item scores were nearly all greater than 1 point on the Likert scale.

Conclusion. The OK-list proved to be highly responsive to change in patients treated for chronic stress syndrome and thus provides an excellent alternative to questionnaires on chronic stress complaints or burnout when evaluation of natural course or treatment effect is important.

7A_08_P

Work stress and Coping resources: Study of the mediating roles of Causal Attributions

Sayyed M Haybatollahi

haybatolahi@yahoo.com
University of Helsinki: Unioninkatu 37, PL 54, 00014, Helsinki, Finland

The literature of psychological stress contains a number of studies, investigating the mediating effects of dispositional factors such as type A behavior pattern, Negative affectivity, and Locus of Control over the stress-strain, stress-coping and stress-live events relationships (Cooper et al, 2001). Hence, In order to investigate the mediating roles of causal attributions over the association between coping resources and work stressors as well as verify a number of path models of the relationships between the concerned variables, 564 full-time stuffs, working at the Universities’ administrative office in the Helsinki capital area, participated the study. In this study work stressors were comprised of five role conflicts i.e., Overload, Insufficiency, Ambiguity, Boundary, and responsibility. Whereas, coping resources consisted of Recreation, Self-Care, Social Support, and Cognitive Coping. Study of mediation, however, were basically concerned with four dimensions of causal attributions (i.e., Locus of control, Stability, Globality, and Controllability) for negative and positive events. To measure occupational stress and personal resources, using Lazarus’ transactional model of stress (Lazarus & Folkman; 1984), 72 items were derived from Occupational Stress Inventory Revised Edition (Osipow, 1998). The employees’ attributional style was also measured by Occupational Attributional Style Questionnaire (Furnham, 2004). The primary analysis of the hypotheses indicated the existence of such mediation by causal attribution for personal resources and different levels of occupational stressors; as such the general path model was supported. However, the result of further analysis using hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modeling identified more details of testing the hypotheses. For instance, Responsibility did not appear to be a significant predictor for the variances of personal resources. Hence, the results of this study were mostly in line with the results of the same studies in the field of causal attribution (Weiner, 1986).

7A_09_P

The effects of sex, age and population on baseline glucocorticoid levels in spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus)

Nováková M.¹, Kutalová H.¹, Palme R.² Frynta D.¹ & Janský L.³

Corresponding author: frynta@centrum.cz

Baseline glucocortiocoid (GC) levels may be related to the social status in small animal species. Here we examined GC levels in a moderately social rodent the Egyptian spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus). Studied animals originated from 2 populations, differing considerably in their ecology: the population from Abu Simbel (S Egypt) is a desert-dweller, while that from Cairo is commensal. To assess baseline GC levels we collected faecal samples from 68 individuals belonging to 10 social groups. Each social group consisted of animals of both sexes and two age grades (directly corresponding to dominance ranks). Levels of GC metabolites were assessed by a 5?-pregnane-3ß,11ß,21-triol-20-one enzyme immunoassays (EIA). The results showed no effect of rank and only a small effect of sex (higher levels in females) on GC metabolites levels. Thus, the hypothesis that dominant males are more stressed than other functional groups may be rejected. Surprisingly, there was a considerable difference among groups. This may be interpreted as a substantial effect of social relationships within each particular group. The commensal population exhibited much higher levels of GC metabolites than the desert one. This is consistent with behavioural differences of studied populations - commensals are more active, but simultaneously also more anxious. Evolutionary adaptation to living in buildings is suggested as the ultimate cause of these physiological and behavioural differences.

7A_10_P

Effects of stress applied at the late stage of pregnancy on the feeding behavior in the rat

Mari Kimoto^1*, Rie Amano¹, Reiko Ishikawa¹,Yuki Ooe¹, Mie Shimura¹,Tami Niinuma¹, Hiromi Hirakawa¹, Yasuhiro Kumei², Kazuo Toda^1,3

* kimoto@fc.jwu.ac.jp

The purpose of the present study is to examine how stress that is imposed at the fetal stage could influence the same Wistar rat at the adult stage. The pregnant rats were exposed to either gravitational stress (1.5 and 2.0G) or wire-net restraint during the 15^th through 21^st day of pregnancy for 10 min daily. The male offspring of the wire-net restraint mother rat showed significant decrease of slope in growth curve at the 15^th through 66^th day. The 1.5G gravitational stress on mother rats did not influence the body weight of the male offspring, while 2.0G gravitational stress on mother rats increased the slope of growth curve of 6 to 10 day-old male offspring rats. By contrast, 1.5G gravitational stress and wire-net restraint did not influence the feeding behavior in the adult stage of the female offspring rats. However, 2.0G stress increased the slope of the growth curve. The somatostatin level in the blood was decreased in gravitational stress group in the male, but not in the female offspring rats. Data showed that the stress imposed at the fetal stage modified the growth pattern even at the adult stage and that the gender difference was observed in the anti-stress response. In addition, type of stress may be an important factor for producing emotional changes, such as, feeding behavior.

Supported by JSPS grants (No.18500630 and No.18613011, 2006-2007).

7A_11_P

The role of corticosterone in exercise-induced hippocampal neurogenesis

Yu-Min Kuo, Ya-Ting Chang, Yi-Chieh Chen, Chih-Wei Wu

Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 1 Ta-Hsueh Road, Tainan, Taiwan. kuoym@mail.ncku.edu.tw

Neurogenesis has been suggested to correlate with certain aspects of brain cognitive function. Several extrinsic stimuli, including physical exercise is known to have advantageous effects on neurogenesis and brain function. However, why exercise promotes neurogenesis remains unknown. Previously, stress-induced high level of corticosterone was shown to inhibit neurogenesis, while adrenalectomy enhance neurogenesis. As exercise modulates the level of serum corticosterone, we hypothesize that corticosterone signaling pathway is involved in the exercise-induced neurogenesis. In this study, hippocampal neurogenesis is estimated by double-labeling of mitotic marker (BrdU) and neuronal progenitor marker (DCX) in the subgranule zone. Our results showed that treadmill running exercise (TRE) significantly enhanced neurogenesis. The levels of serum corticosterone were elevated immediately and decreased 4 h after TRE. Five-week TRE down-regulated the protein levels of mineralocoticoid receptor (MR), while glucocorticoid receptor (GR) remained unaltered. To mimic the exercise-elicited corticosterone response, mice were injected with low dose of corticosterone (4mg/kg/day) for three weeks. Our results showed that mice received corticosterone injection had slightly more BrdU/DCX positive cells than those of vehicle controls with no changes in the MR and GR levels. Alternatively, mice received MR antagonist, spironolactone, treatment 90 min before TRE exhibited more neurogenesis than that of TRE. Spironolactone alone also expressed significant effect on neurogenesis. Taken together, our results suggest that reduced corticosterone signaling pathway is involved in the TRE-induced hippocampal neurogenesis.

7A_12_P

Adolescents Coping with Personal Security Stress: Strategies and Adjustment

Dr. Hanna Laufer

Address correspondence to: Hanna Laufer, P.O. box 277, Timrat, 23840, ISRAEL (E-mail: hlaufer@research.haifa.ac.il )

living in areas of intensive combat and conflict zones, may be accompanied by psychological stress among adolescents.

The present study makes an attempt to explore the influence of the combat zone geographical proximity on the stress assessment, and to detect and define the specific resulting responses of adolescents.

A comparison was done between adolescents living in communities along the seam-zone, and adolescents living in communities remote from Israel’s borders, in the purpose to investigate whether a difference exists between the adaptation levels of adolescents exposed to military stress - to those who are not.

The test sample included 279 males and females, ages 14 to 18.

It was found that adolescents living in the seam-zone vicinity reported a primary stress evaluation level higher than that of adolescents from the comparison group. In spite of this finding - no significant differences on the secondary stress evaluation (control estimation level) was observed between the two groups. It was found that adolescents, who revealed the lowest adaptation level, were those who reported the highest level of uncontrollability.

Another finding indicates that stress situations, evaluated as uncontrollable, lead to an intense use of the secondary control engagement strategies (e.g. distraction, positive thinking, cognitive restructuring and acceptance) and the disengagement coping strategies (e.g. avoidance, denial, wishful thinking). It was also found that for both groups - coping strategies of the primary control types (problem solving; emotional regulation and emotional expression) predict a higher level of adaptation.

Based on these findings it was concluded that the stress type (controlled or uncontrolled) has an important effect on the prediction of selected coping strategies and adaptive results. Gender differences were observed: the males, living in the vicinity of the seam-zone, revealed the highest, while the females - the lowest level of adaptation.

It will be possible to utilize the present study findings in their adaptation to the treatment and the education policy for the more vulnerable part of the population of adolescents: the females.

Keywords: psychological stress; adolescents; coping; adaptation

Effects of a Psychosocial Stressor on Self-Injurious Behavior and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Function in Rhesus Monkeys

J.S. Meyer, M.D. Davenport, C.K. Lutz, S. Tiefenbacher, and M.A. Novak

Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003 USA; New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, MA 01772 USA; jmeyer@psych.umass.edu

Self-injurious behavior (SIB) is a disorder that occurs in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Although a role for stress in the etiology and/or maintenance of SIB has been proposed, there is little empirical evidence for this hypothesis. Our laboratory has been studying the pathophysiology of spontaneously occurring SIB (manifested as self-biting and occasional self-wounding) in singly housed male rhesus monkeys at the New England Primate Research Center. In the present study, we examined the short- and long-term effects of an administratively mandated relocation of our monkeys (both SIB and controls) on the animals’ behavior and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) function. The relocation involved movement of the subjects to different cages in a new colony room with unfamiliar animals. Daytime and nighttime behaviors were recorded, as well as time-dependent changes in salivary, serum, and hair cortisol concentrations, and serum corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG). Relocation stress induced long-lasting behavioral abnormalities in the SIB group, including an increase in self-biting and a disruption in sleep. Both groups exhibited rapid increases in salivary and serum cortisol following the move. Hair cortisol, which we have validated as an index of long-term HPA system activity (Davenport et al., 2006), was elevated over baseline at 4 months post-move but not at 1 year. In contrast, serum cortisol remained increased over baseline at 1 year, a point at which we also observed a compensatory rise in serum CBG. These results may have relevance for humans exposed to major life stressors. Supported by RR11122 and RR00168.

7A_14_P

Association of Stage of Stress Management Behavior with Perceived Stress and Coping in Japanese College Students

MURAYAMA, Hiroyoshi¹⁾ , TANAKA , Yoshiyuki²⁾ , ITO Sakurako¹⁾, YAJIMA, Junpei³⁾ TSUADA, Akira¹⁾, TSUDA, Shigeko⁴⁾

hiro-murayama@umin.net

Background Transtheoretical model (TTM) is a theory of behavior change that can be applied to single, multiple, and complex behavior targets (Prochaska & DiClemente, 1986). The TTM is best known for its applications to smoking, high-fat diet, and drinking. TTM assumes five stages of change, which are named as Pre-contemplation (PC), Contemplation (C), Preparation (P), Action (A), and Maintenance (M) stage. There are thus far few attempts that apply TTM to change in effective stress management behavior in Japan. To understand change in stress management behavior by TTM, this study is to examine association of stage of stress management behavior with perceived stress and coping in Japanese college students. Method Participants were 699 (243 male and 456 female) college students in Fukuoka. The mean ages were 19.7 and 19.3 years, respectively. The measures were 1) Stage of change algorithm, 2) a Japanese version of Rode Island Stress and Coping Inventory, and 3) a Japanese version of Stress Management Behaviors Inventory consisting of four subscales such as setting a limit, planning, reframing, and unhealthy behaviors. Result and Discussion Portions of students were 35 % in PC, 15 % in C, 16 % in P, 11 % in A, and 23 % in M stage, respectively. Degree of perceived stress declined as stage proceeds, whereas perceived frequency of effective coping increased across proceeding of stages. Subjects in A and M stage showed lower frequency of unhealthy behaviors, and higher planning and reframing behaviors. These results replicate previous findings using American sample that effective stress management behaviors are associated with lower levels of stress and higher levels of appropriate coping, and provided support for usefulness of applying TTM to stress management behavior in Japan.

7A_15_P

Nemoto K¹, Tachikawa H¹, Takao T¹, Sato H¹, Ashizawa Y¹, Endo G¹, Tanaka K¹, Ishii R¹, Ishii N¹, Hashimoto K¹, Iguchi T¹, Hada S², Hori M³ and Asada T³

1Psycholosoft, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Japan; ²Alegria Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan; ³Dept. of Psychiatry, Univ. of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan. kiyotaka@nemotos.net

It is known that speech signal contains features which provide information about a human speaker. Although several technologies to detect stress using human voice are available, reports on the reliability and validity of these technologies are controversial. In this study, we investigated the reliability and validity of the Layered Voice Analysis (LVA) technology. Methods: One-hundred and six healthy subjects participated this study. First, stress was assessed by using Speilberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Blood pressure (BP) was also measured. Then, subjects were randomly assigned to the anagram task group and control group. Before task begins, all of the subjects were asked to answer 10 questions vocally, and they were all recorded. After answering questions, task group underwent anagram task whereas control group just read aloud series of words. After the task, STAI-S and BP were measured again. Answers to each question were analyzed using LVA and 22 parameters were computed. The internal consistency was assessed for each parameter using answers before task. Two-sample t-test was performed to see if parameters change significantly due to anagram task. Results: Of 22 parameters, Cronbach’s alpha of 18 parameters was more than 0.6. Two-sample t-test showed that 10 of 18 parameters along with STAI-S and systolic BP changed significantly during the anagram task. Conclusion: Most of the parameters LVA computed are reliable and the value of these parameters changed significantly under stressful conditions. LVA might be useful in the detection of mental stress.

7A_16_P

Widowhood Increases Risk for Subsequent Dementia, Especially for Women: the Cache County Study

Norton MC ¹, Tschanz JT ¹, Ostbye T ², Corcoran C ¹, Zandi PP ³, Breitner JCS ⁴, Welsh-Bohmer KA ²

1 Utah State University, ² Duke University, ³ The Johns Hopkins University, ⁴ University of Washington

A host of life stressors increase risk for depression in late life, most notably widowhood. Although depression, in turn, increases risk for dementia, few studies have examined the direct association between late-life stressors and subsequent dementia onset. Even more rare are large, population-based longitudinal studies addressing this research question, with their ability to minimize the selection bias inherent in clinic based samples. In Cache County, Utah (USA) elderly (aged 65+) residents were assessed for dementia (90% of entire county participated) with a multistage case ascertainment protocol in 1995-6 (baseline) and those without dementia at baseline were again assessed in 1998-9 and 2002-3. The longitudinal sample with at least two evaluations included 3,117 persons and of these, 2,231 were married, 789 were widowed, and 97 were separated or divorced at baseline. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to model effect of marital status, on dementia-free survival (years) before and after adjustment for gender, age, and presence of APOE e4 allele. Before adjustment for covariates, widowhood (at baseline) was associated with significantly higher incident dementia compared to being married (HR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.96-2.87). A trend for the marital status*gender interaction was observed (p=.140) after covariate adjustments. Compared to being married, widowhood was associated with increased hazard for dementia in women only (HR=1.77, 95%CI: 1.00-3.12). Future studies will examine factors that may mitigate increased risk, and the effects of more recent widowhood and multiple marital transitions.

7A_17_P

Stress and memory interaction : declarative memory impairment following a 5-day military commando operation.

C. Piérard¹, M. Péres¹, J.C. Jouanin¹, P. Liscia¹, C.Y. Guézennec and D. Béracochéa²

2 : LNC - Université Bordeaux 1 - F-33405 Talence Cedex

A commando operation is composed of multiple routines and skills that require alertness, attention to external environment, memory performance and reactivity to events. As the declarative memory system is very sensitive to environmental interactions and stress-generating situations, we decided to specifically study the effects of a 5-day commando operation on this system.

Cognitive and memory performance of 21 male cadets was examined 3 weeks before and at the end of the operation, using an original computerized cognitive test battery allowing field investigation. In a first step, the battery evaluated psychomotor and cognitive performance with : a subjective vigilance and mood testing, a visuomotor coordination test, a selective attention test, and finally a planning test. In a second step, more specific memory tests were administered to investigate short-term components on the one hand, and long-term components on the other hand. For each item, the battery measured the reaction time and calculated the percentages of good and wrong responses, as well as the percentage of omissions.

Our results evidenced that a 5-day commando operation significantly increased reaction times. In accordance with the relative but significant hypovigilance of the subjects, selective attention and short-term memory were affected (memory span, visual memory and audiovisual association). More surprisingly, long-term memory (semantic memory) was also impaired. On the contrary, spatial work