A Translational Paradigm to Study the Effects of Uncontrollable Stress in Humans

Abstract

Theories on the aetiology of depression in humans are intimately linked to animal research on stressor controllability effects. However, explicit translations of established animal designs are lacking. In two consecutive studies, we developed a translational paradigm to study stressor controllability effects in humans. In the first study, we compared three groups of participants, one exposed to escapable stress, one yoked inescapable stress group, and a control group not exposed to stress. Although group differences indicated successful stress induction, the manipulation failed to differentiate groups according to controllability. In the second study, we employed an improved paradigm and contrasted only an escapable stress group to a yoked inescapable stress group. The final design successfully induced differential effects on self-reported perceived control, exhaustion, helplessness, and behavioural indices of adaptation to stress. The latter were examined in a new escape behaviour test which was modelled after the classic shuttle box animal paradigm. Contrary to the learned helplessness literature, exposure to uncontrollable stress led to more activity and exploration; however, these behaviours were ultimately not adaptive. We discuss the results and possible applications in light of the findings on learning and agency beliefs, inter-individual differences, and interventions aimed at improving resilience to stress-induced mental dysfunction.

Autoren

Laura E Meine
Katja Schüler
Gal Richter-Levin
Vanessa Scholz
Michele Wessa

DOI

10.3390/ijms21176010

eISSN

1422-0067

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Sprache

en

Online publication date

2020

Paginierung

6010 - 6010

Status

Published online

Herausgeber

MDPI AG

Herausgeber URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176010

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

A Translational Paradigm to Study the Effects of Uncontrollable Stress in Humans

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

21

Data source: Crossref

Abstract

Theories on the aetiology of depression in humans are intimately linked to animal research on stressor controllability effects. However, explicit translations of established animal designs are lacking. In two consecutive studies, we developed a translational paradigm to study stressor controllability effects in humans. In the first study, we compared three groups of participants, one exposed to escapable stress, one yoked inescapable stress group, and a control group not exposed to stress. Although group differences indicated successful stress induction, the manipulation failed to differentiate groups according to controllability. In the second study, we employed an improved paradigm and contrasted only an escapable stress group to a yoked inescapable stress group. The final design successfully induced differential effects on self-reported perceived control, exhaustion, helplessness, and behavioural indices of adaptation to stress. The latter were examined in a new escape behaviour test which was modelled after the classic shuttle box animal paradigm. Contrary to the learned helplessness literature, exposure to uncontrollable stress led to more activity and exploration; however, these behaviours were ultimately not adaptive. We discuss the results and possible applications in light of the findings on learning and agency beliefs, inter-individual differences, and interventions aimed at improving resilience to stress-induced mental dysfunction.

Addresses

Department of Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55122 Mainz, Germany.

Autoren

Laura E Meine
Katja Schüler
Gal Richter-Levin
Vanessa Scholz
Michele Wessa

DOI

10.3390/ijms21176010

eISSN

1422-0067

Externe Identifier

PubMed Identifier: 32825491
PubMed Central ID: PMC7503322

Funding acknowledgements

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: SFB1193/C07

Open access

true

ISSN

1422-0067

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

International journal of molecular sciences

Schlüsselwörter

Humans
Escape Reaction
Stress, Psychological
Helplessness, Learned
Cognition
Memory, Short-Term
Reaction Time
Adolescent
Adult
Female
Male
Young Adult
Surveys and Questionnaires
Translational Research, Biomedical

Sprache

eng

Medium

Electronic

Online publication date

2020

Open access status

Open Access

Paginierung

E6010

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published

Publisher licence

CC BY

Datum der Datenerfassung

2020

Titel

A Translational Paradigm to Study the Effects of Uncontrollable Stress in Humans.

Sub types

research-article
Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

21

Files

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/17/6010/pdf?version=1598002029 https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC7503322?pdf=render

Data source: Europe PubMed Central

Abstract

Theories on the aetiology of depression in humans are intimately linked to animal research on stressor controllability effects. However, explicit translations of established animal designs are lacking. In two consecutive studies, we developed a translational paradigm to study stressor controllability effects in humans. In the first study, we compared three groups of participants, one exposed to escapable stress, one yoked inescapable stress group, and a control group not exposed to stress. Although group differences indicated successful stress induction, the manipulation failed to differentiate groups according to controllability. In the second study, we employed an improved paradigm and contrasted only an escapable stress group to a yoked inescapable stress group. The final design successfully induced differential effects on self-reported perceived control, exhaustion, helplessness, and behavioural indices of adaptation to stress. The latter were examined in a new escape behaviour test which was modelled after the classic shuttle box animal paradigm. Contrary to the learned helplessness literature, exposure to uncontrollable stress led to more activity and exploration; however, these behaviours were ultimately not adaptive. We discuss the results and possible applications in light of the findings on learning and agency beliefs, inter-individual differences, and interventions aimed at improving resilience to stress-induced mental dysfunction.

Date of acceptance

2020

Autoren

Laura E Meine
Katja Schüler
Gal Richter-Levin
Vanessa Scholz
Michele Wessa

Autoren-URL

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32825491

DOI

10.3390/ijms21176010

eISSN

1422-0067

Externe Identifier

PubMed Central ID: PMC7503322

Funding acknowledgements

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft: SFB1193/C07

Ausgabe der Veröffentlichung

17

Zeitschrift

Int J Mol Sci

Schlüsselwörter

control
learned helplessness
resilience
translational research
uncontrollable stress
Adolescent
Adult
Cognition
Escape Reaction
Female
Helplessness, Learned
Humans
Male
Memory, Short-Term
Reaction Time
Stress, Psychological
Surveys and Questionnaires
Translational Research, Biomedical
Young Adult

Sprache

eng

Country

Switzerland

PII

ijms21176010

Datum der Veröffentlichung

2020

Status

Published online

Datum, an dem der Datensatz öffentlich gemacht wurde

2021

Titel

A Translational Paradigm to Study the Effects of Uncontrollable Stress in Humans.

Sub types

Journal Article

Ausgabe der Zeitschrift

21

Data source: PubMed

A Translational Paradigm to Study the Effects of Uncontrollable Stress in Humans

Files

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