Chronic Stress最新文献

Decision-making in military occupations is vital for operational success and personnel safety and relies on situational awareness, executive control, and strategic alignment of operational goals. This study examined the effects of acute operational and passive heat stress on cognitive performance in a randomized controlled trial with 68 service members. Participants were assigned to either a low- or high-stress group and completed two military scenarios using a desktop simulator. Passive heat stress was applied only to the high-stress group in a portable environmental facility. Decision-making and situational awareness were scored from scenario recordings, while executive functioning was assessed through a cognitive test battery. In addition to the group comparison, a heat index capturing individual variability in thermal strain was calculated. Contrary to expectations, heat stress did not impair cognitive performance across most domains. Decision-making performance actually improved over time in the high-stress group, with significantly better performance during the second assessment compared to the low-stress group. Cognitive flexibility also improved significantly within both groups. These changes are attributed primarily to learning effects rather than stress-induced performance. Situational awareness showed no significant differences between groups. Exploratory heat index analyses revealed that participants in the high heat index group exhibited increased situational awareness over time, suggesting a possible inverted U-shaped relationship between thermal strain and performance. In contrast, inhibition improved only in the low heat index group. Together, these findings emphasize that the heat stress protocol may not have been potent enough to generate the cortisol response needed to detrimentally affect higher-order cognition. Nevertheless, the findings highlight that thermal strain can interact with cognitive performance in complex, nonlinear ways. While passive heat stress remains a promising stressor for research, its effect may only become fully apparent under more intense or physiologically demanding conditions, warranting further investigation into its potential impact on higher-order cognitive functions in military contexts.

This commentary highlights the significance of Patricio et al.'s (2025) findings on the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between shyness and help-seeking among Filipino college students. The study challenges assumptions that shyness directly hinders help-seeking and emphasizes the cultural influence of hiya. Notably, self-efficacy mediates help-seeking for suicidal ideation, underscoring its importance in high-risk situations and its relevance for suicide-prevention initiatives in higher education. We further discuss the roles of stigma, social support, and cultural expectations, as well as the need for gender-sensitive research. The commentary advocates culturally grounded interventions to strengthen student mental-health help-seeking.

Background: Persistent symptoms of autonomic dysregulation are common after COVID-19 infection and may result from alterations in central and/or peripheral autonomic regulatory processes. Traumatic stress can cause persistent alterations in autonomic function, potentially changing the response to future traumatic or physiologic stressors. However, the relationship between prior history of traumatic stress and autonomic symptom burden after COVID-19 infection has not been explored.

Objectives: Examine the potential for additive and/or interactive effects of traumatic stress and COVID-19 infection on autonomic symptom burden, and compare this with other common post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptom domains.

Design: Observational, self-report, single time-point online assessment.

Participants: 404 United States adults with (N = 289) and without (N = 112) a self-reported history of COVID-19 infection.

Main outcomes and measures: Autonomic symptom burden (Composite Autonomic Symptom Score [COMPASS 31]), lifetime traumatic stressors (Life Events Checklist), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD Checklist-5), self-reported neurocognitive functioning (Neuro-QoL), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index), and fatigue and pain (PROMIS Fatigue and Pain Interference measures).

Results: Autonomic symptom burden was significantly and positively related to both history of COVID-19 infection and number of probable lifetime traumatic stressors, with probable lifetime traumatic stressors functioning as a positive moderator of the relationship between history of COVID-19 infection and autonomic symptom burden (Cohen's partial f²= .11, .07 and .02 for COVID history, trauma history and interaction term respectively, all p < .05, in a model also including age and gender). The moderation effect remained significant when adjusting for both current PTSD symptoms and pre-existing multi-system PASC-like symptoms prior to COVID-19. History of traumatic stress and of COVID-19 infection each had significant and positive associations with other PASC symptom domains, but with domain-specific patterns.

Conclusions and relevance: Prior history of traumatic stress has a positive and interactive effect on symptoms of autonomic dysregulation following COVID-19 infection, independent of PTSD symptoms. This suggests that exposure to traumatic stress may affect the response to future stressors, including physiologic stressors such as COVID-19 infection, through persistent changes in stress-threat response systems. This relationship may provide a physiologic explanation for prior observations that baseline anxiety prior to COVID-19 infection is associated with increased likelihood of PASC.

This study explored the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between shyness and help-seeking behavior among Filipino college students. With mental health concerns rising in the Philippines, help-seeking behaviors are crucial in addressing issues like emotional distress, and suicidal ideation. A sample of 440 college students aged 18-30 from Metro Manila were surveyed to determine whether self-efficacy affects the likelihood of seeking help for personal/emotional problems and suicidal ideation. Three validated instruments- the McCroskey Shyness Scale, the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire, and the General Self-Efficacy Scale- were used through an online survey. The results indicated that self-efficacy was found to be an indirect pathway linking shyness and help-seeking behavior for suicidal ideation but did not have the same effect for personal/emotional problems. Also, shyness alone did not significantly predict help-seeking behavior for either problem. Furthermore, moderated mediation analyses showed that these pathways did not significantly differ by sex, although conditional effects suggested that mediating role of self-efficacy may be more pronounced among females. Our findings suggest that enhancing college students' self-efficacy may improve help-seeking behaviors, particularly in serious mental health situations like suicidal ideation, and highlight the need for interventions addressing cultural and psychological barriers to help-seeking. Given the cross-sectional design of this study, the observed associations should not be interpreted as causal relationships.

Chronic stress and traumatic events affect the psychological and physiological state of a person. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of psychological stress that occurs in critical situations that pose a direct threat to the life of the person and/or his or her loved ones. The prevalence of PTSD is increasing every year due to growing exposure to traumatic factors such as wars, natural disasters, and other crises. These events lead to severe psychological consequences, affecting a rising number of people worldwide. Currently, PTSD can be challenging to treat due to the complex nature of the disorder, variability in individual responses to treatment, and limitations in available therapeutic options. Considering the emergency need for effective PTSD treatment, a drug repurposing strategy presents a promising avenue to accelerate the availability of therapies. Here, we summarized and described drugs that were repurposed for alleviating PTSD symptoms. Moreover, we discussed the potential of some drugs, including alpha-adrenergic modulators, cannabinoids, glutamatergic modulators, and antipsychotics, for being repurposed for PTSD treatment. Drug repurposing implies the rapid identification of compounds with an established safety profile and known therapeutic effects that may be effective in PTSD. Repurposing existing drugs with already established pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics may shorten development timelines, facilitate a direct transition to the second phase of clinical trials, and lower costs. However, potential drawbacks and negative aspects should be discussed comprehensively.

Background: Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are an acute public health issue, particularly among US Veterans. The interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide posits that unmet interpersonal needs, specifically thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) contribute to desire for death by suicide and increased suicidal ideation (SI). However, little is known about the neurochemical correlates of TB and PB. Prior research using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) has implicated glutamate (Glu) and glutamine (Gln), as well as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), in SI and related psychiatric disorders. The current study sought to examine the relationship between thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness and concentrations of Gln, Glu, and GABA in US Veterans with and without a history of SI.

Methods: In this preliminary exploratory study, 25 US Veterans underwent a two-dimensional J-resolved 1H-MRS exam to measure in vivo concentrations of Gln, Glu, and GABA in the anterior cingulate cortex. Veterans also completed the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to characterize lifetime history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire to measure TB and PB.

Results: Reduced Gln/water was associated with increased TB and PB scores. Reduced Gln/Glu was associated with increased TB scores. Veterans with a lifetime history of SI also exhibited reduced Gln/water and Gln/Glu. Follow-up regression models showed that neither TB, PB, nor SI history were uniquely associated with Gln, but TB was uniquely associated with Gln/Glu.

Conclusion: Results provide preliminary evidence that TB and PB may be linked to abnormalities in Gln. This work further integrates biological and psychosocial perspectives on SI.

Chronic stress disrupts the integrity of the gut environment, including leaking of the intestinal epithelium. Reelin, an extracellular matrix protein, is released from cells of the lamina propria and promotes epithelial cell proliferation and migration up the crypt-villus axis to facilitate renewal of the gut lining. In the present study, we evaluated Reelin expression and apoptosis in the small intestine of Long Evan's rats treated with recombinant Reelin (3 µg) or vehicle following 3 weeks of daily corticosterone (40 mg/kg/day) or vehicle injections. We show that Reelin- and cleaved caspase-3- immunoreactive cells are diminished in the lamina propria or epithelial cells of the gut lining following chronic stress (∼ 50% and 55%, respectively), and that a single injection of 3 µg of Reelin delivered intravenously can reverse these parameters. We also found Reelin cell counts in the small intestine did not correlate to counts in the hippocampus regardless of exposure to chronic stress or Reelin treatment. Our results suggest that Reelin may serve a protective function over gut barrier integrity through the restoration of epithelial cell turnover, and that Reelin may have a role in reversing chronic stress-induced changes to the gut environment.

Objectives: Current patient-facing health information may unintentionally reinforce unhelpful and less adaptive mindsets regarding musculoskeletal symptoms. This prospective randomized trial evaluated the impact of psychologically-informed educational material, explicitly designed to promote healthier interpretations of bodily sensations according to cognitive science principles, on patient experience when compared to standard professional society materials.

Methods: In this trial, 133 adults presenting to an upper extremity specialist with one of eight common non-traumatic musculoskeletal conditions were randomly assigned to review health information produced by either: 1) a professional musculoskeletal society or 2) revised material created by the authors and psychologist collaborators. Participants completed surveys containing validated measures assessing personal health agency (PAM-13), perceived clinician empathy (JSPPPE) and emotional response to the material.

Results: There were no significant differences based on the type of material reviewed. However, on multivariable analysis, participants diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinopathy, ganglion cyst, or carpal and cubital tunnel syndrome reported more negative emotional responses compared to those with lateral epicondylitis, regardless of the type of written material reviewed.

Conclusions: Cognitively-informed musculoskeletal health information was acceptable to patients but did not yield measurable improvements in emotional response, agency, or perceived empathy when compared to standard material. During the visit, diagnosis-specific factors may influence patient reactions more than information framing.

Practice implications: Patients find clear, accessible material designed to cultivate the healthiest possible interpretation of bodily sensations acceptable and non-distressing. Future interventions should explore diagnosis-specific tailoring of information or repeated exposure to impact outcomes.

Level of evidence: II.

Abstract.

Background: Exposure to traumatic events is an inherent aspect of first responder work, placing individuals at heightened risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and burnout. This study examined the relationship between PTSD symptoms and two key dimensions of burnout-emotional exhaustion and depersonalization-among South African first responders, with a particular focus on the mediating role of psychological hardiness.

Methods: A total of 429 participants (police officers and paramedics) completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Short Hardiness Scale, and the Emotional Exhaustion and Depersonalization subscales of the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Results: Path analysis revealed that the control and challenge dimensions of hardiness partially mediated the relationship between PTSD and burnout. While higher control was associated with lower burnout, higher challenge was unexpectedly associated with greater burnout. This suggests that different hardiness dimensions play distinct roles in the PTSD-burnout relationship. In contrast, the commitment dimension did not mediate this relationship.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the nuanced and multidimensional role of hardiness in trauma-exposed populations and underscore the importance of resilience-focused interventions that enhance perceived control and constructive engagement with challenge to mitigate burnout in high-risk occupational groups.