Psychobiology of Stress

The main study DREAM:

Launched in June 2017, the multi-method Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health (DREAM) explores the prospective relationship between parenthood, work, and health of the whole family and includes a total of N = 3,861 (expectant) parents. The study design provides a unique opportunity to explore longitudinal biological pathways underlying the effects of parental stress around pregnancy and birth on child development.

Biological sub-study DREAM_HAIR

In our sub-study DREAM_HAIR, we are interested in how the body’s stress hormone system responds to the specific challenges during pregnancy and after birth. Further, we are interested in the consequences this may have for the well-being of all family members. Hair analysis represents an innovative method to measure long‑term stress hormone release (e.g., cortisol). Cortisol is an essential endogenous stress hormone enabling us to adapt to stressful situations. Hair retains cortisol, which only grows out slowly. Initial studies indicate this process already takes place in the womb. In other words, maternal stress load will probably be reflected in the baby’s hair cortisol even before the baby is exposed to external influences.

The aim of DREAM_HAIR is to investigate the concentration of various stress hormones in the hair of mother, father, and child at five measurement points up to 4.5 years postpartum and examine which external factors exert an influence on this concentration. In the future, this could enable us to objectify family stress factors and derive preventive measures that are specifically adapted to the needs of young families.

DREAM_HAIR is a project in cooperation with:

• Prof. Dr. Susan Garthus-Niegel (Research area Public Mental Health at the Institute and Policlinic for Occupational and Social Medicine at the TU Dresden)
• Prof. Dr. Clemens Kirschbaum (Professor of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology at TU Dresden)

Biological sub-study DREAM_EPI

In our substudy DREAM_EPI we are interested in the child’s epigenome. The entire “blueprint” for our body is stored in our genes (at the level of our genetic material, the so-called DNA). Whether and in what form this information is read depends, among other things, on so-called epigenetic mechanisms, which can silence or activate genes. Previous research shows that several environmental influences during the time in the womb and shortly after birth can impact the offspring’s epigenome. For this reason, the substudy DREAM_EPI investigates the extent to which parental general and work-related stress as well as trauma exposure before and after birth is associated with childhood epigenetic changes and to what extent these changes influence the child’s health.

For this purpose, parents from DREAM and their 4.5-year-old children take part in a test in our study laboratory. The collection of children’s saliva samples enables the detection of changes in the epigenome. Furthermore, saliva and hair samples are taken to determine stress-associated biomarkers (e.g., cortisol) and questionnaires are completed to collect information regarding psychological symptoms and general health.

The aim of the DFG-funded DREAM_EPI substudy is to better understand the molecular pathways underlying the fetal origins of health and disease, which could contribute to the development of evidence-based prevention strategies in the long-term.

In the DREAM_EPI project the following researchers are cooperation partners:

• Prof. Dr. Susan Garthus-Niegel (Forschungsbereich Public Mental Health am Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits- und Sozialmedizin an der TU Dresden)
• Prof. Dr. Nina Alexander (Professur für Translationale Psychiatrie am Fachbereich Medizin der Philipps-Universität Marburg)

funded by:  

Wochenkrippen study

Psychological and biological long-term consequences of the Wochenkrippen care in the former German Democratic Republic in adulthood

In the Wochenkrippen of the former German Democratic Republic (GDR), infants and toddlers were cared for continuously from Monday to Friday, sometimes until Saturday, and spent only the weekend with their family. It is estimated that between 1949 and 1989 several hundred thousand infants were placed in such a weekday nursery care up to the age of three years. Until now, there have been few systematic studies on the current health of individuals who received Wochenkrippen care. In a collaborative project, we aim to carefully examine aspects of mental health, attachment-related characteristics and the regulation of the stress hormone system of former Wochenkrippe children.

In addition to participants who were cared for in a Wochenkrippe, we also include individuals who were born and raised in the former GDR, but attended a Tageskrippe (i.e., receiving care on a daily basis) or were cared for by parents or close family members during the first three years of life.

In an online survey, questionnaires are used to assess mental health, attachment-related characteristics and lifetime traumatic experiences. This is complemented by the analysis of stress hormone concentrations in hair (mainly cortisol) to investigate whether the care experiences within the first three years of life affect long-term stress hormone regulation. In a second part of the study, a sub-sample is asked in more detail about their mental health in a diagnostic interview.

The research results will be made available to the public and will be incorporated into counseling and treatment services for former Wochenkrippen children.

The following cooperation partners are involved in the study:

Prof. Dr. Carsten Spitzer & Dipl.-Psych. Eva Flemming
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Rostock

Wissenschaftler*innen

Luisa Bergunde, M. Sc. Psych.

Luisa Bergunde studied psychology at the University of St Andrews and at the Technical University of Dresden. She completed her master's degree with a focus on clinical psychology and psychotherapy with her master's thesis in the DREAM_HAIRproject on the role of endocannabinoids in postpartum mental health. Since then, she has been supporting the project as part of her PhD, for which she received a scholarship (Sächsisches Landesstipendium) since 2021. 
Publications

Isabel Jaramillo, M. Sc. Psych.

Isabel Jaramillo studied Psychology: Cognitive Affective Neuroscience at the TU Dresden. Enthusiastic about the biopsychology of stress and the field of peripartum health, she investigated the relationship between birth experience, glucocorticoids, and postpartum depression in her master’s thesis within DREAM_HAIR. She joined the DREAM_EPI project as a research associate and PhD student in May 2022.
Publications

Dipl.-Psych. Anke Förster

Anke Förster studied psychology at the Technical University of Dresden. She received her license in 2013, specializing in cognitive behavioral therapy. She also completed a degree as a schema therapist. Since 2015, she has been working as a psychotherapist in the mother-child day clinic. She supports the DREAM project as part of her doctoral studies, researching the role of hair cortisol as a possible biological marker of transgenerational transmission.

Further team members:

Master´s students, medical doctorial students, and student assistants: 

Elisa Meißner, B. Sc. ­­­­­­­­– Master student
Emily Wilzer – Student assistant
Elena Wulf – Medical doctorial student
Leonie Stumpf – Medical doctorial student
Esther Hutloff  – Medical doctorial student
Sara Sober - Medical doctorial student
Maximilian Ludwig, B.Sc.  - Masterand
Amelie Frisch - Student assistant
Katharina Korb - Student assistant
Marlene Karl - Doctorial student

Former team members:

Miriam Bormeister, M. Sc. ­­­­­­­­Psych.
Sarah Schälicke, M. Sc. Psych.
Vanessa Huth, M. Sc. Psych.
Corinna Müller-Stark, M. Sc. Psych.
Clara Wöhl, M. Sc. Psych.
Tabea Seibel
Emily Wilzer 
Jonathan Mamo-Wilhelmy, ­­­­­­­M. Sc. 
Lydia Richter, M. Sc.
Hannah Wolz, M. Sc.
Jana Huber-Huber, M. Sc.
 

Karl, M.*, Huth, V.*, Schälicke, S., Müller-Stark, C., Weise, V., Mack, J. T., Kirschbaum, C., Weidner, K., Garthus-Niegel, S.*, Steudte-Schmiedgen, S.* (in press). The association between maternal symptoms of depression and hair cortisol concentrations in infants across the perinatal period. Psychoneuroendocrinology. [IF: 4.693]

Bergunde, L., Garthus-Niegel, S., Alexander, N., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S. (2022) Perinatal mental health research: towards an integrative biopsychosocial approach. Journal of Reproductive and Infant Psychology, 1-4. [IF: 3.207]

Wintermann, G. B., Noack, R., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Weidner, K. (2022). Cortisol response under low intensity exercise during cognitive-behavioral therapy is associated with therapeutic outcome in panic disorder–an exploratory study. PloS one, 17(9), e0273413. [IF: 3.752]

Hannemann, J., Abdalrahman, A., Erim, Y., Morawa, E., Jerg-Bretzke, L., Beschoner, P., Geiser, F., Hiebel, N., Weidner, K., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Albus, C. (2022). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical staff considering the interplay of pandemic burden and psychosocial resources—A rapid systematic review. PloS one, 17(2), e0264290. [IF: 3.752]

Frohberg, J., Bittner, A., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Junge-Hoffmeister, J., Garthus-Niegel, S., Weidner, K. (2022). Early Abusive Relationships–Influence of Different Maltreatment Types on Postpartum Psychopathology and Mother-Infant Bonding in a Clinical Sample. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13. [IF: 5.435]

Schug, C., Erim, Y., Geiser, F., Hiebel, N., Beschoner, P., Jerg-Bretzke, L., Albus, C., Weidner, K., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Borho, A., Lieb, M. & Morawa, E. (2022). Bereitschaft zur COVID-19-Impfung unter Beschäftigten im Gesundheitswesen in Deutschland. Bundesgesundheitsblatt-Gesundheitsforschung-Gesundheitsschutz, 65(1), 74-85. [IF: 1.595]

Schindler, L., Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Plessow, F., Schönfeld, S., Hoyer, J., Trautmann, S., Weidner, K., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S. (2021). Lifetime Trauma History and Cognitive Functioning in Major Depression and Their Role for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Outcome. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 3(3), 1-24. [IF: 1,862]

Beschoner, P., Jarczok, M. N., Kempf, M., Weimer, K., Geiser, F., Hiebel, N., Erim Y., Morawa E., Steudte-Schmiedgen S., Albus C., Jerg-Bretzke, L. (2021). egePan-VOICE study on the psychosocial burden of the Covid-19 pandemic among-medical technical assistants. Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie, OA15-OA15. [IF: 1.00]

Clemens, V., Beschoner, P., Jarczok, M. N., Weimer, K., Kempf, M., Morawa, E., Geiser, F., Albus, C., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Gündel, H., Fegert, J.M., Jerg-Bretzke, L. (2021). The mediating role of COVID-19-related burden in the association between adverse childhood experiences and emotional exhaustion: results of the egePan–VOICE study. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. [IF: 5.783]

Schug, C., Morawa, E., Geiser, F., Hiebel, N., Beschoner, P., Jerg-Bretzke, L., Albus, C., Weidner, K., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Borho, A., Lieb, M., Erim, Y. (2021). Social Support and Optimism as Protective Factors for Mental Health among 7765 Healthcare Workers in Germany during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results of the VOICE Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3827. [IF: 1.595]

Schmuck, J., Hiebel, N., Rabe, M., Schneider, J., Erim, Y., Morawa, E., Jerg-Bretzke, L., Beschoner, P., Christian, A., Hannemann, J., Weidner, K., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Radbruch, L., Brunsch, H., Geiser, F. (2021). Sense of coherence, social support and religiosity as resources for medical personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic: A web-based survey among 4324 health care workers within the German Network University Medicine. Plos one, 16(7), e0255211. [IF: 3.752]

Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stieler, L., Erim, Y., Morawa, E., Geiser, F., Beschoner, P., Jerg-Bretzke, L., Albus, C., Hiebel, N., Weidner, K. (2021). Correlates and predictors of PTSD symptoms among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: Results of the egePan-VOICE study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 959. [IF: 5.435]

Hummel, K. V., Schellong, J., Trautmann, S., Kummer, S., Hürrig, S., Klose, M., Croy, I., Weidner, K., Kirschbaum, C., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S. (2021). The predictive role of hair cortisol concentrations for treatment outcome in PTSD inpatients. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 105326. [IF: 4.693]

Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Fay, E., Capitao, L., Kirschbaum, C., & Reinecke, A. (2021). Hydrocortisone as an adjunct to brief cognitive-behavioural therapy for specific fear: Endocrine and cognitive biomarkers as predictors of symptom improvement. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 02698811211001087. [IF: 4.562]

Woud, M. L., Blackwell, S. E., Shkreli, L., Würtz, F., Cwik, J. C., Margraf, J., Holmes, E. A., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Herpertz, S., Kessler, H. (2021). The Effects of Modifying Dysfunctional Appraisals in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Using a Form of Cognitive Bias Modification: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial in an Inpatient Setting. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 1-17. [IF: 25.617]

Dempsey-Jones, H., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Browning, M., Makin, T. R., Woud, M. L., Harmer, C. J., Margraf. J., Reinecke, A. (2021). Human perceptual learning is delayed by the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor partial agonist D-cycloserine. Journal of Psychopharmacology, 35(3), 253-264. [IF: 4.562]

Schindler, L., Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Plessow, F., Schönfeld, S., Hoyer, J., Trautmann, S., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S. (2020). Cognitive functioning in posttraumatic stress disorder before and after cognitive-behavioral therapy. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 102265. [IF: 13.711]

Kappelmann, N., Suesse, M., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Kaldewaij, R., Browning, M., Michael, T., Rinck, M., Reinecke, A. (2020). D-cycloserine as adjunct to brief computerised CBT for spider fear: Effects on fear, behaviour, and cognitive biases. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 68, 101546. [IF: 2.662]

Petrowski, K., Wichmann, S., Pyrc, J., Kirschbaum, C*., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S*. (2020). Hair Cortisol predicts Avoidance Behavior and Depressiveness after first-time and single Event Trauma Exposure in Motor Vehicle Crash Victims. Stress, 1-28. [IF: 3.340]

Lorenz, P., Schindler, L., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Weidner, K., Kirschbaum, C., Schellong, J. (2019). Ecological momentary assessment in posttraumatic stress disorder and coping. An eHealth study protocol. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 10(1), 1654064. [IF: 5.783]

Kress, V., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Kopp, M., Förster, A., Altus, C., Schier, C., Wimberger, P., Kirschbaum, C., von Soest, T., Weidner, K., Junge-Hoffmeister, J., Garthus-Niegel, S. (2019). The impact of parental role distributions, work participation, and stress factors on family health-related outcomes: Study protocol of the prospective multi-method cohort “Dresden Study on Parenting, Work, and Mental Health”(DREAM). Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1273. [IF: 4.232]

Woud, M. L., Blackwell, S. E., Cwik, J. C., Margraf, J., Holmes, E. A., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Herpertz, S., Kessler, H. (2018). Augmenting inpatient treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder with a computerised cognitive bias modification procedure targeting appraisals (CBM-App): protocol for a randomised controlled trial. BMJ open 8, e019964. [IF: 3.007]

Woud, M. L., Blackwell, S. E., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Browning, M., Holmes, E. A., Harmer, C. J., Margraf, J., Reinecke, A. (2018). Investigating d-cycloserine as a potential pharmacological enhancer of an emotional bias learning procedure. Journal of Psychopharmacology32, 569-577. [IF: 4.562]

Alexander, N., Kirschbaum, C., Wankerl, M., Stauch, B. J., Stalder, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Muehlhan, M., Miller, R. (2018). Glucocorticoid receptor gene methylation moderates the association of childhood trauma and cortisol stress reactivity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 90, 68-75. [IF: 4.693]

Straub, J., Klaubert, L. M., Schmiedgen, S., Kirschbaum, C., Goldbeck, L. (2017). Hair cortisol in relation to acute and post-traumatic stress symptoms in children and adolescents. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping 30, 661-670. [IF: 3.813]

Triscoli, C., Croy, I., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Olausson, H., Sailer, U. (2017). Heart rate variability is enhanced by long-lasting pleasant touch at CT-optimized velocity. Biological Psychology 128, 71-81. [IF: 3.111]

Lenk, J., Spoerl, E., Stalder, T., Schmiedgen, S., Herber, R., Pillunat, L. E., Raiskup, F. (2017). Increased Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Patients With Progressive Keratoconus. Journal of Refractive Surgery 33, 383-388. [IF: 3.255]

Stalder, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Alexander, N., Klucken, T., Vater, A., Wichmann, S., Kirschbaum, C., Miller, R. (2017). Stress-related and basic determinants of hair cortisol in humans: a meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 77, 261-274. [IF: 4.693]

Pacella, M. L., Hruska, B., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., George, R. L., Delahanty, D. L. (2017). The utility of hair cortisol concentrations in the prediction of PTSD symptoms following traumatic physical injury. Social Science & Medicine 175, 228-234. [IF: 5.379]

Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Wichmann, S., Stalder, T., Hilbert, K., Muehlhan, M., Lueken, U., Beesdo-Baum, K. (2017). Hair cortisol concentrations and cortisol stress reactivity in generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and their comorbidity. Journal of Psychiatric Research84, 184-190. [IF: 5.250]  

Trautmann, S., Muehlhan, M., Kirschbaum, C., Wittchen, H.-U., Höfler, M., Stalder, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S. (2017). Biological stress indicators as risk markers for increased alcohol use following traumatic experiences. Addiction Biology, doi: 10.1111/adb.12487. [IF: 4.093]

Steudte-Schmiedgen S., Kirschbaum, C., Stalder, T. (2016). An integrative model linking traumatization, cortisol dysregulation and posttraumatic stress disorder: insight from recent hair cortisol findings. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 69, 124-135. [IF: 9.052]

Jacobson, A. F., Umberger, W. A., Palmieri, P. A., Alexander, T. S., Myerscough, R. P., Draucker, C. B., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Kirschbaum, C. (2016). Guided imagery for total knee replacement: a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 22, 563-575. [IF: 2.381]

Pitts, K.P., Joksimovic, L., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Rohleder, N., Wolf, J.M. (2016). Determinants of altered intracellular endocrine-immune interplay in Bosnian war refugees suffering from PTSD. Biological Psychology 118, 1-7. [IF: 3.111]

McLennan, S. N., Ihle, A., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Kirschbaum, C., Kliegel, M. (2016). Hair cortisol and cognitive performance in working age adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 67, 100-103. [IF: 4.693]

Hilbert, K., Pine, D. S., Muehlhan, M., Lueken, U., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Beesdo-Baum, K. (2015). Gray and white matter volume abnormalities in generalized anxiety disorder by categorical and dimensional characterization. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging 234, 314-320. [IF: 2.493]

Schalinski, I., Elbert, T., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Kirschbaum, C. (2015). The cortisol paradox of trauma-related disorders: lower phasic responses but higher tonic levels of cortisol are associated with sexual abuse in childhood. PLOS ONE, 10.1371/journal.pone.0136921. [IF: 3.752]

Grass, J., Kirschbaum, C., Miller, R., Gao, W., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stalder, T. (2015). Sweat-inducing physiological challenges do not result in acute changes in hair cortisol concentrations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 53, 108-116. [IF: 4.693]

Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stalder, T., Schönfeld, S., Wittchen, H.-U., Trautmann, S., Alexander, N., Miller, R., Kischbaum, C. (2015). Hair cortisol concentrations and cortisol stress reactivity predict PTSD symptom increase after trauma exposure during military deployment. Psychoneuroendocrinology59, 123-133. [IF: 4.693]

Alexander, N., Wankerl, M., Hennig, J., Miller, R., Zänkert, S., Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C. (2014). DNA methylation profiles within the serotonin transporter gene moderate the association of 5-HTTLPR and cortisol stress reactivity. Translational Psychiatry4, e443. [IF: 7.989]

Steudte-Schmiedgen, S., Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Weber, F., Hoyer, J., Plessow, F. (2014). Trauma exposure is associated with increased context-dependent adjustments of cognitive control in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and healthy controls. Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience14, 1-10. [IF: 3.526]

Stalder, T., Tietze, A., Steudte, S., Alexander, N., Dettenborn, L., Kirschbaum, C. (2014). Elevated hair cortisol levels in chronically stressed dementia caregivers. Psychoneuroendocrinology47, 26-30. [IF: 4.693]

Steudte, S., Kirschbaum, C., Gao, W., Alexander, N., Schönfeld, S., Hoyer, J., Stalder, T. (2013). Hair cortisol as a biomarker of traumatization in healthy individuals and posttraumatic stress disorder patients. Biological Psychiatry74, 639-646. [IF: 12.810]

Wittchen, H.-U., Schönfeld, S., Kirschbaum, C., Thurau, C., Trautmann, S., Steudte, S., Klotsche, J., Höfler, M., Hauffa, R., Zimmermann, P. (2012). Traumatic experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder in soldiers following deployment abroad: how big is the hidden problem? Deutsches Ärzteblatt International 109, 559-568. [IF: 8.251]

Wittchen, H.-U., Schönfeld, S., Thurau, C., Trautmann, S., Galle, M., Mark, K., Hauffa, R., Zimmermann, P., Schaefer, J., Steudte, S., Siegert, J., Höfler, M., Kirschbaum, C. (2012). Prevalence, incidence and determinants of PTSD and other mental disorders: design and methods of the PID-PTSD+³ study. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 21, 98-116. [IF: 4.182]

Stalder, T., Steudte, S., Alexander, N., Miller, R., Dettenborn, L., Kirschbaum, C. (2012). Cortisol in hair, body mass index and stress-related measures. Biological Psychology 90, 218-223. [IF: 3.111]

Stalder, T., Steudte, S., Miller, R., Skoluda, N., Dettenborn, L., Kirschbaum, C. (2012). Intraindividual stability of hair cortisol concentrations. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37, 602-610. [IF: 4.693]

Dettenborn, L., Muhtz, C., Skoluda, N., Stalder, T., Steudte, S., Hinkelmann, K., Kirschbaum, C., Otte, C. (2012). Introducing a novel method to assess cumulative steroid concentrations: increased hair cortisol concentrations over 6 months in medicated patients with depression. Stress 15, 348-353. [IF: 3.340]  

Steudte, S., Kolassa, I.T., Stalder, T., Pfeiffer, A., Kirschbaum, C., Elbert, T. (2011). Increased cortisol concentrations in hair of severely traumatized Ugandan individuals with PTSD. Psychoneuroendocrinology 36, 1193–1200. [IF: 4.693]

Steudte, S., Stalder, T., Dettenborn, L., Klumbies, E., Foley, P., Beesdo-Baum, K., Kirschbaum, C. (2011). Decreased hair cortisol concentrations in generalised anxiety disorder. Psychiatry Research 186, 310–314. [IF: 11.225]

Stalder, T., Kirschbaum, C., Heinze, K., Steudte, S., Foley, P., Tietze, A., Dettenborn, L. (2010). Use of hair cortisol analysis to detect hypercortisolism during active drinking phases in alcohol-dependent individuals. Biological Psychology85, 357-360. [IF: 3.111]