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Originalia

Mind over matter:

Published Online:September 01, 2006https://doi.org/10.1026/1616-3443.34.2.121

Abstract

Zusammenfassung.Theoretischer Hintergrund: Neuere Befunde zeigen, dass psychobiologische Prozesse an der Entstehung emotionaler Prozesse beteiligt sind, wobei dysfunktionale Reaktionen neuroendokriner Systeme als mögliche biologische Korrelate psychischer Störungen diskutiert werden. Unklar ist, ob effektive psychotherapeutische Maßnahmen, wie z.B. Expositionstherapie bei Phobien, nicht nur auf Symptomebene, sondern auch physiologische Prozesse beeinflusst. Fragestellung: Hat eine erfolgreiche kognitiv-verhaltenstherapeutische Intervention (Wiederholte Exposition bei Spinnenängstlichen) Auswirkungen auf biologische Parameter und welche Rolle spielen dabei kognitive Prozesse? Methoden: Psychologischen (Bewertung, Angst) und biologischen Reaktionen (Cortisol und Herzrate) von fünfzehn Spinnenängstliche und fünfzehn gesunde Kontrollpersonen wurden während einer Spinnenexposition verglichen. Zusätzlich wurden bei Spinnenängstlichen Veränderungen dieser Parameter über den Verlauf von drei Expositionsterminen erfasst. Ergebnisse: Im Vergleich zu Kontrollpersonen zeigten Spinnenängstliche erhöhte biologische und emotionale Reaktion in der Exposition, welche sich im Verlauf der weiteren Expositionen normalisierten. Das Ausmaß dieser Veränderungen stand im Zusammenhang mit dem Ausmaß der Veränderungen der Bewertungsprozesse. Diskussion: Die Ergebnisse der Untersuchung zeigen, dass erfolgreiche Psychotherapie (auch) biologische Konsequenzen, im Sinne einer Normalisierung der kardiovaskulären und der endokrinen Stressreaktion, hat. Auf dem Hintergrund der physiologischen Bedeutung dieser Reaktionssysteme stellen diese physiologischen Effekte mögliche Voraussetzungen von Neulernen im Sinne einer neuronaler Reorganisation dar.


Mind over matter: Psychobiological effects of exposure therapy in arachnophobia

Abstract.Background: Recent evidence suggests a causal role of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in the regulation of emotional states such as anxiety. In light of this perspective, it is of interest whether effective psychotherapeutic interventions, such as exposure therapy for subjects with a fear of spiders, not only reduce the characteristic symptoms, but also influence the assumed underlying neuroendocrine processes. Methods: Fifteen subjects with fear of spiders (FS) and fifteen healthy controls received three or one exposure session(s). Effects of the exposure therapy were evaluated using psychometric questionnaires and continuous assessment of psychobiological parameters (cortisol and heart rate). Results: In comparison to healthy controls, FS exhibited increased levels of anxiety, heart rate and cortisol levels. Both psychological and biological parameters normalized in FS during the subsequent exposure sessions. Discussion: The results show that phobic subjects show exaggerated psychobiological responses to phobic stimuli. Effective interventions not only reduce symptoms, but also biological responses. However, these psychobiological effects are mediated through changes of cognitive appraisal.

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