Stress-Induced Inflammation and Reward Processing
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 28 |
| Updated: | 2/7/2019 |
| Start Date: | May 12, 2017 |
| End Date: | May 9, 2018 |
Anhedonia, or loss of interest or pleasure, is a key feature of depression and
transdiagnostic construct in psychopathology. Both theory and compelling evidence from
preclinical models implicates stress-induced inflammation as a key psychobiological pathway
to anhedonic behavior; however, this pathway has not been demonstrated in human models.
Further, although anhedonia may reflect dysregulation in multiple dimensions of reward, the
extent to which stress-induced inflammation alters these dimensions is unclear. The current
placebo controlled study used a standardized laboratory stressor task to elicit an
inflammatory response in a sample of a healthy young women and evaluate effects of
stress-induced inflammation on multiple behavioral indices of reward processing.
transdiagnostic construct in psychopathology. Both theory and compelling evidence from
preclinical models implicates stress-induced inflammation as a key psychobiological pathway
to anhedonic behavior; however, this pathway has not been demonstrated in human models.
Further, although anhedonia may reflect dysregulation in multiple dimensions of reward, the
extent to which stress-induced inflammation alters these dimensions is unclear. The current
placebo controlled study used a standardized laboratory stressor task to elicit an
inflammatory response in a sample of a healthy young women and evaluate effects of
stress-induced inflammation on multiple behavioral indices of reward processing.
In this study we propose to examine the association between psychosocial stress, the
stress-induced inflammatory response, and reward processing in a female undergraduate sample.
Specifically, we will 1) examine effects of an acute psychosocial stressor on reward
processing; 2) evaluate the association between stress-related changes in inflammation and
reward processing; and 3) test key vulnerability factors that may moderate the association
between stress and reward. To achieve these goals, this study will recruit 60 female
undergraduate students to test effects of stress on reward processing in a 3.5 hour
laboratory session. Participants will be randomly assigned to either experience a laboratory
stressor or a placebo control, and will complete reward tasks 90 minutes post stress/placebo
onset, at which point the peripheral inflammatory response to stress reaches its peak. The
reward tasks are computerized behavioral tasks that assess three domains of reward
processing: reward-learning, reward motivation, and reward sensitivity. Throughout the
session, all participants will complete self-report measures of affect and provide blood and
saliva samples for evaluation of the psychological and physiological stress response. Within
one week prior to the session, participants will attend a 1 hour visit in which they complete
baseline reward tasks and self-report questionnaires assessing mood, personality, early life
stress, and health behaviors. In total, participants will complete two visits, with a
duration of 4.5 hours. This study builds upon prior studies demonstrating immediate effects
of acute stress on reward processing, and further tests for delayed effects of acute stress
on reward processing. Furthermore, this will be the first study to examine inflammation as a
mechanism linking stress to deficits in reward processing. Findings may inform theory of
depression etiology and contribute to more specialized treatment that is targeted at specific
symptoms of depression.
stress-induced inflammatory response, and reward processing in a female undergraduate sample.
Specifically, we will 1) examine effects of an acute psychosocial stressor on reward
processing; 2) evaluate the association between stress-related changes in inflammation and
reward processing; and 3) test key vulnerability factors that may moderate the association
between stress and reward. To achieve these goals, this study will recruit 60 female
undergraduate students to test effects of stress on reward processing in a 3.5 hour
laboratory session. Participants will be randomly assigned to either experience a laboratory
stressor or a placebo control, and will complete reward tasks 90 minutes post stress/placebo
onset, at which point the peripheral inflammatory response to stress reaches its peak. The
reward tasks are computerized behavioral tasks that assess three domains of reward
processing: reward-learning, reward motivation, and reward sensitivity. Throughout the
session, all participants will complete self-report measures of affect and provide blood and
saliva samples for evaluation of the psychological and physiological stress response. Within
one week prior to the session, participants will attend a 1 hour visit in which they complete
baseline reward tasks and self-report questionnaires assessing mood, personality, early life
stress, and health behaviors. In total, participants will complete two visits, with a
duration of 4.5 hours. This study builds upon prior studies demonstrating immediate effects
of acute stress on reward processing, and further tests for delayed effects of acute stress
on reward processing. Furthermore, this will be the first study to examine inflammation as a
mechanism linking stress to deficits in reward processing. Findings may inform theory of
depression etiology and contribute to more specialized treatment that is targeted at specific
symptoms of depression.
Inclusion Criteria:
- English fluency
- Age 18-28
- Biologically female
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current illness
- Presence or history of major medical conditions
- Current or past diagnosis of alcohol use disorder
- Use of tobacco
- Use of immune-altering medications
- Current pregnancy
We found this trial at
1
site
Los Angeles, California 90095
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