Socio-affective and socio-cognitive mechanism in the processing of witnessed traumatic events (SOMETRA)

Investigation of socio-affective and socio-cognitive mechanisms in the processing of observed traumatic events

Background

The observation of traumatic events, such as witnessing interpersonal violence, life-threatening accidents or terrorist attacks, is one of the most common traumatic experiences and is associated with considerable individual and societal costs. However, it is still largely unclear why people develop stress reactions and psychological symptoms in response to events experienced by another person.

Aim of the study

The aim of the study project is to investigate socio-affective and socio-cognitive mechanisms in the processing of an acute traumatic event as a witness under laboratory conditions. With the help of the study results, new insights into the development of symptoms after observed traumatic events can be gained, which could be transferred to the development of secondary prevention approaches in the long term.

Brief description of the study

In order to answer the research questions, healthy test subjects are confronted with a trauma-analogous stressor after an online screening using an established trauma film paradigm. The subjective and biological stress reactivity (salivary cortisol, heart rate variability) as well as the development of intrusions in the following week are recorded using a diary. Information on socioaffective variables will be collected during the course of the study in the self-report using established questionnaires and in the form of behavioral data within the framework of an empirically tested paradigm (EmpaToM). Basal cortisol secretion in the form of hair cortisol levels will also serve as a measure of endocrine hyperresponsiveness.

The project is to be carried out at two study centers (Medical School Hamburg and TU Dresden) with a comparable design. At the Dresden study center, the paradigms used will be adapted for use in an MRI scanner in order to additionally investigate social-affective processes at the neural level.

Duration of the study: 2022-2025

Project management: Prof. Dr. habil. Sebastian Trautmann, Prof. Dr. Phillip Kanske (TU Dresden)

Research assistants: Fée Ona Fuchs M.Sc., Annika Chantal Conrad (TU Dresden)

Cooperation partners: Prof. Dr. Markus Mühlhan (MSH), Professor Dr. Hedwig Eisenbarth

Funded by: DFG