Problem 5 Flashcards

1
Q

Resilience

A

Refers to the ability to adapt to stress while maintaining a healthy mental + physical performance

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2
Q

What is the main problem of studying resilience in idnvidiuals ?

A

Measurements of resilience are not clearly operationalized

–> there is no gold standard

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3
Q

Post traumatic stress disorder

A

–> after trauma, a lack of resilience can contribute to the development of PTSD

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4
Q

Why is knowledge of the underlying genetic + neurobiological processes important ?

A

For treatment + prevention of disorders such as PTSD

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5
Q

What did twin studies reveal about the heritability of resilience ?

A
  1. 46% o cogntive resilience + 70% of behavioral resilience can be explained by genetic effects
  2. PTSD is negatively correlated to resilience
  3. 59% of this correlation is attributable to a single genetic faction
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6
Q

Polymorphism

A

Diferent variants of a gene within one population

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7
Q

Allele

A

Different variants of a gene at the same locus

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8
Q

The Serotonergic system (SLC64A) is connected to the function of 2 stress response systems.

Name them

A
  1. HPA axis
  2. Locus coerulus
    - -> norepinephrine system
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9
Q

What evidence suggests that the dopaminergic system has an influence on resilience + vulnerable phenotypes ?

A

Differences in striatal dopamine transporter density in PTSD patients compared to healthy, traumatized patients

  1. DRD2
  2. SCL6A3

–> 2 genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to PTSD

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10
Q

COMT affects both the dopaminergic + noradrenergic systems.

One can distinguish here btw MET + Val alleles.

Which allele is associated with a greater risk for developing a disorder.

A

In general MET allele carriers are less resilient, thus more prone to develop disorders

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11
Q

HPA axis

A

Refers to a Neuroendocrine system that affects various organ systems and plays a fundamental role in mediating stress response

–> disturbance is linked to

  1. depression
  2. anxitey
  3. less resilience
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12
Q

Neuropeptide NPY

A

Refers to a biologically active peptide that acts as a neuro-modulator in the brain

–> compensates stress reactions + elicits homeostasis

THUS: lower NPY leads to diminished resilience to stress

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13
Q

Neurotrophic hypothesis of MDD

A

A disease is associated with impaired

  1. structural plasticity
  2. Cellular resilience

–> BNDF plays a key role, since it is critical to the above mentioned functions

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14
Q

The impact of life stress on depression is moderated by a certain gene polymorphism.

Name it.

A

5HTTLPR

–> this is even more pronounced for individuals with 2 copies of the s(short)-allele of it

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15
Q

Is there an interaction between the 5-HTTLPR and stress in the prediction of depression ?

A

Yes.

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16
Q

Cogntive vulnerability-transaction stress model of depression

A

Suggests that environmental events cause stress depending on whether

  1. they are appraised as personally relevant
    - -> primary appraisal
  2. or not they are seen as manageable by adequate coping abilities
    - -> secondary appraisal
17
Q

There is a 3 way interaction of 5-HTTLPR + … + …. on ….?

A
  1. Life events
  2. Neuroticism
  3. Depression

–> because highly neurotic people will appraise a situation as threatening + unmanageable which will more likely lead to depression

18
Q

Are there any main effects of the 3-way interaction ?

A

Yes,

Main effect of

  1. neuroticism
  2. life events

BUT: no main effect of HTTLPR gene, thus genotype

THUS: 5-HTTPLR x life events interaction depends on cognitive vulnerability (neuroticism)

=> genotype is only relevant in terms of interaction but not by its own

19
Q

Elaborate on the biological basis of psychological resilience.

A

Shows by plasticity in reward + fear circuits

–> largely genetically determined

THUS: higher Resilience = lower depression

20
Q

Elaborate in the significance of the SS-Alle (5-HTTLPR) with regards to depression.

A

If you have the SS-Allele + additionally high resilience, you will not have lower depression scores

THUS: SS-allele negates the protective effects that High resilience has after the occurrence of major stressors.

21
Q

5-HTTLPR

A

Codes for a transporter for serotonin

–> has 2 variants: S vs L allele