Randomized controlled psychoneuroendocrine evaluation of the effects of a cognitive-behavioral stress management training in students

Completed Research Project

Title / Titel: Randomized controlled psychoneuroendocrine evaluation of the effects of a cognitive-behavioral stress management training in students

Summary / Zusammenfassung: In a randomised-controlled study design, effects of a stress management training (stress inoculation training SIT) are evaluated among healthy young subjects on the basis of an intention-to-treat analysis over a period of 12 months. Eighty-eight healthy psychology students are randomly assigned to either a treatment group which received group-based cognitive-behavioral stress management training or a waiting control group. Evaluation criteria include reactive and basal neuroendocrine measures of the HPA axis, psychologic parameters of stress perception, processing and coping, stress susceptibility. indicators of psychological and physical well-being, and objective criteria such as academic achievement and sick leave. The aims of the study are to elucidate psychobiological mechanisms of detrimental stress effects and to evaluate the preventive effects of the SIT on these consequences.

Publications / Publikationen: Gaab, J., N. Blättler, et al. (2003). "Randomized controlled evaluation of the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management on cortisol responses to acute stress in healthy subjects." Psychoneuroendocrinology, in press.

Keywords / Suchbegriffe: Evaluation, stress, stress management training, HPA, psychoneuroendocrinology

Project Leadership and Contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte

Dipl.-Psych. Karin Hammerfald	hammerfald@klipsy.uzh.ch
Dr. phil. Jens Gaab (Project Leader)	jgaab@klipsy.uzh.ch
Prof. Ulrike Ehlert	ehlertu@klipsy.uzh.ch

Funding Source(s) / Unterstützt durch: Foundation
Fonds zur Förderung des Akademischen Nachwuchses (FAN)