Wirtz
Fakultäten » Philosophische Fakultät » Psychologisches Institut » Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie » Prof. Dr. Ulrike Ehlert » Wirtz
Completed research project
| Title / Titel | Melatonin and psychobiological stress reactivity | ||||
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| Abstract (PDF, 14 KB) | |||||
| Summary / Zusammenfassung | There is evidence for stress protective effects of the pineal hormone melatonin. Animal studies could demonstrate that melatonin administration leads to diminished glucocorticoid release after stimulation. The project sets out to investigate the influence of a single administration of melatonin (3mg) on stress reactivity in humans. Healthy men are administered either melatonin or placebo. Both groups are confronted with a standardized psychosocial stress test. Stress reactivity of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is assessed via measurement of salivary cortisol. Reactivity of the sympathetic nervous system is assessed via continous measurement of heart rate and blood pressure. Furthermore, catecholamine secretion is measured. A series of psychometric variables completes assessment of psychological aspects of stress reactivity. |
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| Keywords / Suchbegriffe | Melatonin, cortisol, catecholamines, stress reactivity, heart rate, blood pressure | ||||
| Project leadership and contacts / Projektleitung und Kontakte |
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| Funding source(s) / Unterstützt durch |
Forschungskredit der Universität Zürich |
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| In collaboration with / In Zusammenarbeit mit |
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| Duration of Project / Projektdauer | Jan 2005 to Nov 2007 |