T Vaessen1, M van Nierop2, J Decoster3, P Delespaul4, C Derom5, M de Hert3, N Jacobs6, C Menne-Lothmann4, B Rutten4, E Thiery7, J van Os8, R van Winkel2, M Wichers9, I Myin-Germeys2. 1. KU Leuven, Department of Neuroscience, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Kapucijnenvoer 35 bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience MHeNS, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: thomas.vaessen@kuleuven.be. 2. KU Leuven, Department of Neuroscience, Research Group Psychiatry, Center for Contextual Psychiatry, Kapucijnenvoer 35 bus 7001, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 3. KU Leuven, Universitair Psychiatrisch Centrum, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience MHeNS, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Human Genetics, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. 6. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience MHeNS, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, 6419AT Heerlen, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Neurology, Ghent University Hospital, 9000 Ghent, Belgium. 8. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, South Limburg Mental Health Research and Teaching Network, EURON, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience MHeNS, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands; King's College London, King's Health Partners, Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, SE5 8AF London, UK. 9. University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation (ICPE), 9713GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to replicate findings in adults indicating that higher sensitivity to stressful events is predictive of both onset and persistence of psychopathological symptoms in a sample of adolescents and young adults. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that sensitivity to mild stressors in particular is predictive of the developmental course of psychopathology. METHODS: We analyzed experience sampling and questionnaire data collected at baseline and one-year follow-up of 445 adolescent and young adult twins and non-twin siblings (age range: 15-34). Linear multilevel regression was used for the replication analyses. To test if affective sensitivity to mild stressors in particular was associated with follow-up symptoms, we used a categorical approach adding variables on affective sensitivity to mild, moderate and severe daily stressors to the model. RESULTS: Linear analyses showed that emotional stress reactivity was not associated with onset (β=.02; P=.56) or persistence (β=-.01; P=.78) of symptoms. There was a significant effect of baseline symptom score (β=.53; P<.001) and average negative affect (NA: β=.19; P<.001) on follow-up symptoms. Using the categorical approach, we found that affective sensitivity to mild (β=.25; P<.001), but not moderate (β=-.03; P=.65) or severe (β=-.06; P=.42), stressors was associated with symptom persistence one year later. DISCUSSION: We were unable to replicate previous findings relating stress sensitivity linearly to symptom onset or persistence in a younger sample. Whereas sensitivity to more severe stressors may reflect adaptive coping, high sensitivity to the mildest of daily stressors may indicate an increased risk for psychopathology.
PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to replicate findings in adults indicating that higher sensitivity to stressful events is predictive of both onset and persistence of psychopathological symptoms in a sample of adolescents and young adults. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that sensitivity to mild stressors in particular is predictive of the developmental course of psychopathology. METHODS: We analyzed experience sampling and questionnaire data collected at baseline and one-year follow-up of 445 adolescent and young adult twins and non-twin siblings (age range: 15-34). Linear multilevel regression was used for the replication analyses. To test if affective sensitivity to mild stressors in particular was associated with follow-up symptoms, we used a categorical approach adding variables on affective sensitivity to mild, moderate and severe daily stressors to the model. RESULTS: Linear analyses showed that emotional stress reactivity was not associated with onset (β=.02; P=.56) or persistence (β=-.01; P=.78) of symptoms. There was a significant effect of baseline symptom score (β=.53; P<.001) and average negative affect (NA: β=.19; P<.001) on follow-up symptoms. Using the categorical approach, we found that affective sensitivity to mild (β=.25; P<.001), but not moderate (β=-.03; P=.65) or severe (β=-.06; P=.42), stressors was associated with symptom persistence one year later. DISCUSSION: We were unable to replicate previous findings relating stress sensitivity linearly to symptom onset or persistence in a younger sample. Whereas sensitivity to more severe stressors may reflect adaptive coping, high sensitivity to the mildest of daily stressors may indicate an increased risk for psychopathology.
Authors: L-K Pries; B Klingenberg; C Menne-Lothmann; J Decoster; R van Winkel; D Collip; P Delespaul; M De Hert; C Derom; E Thiery; N Jacobs; M Wichers; O Cinar; B D Lin; J J Luykx; B P F Rutten; J van Os; S Guloksuz Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 2020-02-21 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: Louise Emsell; Maarten Laroy; Margot Van Cauwenberge; Thomas Vande Casteele; Kristof Vansteelandt; Koen Van Laere; Stefan Sunaert; Jan Van den Stock; Filip Bouckaert; Mathieu Vandenbulcke Journal: BMC Psychiatry Date: 2021-01-28 Impact factor: 3.630