Effects of grief on the cardiovascular system
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Study procedure: The study consists of a circa 90-minute lab visit at the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy in Ulm. Potential study participants are women and men between 50
Sponsors
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
50 Years to 70 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: recently bereaved (defined as 6-24Month). adults (aged 50-70 years), postmenopausal. free of major medical illnesses (e.g., cancer, current major psychiatric disorder such as Major Depressive Disorder, substance dependence). currently not using: - Immunosuppressive medication - Anticholinergic medication
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: IL-6 levels larger 2 standard deviations above the mean, if there is self-reported illness two weeks prior to experimental assessments. Medical non-compliance in context with chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis).
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Primary endpoint: change in vagal mediated cardiac autonomic activity as measured using Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) and High-Frequency Component (HFpower), moderated by 5-HTTLPR (5-Hydroxytryptamin transporter linked polymorphic region). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Plasma levels of Interleukin 6 (IL-6) - (moderated by IL-6 -174 & IL-6 -572, 5-HTTLPR (5-Hydroxytryptamin transporter linked polymorphic region)) | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactElisabeth Balint
Klinik für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie
Outcome results
None listed