ICD-11, DSM5 F00-F99
Conditions
Interventions
Group 1: Patient-Romantic Couples
A total of 80 individuals will be included, divided into 40 couples. The study will involve 40 patients with a mental disorder, each paired with a romantic partner.
Gabrys et al., 2018), emotion regulation will be measured with the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS
Gutzweiler & In-Albon, 2019), and aggressive behaviour will be evaluated using the OAS-M (Coccaro, 1991). Additionally, intimate partner violence will be assessed using the CTS-2 (Chapman & Gillespie,
Sponsors
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 40 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: - Clear understanding of the study information - Voluntary signing of the consent form - Patient group: Individuals with mental disorders according to the DSM-5/ICD-11 criteria, including substance use disorders, psychoses, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ASPD, BPD, CD, ODD, ADHD, ASD - Romantic partners: In a relationship for at least 6 months
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: - Significant cognitive impairments - Language problems that interfere with understanding the study procedure - Inability to adhere to the study protocol - Severe somatic or neurological conditions such as encephalitis, hormonal tumors, or dementia - MRI-specific exclusion criteria: Claustrophobia and contraindications (e.g., metal implants, Schwangerschaft, etc.)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary endpoint of this study is to compare aggressive behavior, co-regulation strategies (dyadic behavioral patterns to reduce aggression), and brain activity between patient-romantic partner dyads and patient-stranger dyads in a transdiagnostic sample of patients with varying levels of aggression and cognitive control. The primary outcomes include: Behavioural Endpoints - The extent of co-regulation, aggression, and verbal blaming in relation to the level of cognitive control. - The degree of aggression and verbal blaming under provocation and time pressure, depending on the relationship status (romantic partner vs. stranger) between participants. fMRI Measurement Endpoints - Brain activity differences during cognitively demanding tasks, depending on the participant’s co-regulation abilities and relationship status. - Correlation between resting-state network activity and personality similarities of the participant, as well as their relationship status. - The relationship between cognitive control (measured using the Self-Regulation Questionnaire, SRQ) and the activation of the cognitive control network (FPN, DAN, VAN) and its connectivity with limbic regions. Heart Rate Measurement Endpoints - The impact of heart rate variability synchrony between participants on aggression, verbal blaming, and task performance. - The relationship between subjective stress (reported during follow-up) and heart rate variability during tasks. Electrodermal Activity (EDA) Electrodermal activity (EDA) analysis will be used to measure physiological responses associated with aggression and frustration. EDA provides insights into autonomic arousal accompanying these emotional states by recording changes in skin conductance. During interactions, we expect EDA levels in both participants to be positively correlated with aggressive and frustrating stimuli. Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) - Correlation between the frequency and intensity of conflicts and particip | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary Endpoint The secondary endpoints examine the psychological, behavioural, and physiological factors influencing aggression and co-regulation. These include: - Cognitive control, measured using the SRQ, and its impact on task performance and aggression regulation. - Relationship dynamics and their role in aggression modulation, assessed with the revised Cognitive Tactics Scale (CTS-2). - Emotional and behavioural responses, collected through Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) over a period of 7 days and 6 months, measuring anger, impulsivity, and aggression in real-life contexts. - Neuroimaging data from fMRI scans to assess the activation of cognitive control networks and their interactions with the limbic system during tasks. - Heart rate variability (RMSSD) as an indicator of physiological regulation during tasks and its association with long-term stress. | — |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Public ContactLinda Wilkin-Krug
Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Outcome results
None listed