To examine whether hearing impaired young adults are sensitised to social stress, whether this related to dopaminergic activity and whether theory of mind could mediate the relationship.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Hearing disorders
- Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Relationship between hearing impairment and reactivity (changes in affect and
psychotic symptoms) to self-reported stress in daily life, assessed using the
Experience Sampling Method (ESM)
Secondary outcome
Association between dopamine release and stress reactivity.
Theory of mind as a mediator between hearing impairment and stress/DA release
outcomes
Group level differences in reactivity to other forms of (event related,
activity) stress.
Background summary
It has been suggested that the experience of social defeat / social exclusion
is a major risk factor for psychosis. Such experience may account for a large
portion of the increased psychosis risk under hearing impaired individuals, a
group which has trouble participating in hearing society and does not identify
with the signing Deaf. Research with the Experience Sampling Method has shown
that psychosis patients and their siblings react more strongly to daily life
stress. Increased stress reactivity meets the criteria for an endophenotype for
psychosis. We hypothesize that sensitisation of the stress system through
chronic exposure to social stress is an important mechanism leading to
increased psychosis risk in the hard of hearing. If this is the case, healthy
hearing impaired individuals should show increased stress reactivity and this
result should be related to dopaminergic activity. Understanding the pathogenic
mechanism would allow for the development of preventive interventions to
improve minority mental health.
Study objective
To examine whether hearing impaired young adults are sensitised to social
stress, whether this related to dopaminergic activity and whether theory of
mind could mediate the relationship.
Study design
observational, 2 groups (normal hearing / hearing impaired)
Study burden and risks
Briefing, debriefing and all tests and questionnaires can be done at home in
2,5 hours. ESM is integrated in daily life and takes about 4,5 hours over a
period of eight days. Time investment (7 hrs) will be compensated with a
monetary reward. Participants will not benefit directly, but will contribute to
better prevention of psychotic disorder. No health risks are involved in the
study. Hard of hearing individuals are selected as proxy for social exclusion
because of reports of elevated psychosis risk in that group. Participants from
study NL24257.018.08. are selected for availability of data on dopamine
metabolism and social exclusion measures.
Postbus 606
6200 MD Maastricht
NL
Postbus 606
6200 MD Maastricht
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Participated in study 08-248 / NL24257.018.08.
(healthy individuals aged 18-30, either normal hearing or more than 60dB hearing loss bilaterally, Dutch etnicity, completed primary school)
Exclusion criteria
1. Current or past psychotic disorder
2. Psychotic disorder in parents or full siblings
3. History of meningitis.
4. Neurological disorder (e.g., epilepsy) or evidence of brain damage.
5. Current use of drugs known to interfere with DA release. Current or past use of antipsychotic drugs.
6. Attended bilingual primary or secondary school. (Dutch Sign Language / Dutch)
7. Control subjects: major impairments which may lead to social exclusion (e.g.,
dependence on wheel chair).
8. Subjects with HI: no other major impairments than HI leading to social exclusion.
At discretion of researcher.
9. Clinical diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL37458.068.11 |
| Other | NTR10092 |
| OMON | NL-OMON26246 |