Jacob, Ricarda and Otto, Alexandra and Jarvers, Irina and Kandsperger, Stephanie and Ecker, Angelika and Schleicher, Daniel and Malloni, Wilhelm M. and Neumann, Inga D. and Brunner, Romuald (2025) The influence of psychosocial stress on functional connectivity and neuroendocrine markers in adolescents with depressive and comorbid anxiety disorders: a study protocol. BMC PSYCHIATRY, 26 (1): 39. ISSN , 1471-244X
Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)Abstract
Background Psychosocial stress is a major risk factor for adolescent depression and anxiety, impacting neurodevelopment through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and oxytocinergic system dysregulation. Stress-related alterations in fronto-limbic resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) have been linked to depression and anxiety disorders, yet the role of oxytocin in these processes remains unclear. Existing research often excludes comorbid anxiety or focuses on adults, limiting insights into developmental trajectories and stress-related brain changes in youth. This study aims to investigate the association of peripheral oxytocin, cortisol, and alpha-amylase and fronto-limbic rsFC in response to psychosocial stress in adolescents with depressive disorders, comparing those with and without comorbid anxiety disorders and healthy controls. Methods This study will include a total of 90 participants (aged 12-17 years), comprising three groups (n = 30 per group): (1) adolescents with Major depressive disorder (MDD), (2) MDD with comorbid anxiety disorder, and (3) healthy controls. After a clinical examination and psychometric assessment, participants undergo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to assess rsFC before and after stress induction. Furthermore, Diffusion Tensor Imaging is conducted. Psychosocial stress is induced using the Montreal Imaging Stress Task, which requires participants to solve arithmetic tasks under time and social pressure. Saliva samples are collected at multiple time points to analyse oxytocin, cortisol and alpha-amylase levels. Discussion This study offers valuable insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of stress in adolescents with depression and comorbid anxiety disorders. By examining the relationship between fronto-limbic rsFC and endocrine responses, the findings may inform the development of more targeted interventions, such as neuromodulation techniques, to improve treatment outcomes for this vulnerable population.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | HPA AXIS RESPONSES; SALIVARY CORTISOL; PUBERTAL STATUS; BECK ANXIETY; OXYTOCIN; SCALE; VALIDATION; REACTIVITY; INVENTORY; AMYGDALA; Adolescence; Major depressive disorder; Anxiety disorders; Functional connectivity; Oxytocin; Cortisol; Alpha-amylase; Montreal imaging stress task; Psychosocial stress |
| Subjects: | 100 Philosophy & psychology > 150 Psychology 500 Science > 570 Life sciences 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine |
| Divisions: | Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Kinder- und Jugendpsychiatrie Human Sciences > Institut für Psychologie > Lehrstuhl für Cognitive Neuroscience – Prof. Dr. Angelika Lingnau Biology, Preclinical Medicine > Institut für Zoologie > Tierphysiologie/Neurobiologie (Prof. Dr. Inga Neumann) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Gernot Deinzer |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jun 2026 07:05 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jun 2026 07:05 |
| URI: | https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/65898 |
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