Problem 5

Question 1

Resilience

Answer 1

Refers to the ability to adapt to stress while maintaining a healthy mental + physical performance

Question 2

What is the main problem of studying resilience in idnvidiuals ?

Answer 2

Measurements of resilience are not clearly operationalized

–> there is no gold standard

Question 3

Post traumatic stress disorder

Answer 3

–> after trauma, a lack of resilience can contribute to the development of PTSD

Question 4

Why is knowledge of the underlying genetic + neurobiological processes important ?

Answer 4

For treatment + prevention of disorders such as PTSD

Question 5

What did twin studies reveal about the heritability of resilience ?

Answer 5

1. 46% o cogntive resilience + 70% of behavioral resilience can be explained by genetic effects
2. PTSD is negatively correlated to resilience
3. 59% of this correlation is attributable to a single genetic faction

Question 6

Polymorphism

Answer 6

Diferent variants of a gene within one population

Question 7

Allele

Answer 7

Different variants of a gene at the same locus

Question 8

The Serotonergic system (SLC64A) is connected to the function of 2 stress response systems.

Name them

Answer 8

1. HPA axis
2. Locus coerulus
   - -> norepinephrine system

Question 9

What evidence suggests that the dopaminergic system has an influence on resilience + vulnerable phenotypes ?

Answer 9

Differences in striatal dopamine transporter density in PTSD patients compared to healthy, traumatized patients

1. DRD2
2. SCL6A3

–> 2 genetic variants associated with increased susceptibility to PTSD

Question 10

COMT affects both the dopaminergic + noradrenergic systems.

One can distinguish here btw MET + Val alleles.

Which allele is associated with a greater risk for developing a disorder.

Answer 10

In general MET allele carriers are less resilient, thus more prone to develop disorders

Question 11

HPA axis

Answer 11

Refers to a Neuroendocrine system that affects various organ systems and plays a fundamental role in mediating stress response

–> disturbance is linked to

1. depression
2. anxitey
3. less resilience

Question 12

Neuropeptide NPY

Answer 12

Refers to a biologically active peptide that acts as a neuro-modulator in the brain

–> compensates stress reactions + elicits homeostasis

THUS: lower NPY leads to diminished resilience to stress

Question 13

Neurotrophic hypothesis of MDD

Answer 13

A disease is associated with impaired

1. structural plasticity
2. Cellular resilience

–> BNDF plays a key role, since it is critical to the above mentioned functions

Question 14

The impact of life stress on depression is moderated by a certain gene polymorphism.

Name it.

Answer 14

5HTTLPR

–> this is even more pronounced for individuals with 2 copies of the s(short)-allele of it

Question 15

Is there an interaction between the 5-HTTLPR and stress in the prediction of depression ?

Answer 15

Yes.

Question 16

Cogntive vulnerability-transaction stress model of depression

Answer 16

Suggests that environmental events cause stress depending on whether

1. they are appraised as personally relevant
   - -> primary appraisal
2. or not they are seen as manageable by adequate coping abilities
   - -> secondary appraisal

Question 17

There is a 3 way interaction of 5-HTTLPR + … + …. on ….?

Answer 17

1. Life events
2. Neuroticism
3. Depression

–> because highly neurotic people will appraise a situation as threatening + unmanageable which will more likely lead to depression

Question 18

Are there any main effects of the 3-way interaction ?

Answer 18

Yes,

Main effect of

1. neuroticism
2. life events

BUT: no main effect of HTTLPR gene, thus genotype

THUS: 5-HTTPLR x life events interaction depends on cognitive vulnerability (neuroticism)

=> genotype is only relevant in terms of interaction but not by its own

Question 19

Elaborate on the biological basis of psychological resilience.

Answer 19

Shows by plasticity in reward + fear circuits

–> largely genetically determined

THUS: higher Resilience = lower depression

Question 20

Elaborate in the significance of the SS-Alle (5-HTTLPR) with regards to depression.

Answer 20

If you have the SS-Allele + additionally high resilience, you will not have lower depression scores

THUS: SS-allele negates the protective effects that High resilience has after the occurrence of major stressors.

Question 21

5-HTTLPR

Answer 21

Codes for a transporter for serotonin

–> has 2 variants: S vs L allele