TY - JOUR
TI - Specific reduction in cortisol stress reactivity after social but not attention-based mental training
AU - Engert, V.
AU - Kok, B.E.
AU - Papassotiriou, I.
AU - Chrousos, G.P.
AU - Singer, T.
JO - Science Advances
PY - 2017
VL - 3
TODO - 10
SP - null
PB - American Association for the Advancement of Science
SN - 2375-2548
TODO - 10.1126/sciadv.1700495
TODO - Cortisol;  Physiological models;  Physiology;  Psychophysiology;  Subjective testing, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis;  Intervention programs;  Low cost approach;  Mental trainings;  Multi-method approach;  Perspective taking;  Physiological stress;  Stress reduction, Personnel training, biological marker;  hydrocortisone, adult;  attention;  female;  human;  hypophysis adrenal system;  hypothalamus hypophysis system;  male;  mental function;  mental stress;  metabolism;  middle aged;  recognition;  young adult, Adult;  Attention;  Biomarkers;  Female;  Humans;  Hydrocortisone;  Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System;  Male;  Mental Processes;  Middle Aged;  Pituitary-Adrenal System;  Recognition (Psychology);  Stress, Psychological;  Young Adult
TODO - Psychosocial stress is a public health burden in modern societies. Chronic stress–induced disease processes are, in large part, mediated via the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system. We asked whether the contemplative mental training of different practice types targeting attentional, socio-affective (for example, compassion), or socio-cognitive abilities (for example, perspective-taking) in the context of a 9-month longitudinal training study offers an effective means for psychosocial stress reduction. Using a multimethod approach including subjective, endocrine, autonomic, and immune markers and testing 313 participants in a standardized psychosocial laboratory stressor, we show that all three practice types markedly reduced self-reported stress reactivity in healthy participants. However, only the training of intersubjective skills via socio-affective and socio-cognitive routes attenuated the physiological stress response, specifically the secretion of the HPA axis end-product cortisol, by up to 51%. The assessed autonomic and innate immune markers were not influenced by any practice type. Mental training focused on present-moment attention and interoceptive awareness as implemented in many mindfulness-based intervention programs was thus limited to stress reduction on the level of self-report. However, its effectiveness was equal to that of intersubjective practice types in boosting the association between subjective and endocrine stress markers. Our results reveal a broadly accessible low-cost approach to acquiring psychosocial stress resilience. Short daily intersubjective practice may be a promising method for minimizing the incidence of chronic social stress–related disease, thereby reducing individual suffering and relieving a substantial financial burden on society. Copyright © 2017 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim
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