@article{BlumeSchmidtSchmidtetal.2021, author = {Blume, Marie and Schmidt, Ricarda and Schmidt, Jennifer and Martin, Alexandra and Hilbert, Anja}, title = {EEG Neurofeedback in the Treatment of Adults with Binge-Eating Disorder: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study}, series = {Neurotherapeutics}, journal = {Neurotherapeutics}, doi = {10.1007/s13311-021-01149-9}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Specific alterations in electroencephalography (EEG)-based brain activity have recently been linked to binge-eating disorder (BED), generating interest in treatment options targeting these neuronal processes. This randomized-controlled pilot study examined the effectiveness and feasibility of two EEG neurofeedback paradigms in the reduction of binge eating, eating disorder and general psychopathology, executive functioning, and EEG activity. Adults with BED and overweight (Nā€‰=ā€‰39) were randomly assigned to either a food-specific EEG neurofeedback paradigm, aiming at reducing fronto-central beta activity and enhancing theta activity after viewing highly palatable food pictures, or a general EEG neurofeedback paradigm training the regulation of slow cortical potentials. In both conditions, the study design included a waiting period of 6 weeks, followed by 6 weeks EEG neurofeedback (10 sessions {\`a} 30 min) and a 3-month follow-up period. Both EEG neurofeedback paradigms significantly reduced objective binge-eating episodes, global eating disorder psychopathology, and food craving. Approximately one third of participants achieved abstinence from objective binge-eating episodes after treatment without any differences between treatments. These results were stable at 3-month follow-up. Among six measured executive functions, only decision making improved at posttreatment in both paradigms, and cognitive flexibility was significantly improved after food-specific neurofeedback only. Both EEG neurofeedback paradigms were equally successful in reducing relative beta and enhancing relative theta power over fronto-central regions. The results highlight EEG neurofeedback as a promising treatment option for individuals with BED. Future studies in larger samples are needed to determine efficacy and treatment mechanisms.}, language = {en} } @article{SchmidtGallinatMartin2023, author = {Schmidt, Jennifer and Gallinat, Christina and Martin, Alexandra}, title = {Appearance-related concerns in individuals with Pathological Skin Picking - A comparison with individuals with dermatological conditions and skin-healthy controls}, series = {Frontiers in Medicine}, volume = {10}, journal = {Frontiers in Medicine}, doi = {10.3389/fmed.2023.1075743}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Pathological Skin Picking (PSP) is an excessive behavior which characterizes Skin Picking Disorder. Individuals repeatedly pick their skin and cause skin lesions, but are unable to control the behavior, which can cause severe distress. Visible self-inflicted skin lesions can additionally affect individuals with PSP due to emerging appearance-related concerns. However, these concerns and their role in PSP have hardly been studied, especially not in comparison with individuals with dermatological conditions and skin-healthy controls. The present cross-sectional study (n=453, 83.9\% female, 15.9\% male, 0.2\% diverse) aimed at analyzing appearance-related concerns and mental health outcomes between four groups: Individuals with PSP and dermatological conditions (SP/DC; n=83), PSP without dermatological conditions (SP; n=56), dermatological conditions without PSP (DC; n=176) and skin-healthy controls (SH, n=138). We compared questionnaire data on dysmorphic concerns, appearance-based rejection sensitivity, and body dysmorphic symptoms, as well as PSP-symptoms and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and self-esteem) between groups. The analyses showed a significant multivariate group effect in the appearance-related variables, F(6, 896)=19.92, Wilks' Ī›=0.78, p<.001, and mental health outcomes, F(6, 896)=16.24, Wilks' Ī›=0.81, p<.001. The SP/DC group had the strongest appearance-related concerns and mental health impairments, followed by the SP group, the DC group and the SH group. The SP/DC group and SP group only differed significantly with regard to dysmorphic concerns, but not in other variables. The DC group was less affected but still showed higher dysmorphic concerns and mental health impairments than skin-healthy controls. In contrast to the PSP groups, the other two groups did not exceed clinically relevant cut-off scores. The present study shows that individuals with PSP exhibit strong appearance-related concerns, regardless of the presence or absence of underlying or comorbid dermatological conditions. These findings shed new light on the importance of appearance-related concerns in skin picking disorder and the role of PSP as a potentially overlooked risk factor in dermatological patients. Therefore, appearance-related concerns should be explicitly addressed in dermatological and psychotherapeutic settings. Future studies should also include longitudinal and experimental analyses to more clearly classify the role of appearance-related concerns in the etiology of PSP and skin picking disorder.}, language = {en} } @article{GitzenSchmidtMartin2024, author = {Gitzen, Harald and Schmidt, Jennifer and Martin, Alexandra}, title = {Subjective and physiological reactivity to emotional stressors in somatic symptom disorder}, series = {International Journal of Psychophysiology}, volume = {2024}, journal = {International Journal of Psychophysiology}, number = {195}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.112273}, pages = {112273 -- 112273}, year = {2024}, abstract = {Objective: We examined whether autonomic flexibility to experimentally presented stressors is reduced in somatic symptom disorder (SSD) as this would point to reduced vagal control as a proposed indicator of emotion regulation deficits. Method: In this experimental study, the influence of health-related and social stressors on subjective and physiological reactivity was investigated in 29 subjects with SSD without any medical condition SSD(mc-), 33 subjects with SSD with medical condition SSD(mc+) and 32 healthy controls at the age from 18 to 70 years. Self-report and physiological variables were measured before and after/during stressor exposure, using state ratings of symptom intensity, disability, tension and mood, heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV). Results: Overall, the tension increased and the mood worsened after exposure to stressors compared to pre-exposure. Compared to HC, the two SSD groups showed higher symptom intensity, disability, tension and worse mood. The SSD(mc-) group revealed higher HR than HC (p = .012, d = -0.77). Compared to pre-exposure, symptom impairment increased after social stressor exposure in SSD(mc-) (p < .001, d = 1.36). HRV-root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) only decreased in HC during exposure (p = .003, d = -1.09), not in the SSD groups. The two SSD groups did not differ in their reactivity to stressors. Conclusion: HRV in SSD, seems to respond less flexibly to stressors, potentially reflecting overall physiological disturbance through reduced parasympathetic influence on HR. Stress reactivity in SSD(mc-) and SSD(mc+) do not seem to differ.}, language = {en} }