Interconnections Between Self-Regulatory Systems Allowing Stress Management in Youths with Severe Psychiatric Disorders
Poster C66, Saturday, October 22, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Le Baron
Gregory Mantzouranis1, Laure Jaugey1, Yannick Heim1, Frédéric Lambelet1, Laurent Holzer1, Sébastien Urben1; 1Lausanne University Hospital
Purpose. To adapt to changes in the environment, individuals use various interconnected systems such as the psychological (i.e., emotion regulation) and physiological ones (i.e., heart rate variability, HRV). However, these systems are deregulated among youths with severe psychiatric disorders. This study aims to assess the relationship between these self-regulations systems in this population. Method. We recruited 15 patients with severe psychiatric disorders (including youths with psychosis and at-risk states) attending a day care center. Youths weared a t-shirt with integrated sensors (measuring HRV) and filled in questionnaires measuring emotion regulation and anxiety. The whole procedure was administered twice, three weeks apart. Results. Spearman’s correlations showed that HRV was linked to adaptive emotion regulation strategies (ρ = .595, p = .041) and more particularly to positive focus (ρ = .604, p = .038), to focus on action (ρ = .593, p = .033), and to positive reappraisal (ρ = .707, p = .007). HRV measures were also related to acceptance (ρs > .685, p < .010). Finally, HRV measures were linked to anxiety at both first (ρ = .636, p = .011) and second assessment (ρs > .676, ps < .022). Conclusion. Higher HRV (better adaptability of the individual to his environment) is linked to adaptive emotion regulation dimensions and to lower anxiety. This result seems to be stable trough time in our sample. Therefore, the next step would be to intervene on HRV to enhance youths’ adaptability, and so to reduce the negative consequences of the deregulations of these systems.
Topic Area: Stress Responsivity