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Alpers, Georg W.Research unit Chair for Clinical and Biological Psychology University of Mannheim Prof. Dr. Georg W. Alpers Strong bodily reactions accompany, and are diagnostic criteria for, phobic fear and panic attacks. These indicators of fear can be objectively recorded with physiological measures; but in most clinical settings, bodily reactions are assessed only through patients’ subjective self-reports. Rarely are physiological measures used as well. In "ambulant monitoring" research, we use portable recorders in order to measure numerous peripheral physiological parameters in real-life, fear-provoking situations. In addition, self-report statements from the participants are collected through the use of logbooks or diaries. Along with the electrophysiological measurements, which are assessed mainly with the new Varioport System (Becker Meditec) and standard exercise watches (Polar, Garmin), we collect saliva samples, in which the stress hormone cortisol can be measured. Recently, we also established measures of locomotion in our laboratory. It is our hope that this research will lead to better descriptions and predictions of therapeutic change(s), as well as a better understanding of the mechanisms which reduce fear in phobics. Psychophysiological monitoring in anxiety disorders. Alpers, G. W. (2009). Ambulatory Assessment in Panic Disorder and Specific Phobias. Psychological Assessment, 21, 476-485. Alpers, G. W., Mühlberger, A. & Pauli, P. (2009). Psychophysiologie der Emotionen [psychophysiology of emotions]. In V. Brandstätter & J. H. Otto (Eds.), Handbuch der Allgemeinen Psychologie: Motivation und Emotion (S. 412-421). Göttingen: Hogrefe. Alpers, G. W. & Adolph, D. (2008). Exposure to heights in a theme park: Fear, dizziness, and body sway. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 591-601. Alpers, G. W. & Sell, R. (2008). And yet they correlate: Psychophysiological measures predict the outcome of exposure therapy in claustrophobia. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 22, 1101-1109. Alpers, G. W., Wilhelm, F. H., & Roth, W. T. (2005). Psychophysiological assessment during exposure in driving phobic patients. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114 (1), 126-139. Gorges, S., Alpers, G. W. & Pauli, P. (2008). Differences and common features of performance anxiety during a musical and a non-musical, social performance. In Ken’ichi Miyazaki, Yuzuru Hiraga, Mayumi Adachi, Yoshitaka Nakajima & Minoru Tsuzaki (Eds.), Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Music Perception and Cognition (ICMPC 10). Sapporo, Japan. ISBN: 978-4-9904208-0-2 Mühlberger, A., Alpers, G. W. & Pauli, P. (2006). Psychophysiologische Methoden [psychophysiological methods]. In F. Petermann & M. Eid (Eds.), Handbuch der Psychologischen Diagnostik (pp. 160-167). Göttingen: Hogrefe. Alpers, G. W., Sell, R., & Pauli, P. (2005). Habituation der Cortisolreaktion in der Therapie klaustrophobischer Patienten. In J. Hoyer (Ed.). Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie 2005: 4. Workshopkongress für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, 23. Symposium der Fachgruppe Klinische Psychologie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychologie (p. 51). Lengerich, Berlin: Pabst. Alpers, G. W., Sell, R., Krebs, H., & Pauli, P. (2004). Physiological activation predicts outcome of exposure treatment. Paper presented at the Arbeitstagung Psychophysiologie und ihre Anwendungen, Freiburg. Journal of Psychophysiology, 18, 213-214. Alpers, G. W. & Tuschen-Caffier, B. (2004). Energy and macronutrient intake in Bulimia Nervosa. Eating Behaviors, 5(3), 241-249. Alpers, G. W., Abelson, J. L., Wilhelm, F. H., & Roth, W. T. (2003). Salivary cortisol response during exposure treatment in driving phobics. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65, 679-687. Alpers, G. W., & Tuschen-Caffier, B. (2001). Negative feelings and the desire to eat in bulimia nervosa. Eating Behaviors, 2(4), 339-352. |
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