Can glucose facilitate fear exposure? Randomized, placebo-controlled trials on the effects of glucose administration on fear extinction processes.

Previous studies showed that glucose has beneficial effects on memory function and can enhance contextual fear learning. To derive potential therapeutic interventions, further research is needed regarding the effects of glucose on fear extinction. In two experimental studies with healthy participants (Study 1: N = 68, 39 females; Study 2: N = 89, 67 females), we investigated the effects of glucose on fear extinction learning and its consolidation. Participants completed a differential fear conditioning paradigm consisting of acquisition, extinction, and return of fear tests: reinstatement, and extinction recall. US-expectancy ratings, skin conductance response (SCR), and fear potentiated startle (FPS) were collected. Participants were pseudorandomized and double-blinded to one of two groups: They received either a drink containing glucose or saccharine 20 min before (Study 1) or immediately after extinction (Study 2). The glucose group showed a significantly stronger decrease in differential FPS during extinction (Study 1) and extinction recall (Study 2). Additionally, the glucose group showed a significantly lower contextual anxiety at test of reinstatement (Study 2). Our findings provide first evidence that glucose supports the process of fear extinction, and in particular the consolidation of fear extinction memory, and thus has potential as a beneficial adjuvant to extinction-based treatments. Registered through the German Clinical Trials Registry (https://www.bfarm.de/EN/BfArM/Tasks/German-Clinical-Trials-Register/_node.html; Study 1: DRKS00010550; Study 2: DRKS00018933).

The relationship between childhood gender nonconformity, aversive childhood experiences, and mental health in heterosexual and non-heterosexual cisgender men: The buffering effect of sense of coherence.

Childhood gender nonconformity (CGNC) seems to be associated with more mental health problems in adulthood. Previous research has suggested that this link might be mediated via the increased risk for aversive childhood experiences (ACEs) as a negative social reaction to CGNC. However, no study yet examined the role of resilience factors in this relationship. The present study aims to address this gap by examining the potential buffering effect of sense of coherence (SOC). In a German sample of 371 cisgender men, we used mediation models to investigate the relationship between CGNC, ACEs, and mental health problems in adulthood, that is, depressive symptoms, loneliness, and suicidal behavior. We then employed moderated mediation models to examine the buffering effect of SOC on the association ACEs and mental health problems. The results showed that higher levels of CGNC were associated with more severe adult mental health problems, with this link being partially mediated by higher levels of ACEs. For depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior in the last 12 months, we found evidence of a buffering effect of SOC. Higher levels of SOC were associated with a weaker association between ACEs and mental health problems. In contrast, this effect was absent for loneliness and lifetime suicidal behavior. Our study provides evidence that ACEs partly account for the relationship between CGNC and mental health in adulthood. Moreover, we found support for SOC having a buffering effect on this link. Future studies need to examine whether SOC might be an important target for resilience training in those experiencing CGNC. However, sustainable interventions may rather address the negative social reactions to CGNC.