Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Glycogen, a branched polymer of glucose, serves as an osmotically neutral means of storing glucose. Covalent phosphate is a trace component of mammalian glycogen and has been a point of interest with respect to Lafora disease, a fatal form of juvenile myoclonus epilepsy. Mutations in either the EPM2A or EPM2B genes, which encode laforin and malin respectively, account for ~90% of disease cases. A characteristic of Lafora disease is the formation of Lafora bodies, which are mainly composed of an excess amount of abnormal glycogen that is poorly branched and insoluble. Laforin-/- and malin-/- knockout mice share several characteristics of the human disease, formation of Lafora bodies in various tissues, increased glycogen phosphorylation and development of neurological symptoms. The source of phosphate in glycogen has been an area of interest and here we provide evidence that glycogen synthase is capable of incorporating phosphate into glycogen. Mice lacking the glycogen targeting subunit PTG of the PP1 protein phosphatase have decreased glycogen stores in a number of tissues. When crossed with mice lacking either laforin or malin, the double knockout mice no longer over-accumulate glycogen, Lafora body formation is almost absent and the neurological disorders are normalized. Another question has been whether the abnormal glycogen in the Lafora disease mouse models can be metabolized. Using exercise to provoke glycogen degradation, we show that in laforin-/- and malin-/- mice the insoluble, abnormal glycogen appears to be metabolically inactive. These studies suggest that a therapeutic approach to Lafora disease may be to reduce the overall glycogen levels in cells so that insoluble, metabolically inert pools of the polysaccharide do not accumulate.

No description available.

The purpose of the study was to provide evidence-based outcomes related to a couples adaptive sports event intended to facilitate posttraumatic growth, increase marital satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, feelings of competence in sports, and reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for veterans with PTSD and their significant others. The sample consisted of three groups of couples, experimental Group A had five couples, experimental Group B had six couples, and the Control Group had six couples. ANCOVA analysis indicated significant differences between Group A and the Control Group for overall PTSD and the subscale of hyperarousal. There were also significant increases in marital satisfaction, leisure satisfaction, significant decreases in the symptoms of posttraumatic stress overall, and in all three subscales: re-experiencing, avoidance/emotional numbing, and hyperarousal. Findings supported Kleiber's, Hutchinson's, and Williams' (2002) four functions of leisure in transcending negative life events. Findings indicated participation in a couple's adaptive sports program has positive impacts on the veteran's and their significant other's marital satisfaction and reduces symptoms of PTSD. It is recommended that recreation providers facilitate couple adaptive sports programs for veterans and their significant others to reduce symptoms of PTSD and increase marital satisfaction.

Klimatförändringar är den enskilt största utmaningen som mänskligheten står inför under 2000-talet. För att ta itu med denna utmaning förutses förnybara energikällor en stor ökning av andelen primärenergi globalt. Den naturliga variabiliteten hos sol och vind kräver att energilagring används tillsammans med dem för en energisystemövergång. Power-to-Gas (PtG) -teknologier erbjuder en attraktiv lösning genom att möjliggöra omvandling av elektrisk energi till vätgas eller metan, vilket möjliggör integration över nätverk och sektorövergripande integration. Denna avhandling undersöker lönsamheten för en PtG-anläggning med enprimär applikation för att producera syntetisk metan (SNG) för injektion av naturgas(NG). En teknik-ekonomisk modell skapades för att simulera anläggningens drift under ett år och extrapolera resultaten för projektets livslängd. Modellen designades baserat på ett pilotprojekt som utvecklades i Frankrike med namnet HYCAUNAIS och har använt partner-samt litteraturdata för bearbetning. På grund av begränsningar i den lokala NG-nätkapaciteten undersöktes era scenarier som inkluderade att lägga till ytterligare investeringar som möjliggör ökad driftstid och intäktsströmmar, inklusive: fast elpris eller day-ahead (DA) marknadsdeltagande; nätuppgradering för ökad NG-nätkapacitet; och CH4 och H2 mobilitet. Elektrolysörers deltagande i frekvensbegränsningsreserven (FCR) ansågs också förökad lönsamhet. Resultaten visade att standardfallsscenariot (inga ytterligare investeringar) med deltagande på DA-elmarknaden var det mest attraktiva när det gäller tre undersökta mål: nettonuvärde (NPV), återbetalningsperiod (PBP) och nivåniserad metankostnad (LCOM). Driftstiden för standardfallet befanns vara cirka 90% av året; produktionen hindrades inte av begränsad nätkapacitet tillräckligt för att anse ytterligare investeringar nödvändiga. Vidare bör deltagande på DA-marknaden bestämmas av en upphörd betalningsvilja (WTP) för el i motsats till marginell vinst (MP). Att använda WTP som avgörande faktor tillät ökade driftstimmar och lägre LCOM. Men i alla undersökta scenarier var inga lönsamma; vilket innebär att marknadsförhållandena fortfarande måste förbättras kraftigt innan PtG kan få fart. En känslighetsanalys gjordes på standardfallsscenariot för att se vilka parametrar som påverkar lönsamheten mest och bör vara i fokus för vidare forskning och utveckling. SNG-taxan visade sig vara den mest inytelserika på NPV, vilket krävde att en tariff på minst 188 e=MWh (120 e=MWh användes för modellering) för att vara lönsam. Elpriset var det näst mest inytelserika och krävde ett genomsnittligt marknadspris på 25 e=MWh för att vara lönsamt. Eftersom PtG-teknik kan ge era externa fördelar som inte realiseras ekonomiskt av investerare, kan intäktsgenerering av dem ge ett sätt att förbättra lönsamheten. Detta inkluderar nätbalansering och exibilitet, avkolning, lägre nätkostnader ochförbättrad energisäkerhet. Sammanfattningsvis måste kapitalkostnaderna för utrustning,elpriser och avgifter i samband med dessa samt taxor för gröna gaser förbättras dramatiskt för att SNG-produktionen ska vara en attraktiv lösning för minskning och avkolning av el. / Climate change is the single largest challenge facing humanity in the 21st century. To tackle this challenge, renewable energies are seeing a large increase in primary energy share globally. The natural variableness of solar and wind requires energy storage to be used in conjuction with them for an energy system transition. Power-to-Gas (PtG) technologies offer an attractive solution by allowing conversion of electrical energy to hydrogen or methane, enabling cross-energy-network and cross-sectoral integration. This thesis investigates profitability of a PtG plant with a primary application of producing synthetic methane (SNG) for natural gas (NG) grid injection. A techno-economical model was created to simulate plant operation over one year and extrapolate the results for the project lifespan. The model was designed based off of a pilot project being developed in France named HYCAUNAIS and used partner as well as literature data for processing. Due to limitations inlocal NG grid capacity, several scenarios were investigated that included adding additional investments that allow increased operational time and revenue streams, including: fixed electrical price or day-ahead (DA) market participation; mesh upgrade for increased NG grid capacity; and CH4 and H2 mobility. Electrolyser participation in the frequency containment reserve (FCR) was also considered for increased profitability. The results determined the standard case scenario (no additional investments) with participation in the DA electricity market was the most attractive in terms of three objectives investigated: net present value (NPV), payback period (PBP) and levelized cost of methane (LCOM). The operational hours of the standard case was found to be approximately 90% of the year; production was not hindered by limited grid capacity sufficiently to deem additional investments necessary. Further, participation in the DA market should be determined by a cut-off willingness to pay (WTP) for electricity as opposed to marginal profit (MP). Using WTP as the determining factor allowed increased operational hours and lower LCOM. However, in all of the scenarios investigated, none were profitable; meaning that market conditions still need to greatly improve before PtG can gain momentum. A sensitivity analysis was done on the standard case scenario to see which parameters influence profitability the most and should be the focus of further research and development. The SNG tariff was found to be the most influential on NPV, requiring a tariff of at least 188 e=MWh (120 e=MWh was used for modeling) to be profitable. Electricity price was the second most inuential and required an average market price of 25 e=MWh to be profitable. As PtG technologies can provide several external benefits that are not economically realized by investors, monetization of them could provide a means of improving profitability. This includes, grid balancing and exibility, decarbonization, lower grid costs and improved energy security. Inconclusion, capital costs of equipment, electricity prices and fees associated to them, and tariffs for green gases all need to improve dramatically for SNG production tobe an attractive solution for electricity curtailment and decarbonization.

Severe motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) represent one of the most often occurring psychological traumas, and are a leading cause of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, not all persons develop PTSD after traumatic events and a great proportion of patients who show symptoms initially recover over time. This has stimulated research of psychological and biological factors that explain development and maintenance of the disorder. Fortunately, this highly distressing condition can be effectively treated, e.g. via cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, brain mechanisms underlying changes due to psychological therapy in PTSD are almost unknown (Roffman, Marci, Glick, Dougherty, & Rauch, 2005). On the other hand there are observations of positive changes following trauma called Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), which have stimulated research of associated psychological processes and factors. However, there is a lack of research about the relation of biological variables (e.g. measures of brain function) and PTG. Theories of brain asymmetry and emotion (Davidson, 1998b, 2004b; Heller, Koven, & Miller, 2003) propose that asymmetries of brain activation are related to certain features of human emotion (e.g. valence, approach or withdrawal tendencies, arousal). Whereas an enormous increase in the understanding of structural and functional abnormalities in PTSD could be achieved in the last decades due to neuroimaging research, there are still numerous unanswered questions. Especially, there is only little research explicitly examining activation asymmetries in PTSD. Furthermore, as mentioned, research is sparse investigating alterations of brain function that are associated with successful psychological treatment of PTSD. Finally, there is no published study examining how measures of brain function are related to PTG. This thesis presents 3 studies investigating electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetries in survivors of severe motor vehicle accidents. The first part of the thesis (chapter 2) is devoted to a literature review about description (chapter 2.1), epidemiology (chapter 2.2 and 2.3), risk factors (chapter 2.4), psychological theories (chapter 2.5), biological mechanisms particularly neuroimaging findings (chapter 2.6), and treatment of PTSD (chapter 2.7.). Chapter 2.8 gives a short review on definition and research of Posttraumatic Growth. Chapter 2.9 provides an overview of models and research regarding brain asymmetry and emotion. In chapter 3.1, a study is presented that investigated hemispheric asymmetries (EEG alpha) among MVA survivors with PTSD, with subsyndromal PTSD, and without PTSD as well as non-exposed healthy controls during a baseline condition and in response to neutral, positive, negative, and trauma-related pictures (study I). Next, the findings of study II are presented (chapter 3.2). This study examined the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on measures of EEG activity. Therefore, EEG activity before and after CBT in comparison to an assessment only Wait-list condition was measured. In chapter 3.3 a correlational study (study III) is presented that examined the relationship between frontal brain asymmetry and selfreported posttraumatic growth after severe MVAs. Finally, in chapter 4 the findings are summarized and discussed with respect to (1) the state/trait debate in frontal asymmetry research and (2) current psychological theories of PTSD and PTG. In addition, the use of neuroscientific research for psychotherapy is discussed. Suggestions are presented for future goals for “brain” research of PTSD and treatment of PTSD. / Schwere Verkehrsunfälle stellen eines der am häufigsten vorkommenden psychologischen Traumata dar, und sind eine Hauptursache der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTBS). Jedoch entwickeln nicht alle Personen nach traumatischen Ereignissen eine PTBS und bei einem Großteil remittieren anfängliche PTBS-Symptome. Dies stimulierte die Erforschung von psychologischen und biologischen Faktoren, die die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung der PTBS erklären. Glücklicherweise kann die PTBS effektiv, z.B über die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie (KVT), behandelt werden. Jedoch sind Gehirnmechanismen, die mit klinischen Änderungen aufgrund der psychologischen Therapie in PTSD einhergehen, nahezu unbekannt (Roffman, Marci, Glick, Dougherty, Rauch, 2005). Auf der anderen Seite gibt es Berichte von positiven Änderungen nach traumatischen Ereignissen, die als Posttraumatische Reifung (PTR) bezeichent werden. Dies hat in kürzerer Vergangenheit die Forschung von verbundenen psychologischen Prozessen und Faktoren stimuliert. Jedoch gibt es kaum Untersuchungen über die Beziehung von biologischen Variablen (z.B Messungen der Gehirnfunktion) und PTR. Diese Arbeit präsentiert 3 Studien, die electroenzephalographische (EEG) Asymmetrien bei Opfern schwerer Verkehrsunfälle untersuchten. Der erste Teil der Arbeit (Kapitel 2) widmet sich einer Literaturrezension über: die Beschreibung (Kapitel 2.1), Epidemiologie (Kapitel 2.2 und 2.3), Risikofaktoren (Kapitel 2.4), psychologische Theorien (Kapitel 2.5), biologische Mechanismen besonders Neuroimaging Ergebnisse (Kapitel 2.6), und Behandlung der PTBS (Kapitel 2.7.). Kapitel 2.8 gibt einen kurzen Überblick über die Definition und Forschung zur Posttraumatischen Reifung. Kapitel 2.9 gibt eine Übersicht zu aktuellen Modellen und empirischen Befunden bezüglich Gehirnasymmetrien und Emotionen. Kapitel 3.1 präsentiert eine Studie, in der hemisphärische Asymmetrien (im EEG-Alpha Band) bei Unfallopfern mit PTBS, subsyndromaler PTBS, und ohne PTBS sowie gesunden Kontrollpersonen ohne Unfall untersucht wurden: während einer Ruhemessung und einer Emotionsinduktions-bedingung (neutrale, positive, negative und trauma-spezifische Bilder) (Studie I). Danach werden die Ergebnisse der Studie II (Kapitel 3.2) präsentiert. Hier wurde die Wirkung der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie auf Messungen der EEG-Aktivität untersucht. Deshalb wurde EEG-Aktivität vor und nach einer KVT im Vergleich mit einer Warten-Gruppe gemessen. Kapitel 3.3 präsentiert eine Korellationsanalyse (Studie III), bei der die Beziehung zwischen der frontalen Gehirnasymmetrie und posttraumatischer Reifung untersucht wurde. Am Ende der Arbeit (Kapitel 4) werden die Ergebnisse zusammengefasst und in Bezug auf (1) die state/trait-Debatte im Rahmen der Asymmetrie-Forschung diskutiert sowie (2) ein Bezug zu aktuellen psychologische Theorien von PTSD und PTG hergestellt. Außerdem wird der Nutzen von neurobiologischer Forschung für die Psychotherapie besprochen. Dabei werden Vorschläge für zukünftige Projekte für die "Gehirn"-Forschung im Zusammenhang mit der PTBS, deren Behandlung und PTG gemacht.

Introduction: Recent developments in the study of trauma responses have shown how some people may experience positive and life altering changes following traumatic life events which have been described as posttraumatic growth. Research is beginning to examine the role of trauma treatments in the facilitation of posttraumatic growth. Aim: This study sets out to explore participants’ experiences of posttraumatic growth during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, and the role of the therapeutic relationship in facilitating posttraumatic growth. Method: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with participants to examine their phenomenological experiences. Methodology: Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was employed to consider emergent meanings and themes within a hermeneutic circle of interpretation. Participants: Seven participants were interviewed who had received Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy within National Health Service primary care psychological therapy services for posttraumatic stress disorder. Findings: Four superordinate themes emerged from the analysis of the participant accounts including: (i) Safe and secure; (ii) Taking back control; (iii) Reconstructing the self; and (iv) Journeying beyond trauma to the future. Conclusions: Person-centred conditions and client-therapist attachment were important elements of the therapeutic relationship which provided participants with the safety, trust, and relational depth necessary for the facilitation of experiences of posttraumatic growth during Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. Implications: The findings emphasise the importance of a clinical focus on the quality of the therapeutic relationship as a facilitative therapeutic environment allowing affective-cognitive processing and the emergence of posttraumatic growth.

Trauma therapists increasingly use EMDR when working with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and trauma clients as it is recommended by NICE guidelines (2005) however until recently research focused on the negative impact of trauma work. Posttraumatic Growth (PTG) appears to be the most commonly used term for ‘growth’ however attempts to define and measure it can be criticised for being reductionist in approach as it reduced five factors into three outcomes based on the client’s growth. Research on trauma therapists’ growth has relied on client definitions that is; Vicarious PTG is based on PTG although there are a couple of studies which collaborate these findings. This study aims to address the literature and practitioner gap by exploring EMDR therapists’ lived experiences of ‘vicarious growth’ when working with PTSD symptom clients. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from a homogeneous sample of six EMDR therapists who stated that they had positive experiences or experienced growth (positive change) when working with PTSD symptom clients. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse the data. Rich, detailed findings in terms of how ‘growth’ is experienced emerged as four super-ordinate themes: A: Initial struggles; B: Experiences of the “healing journey”; C: Growth through connecting and D: Impact of growth on ‘self’. Implications of experiences of the therapeutic relationship as a “healing journey” for therapists were discussed in terms of a potential power imbalance where they might be viewed as ‘experts’. However, a better understanding of how therapists experience ‘vicarious growth’ with their clients enables them to utilise this knowledge to develop their own growth and self-awareness therefore supervision and training to encourage self-awareness was also discussed. These Positive Psychology (growth) findings such as self-belief in skills; use of ‘special set’ of clients; self-image as 3 ‘guide’ and the spread of growth to areas outside of therapy can be utilised to add Positive Psychology (growth) into existing supervision and training (EMDR and trauma) thereby enhancing existing models or creating new ones. Therapists growth and well-being may lead to lower occupational risk than was previously thought working amongst trauma clients and perhaps greater job satisfaction. KEYWORDS: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), Vicarious Posttraumatic Growth (VPTG), Vicarious Growth (VG), Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA); EMDR therapists; Positive Psychology.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Pompe disease (PD) is a rare metabolic myopathy characterized by loss of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA), the enzyme responsible for breaking down glycogen to glucose within the lysosomes. PD cells accumulate massive quantities of glycogen within their lysosomes, and as such, PD is classified as a “lysosomal storage disease” (LSD). GAA-deficient cells also exhibit accumulation of autophagic debris. Symptoms of severe infantile PD include extreme muscle weakness, hypotonia, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, resulting in death before one year of age. Certain LSDs are currently being successfully treated with enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), which involves intravenous infusion of a recombinant enzyme to counteract the endogenous deficiency. ERT has been less successful in PD, however, due to ineffective delivery of the recombinant enzyme. Alternatively, specific genes deletion may reduce lysosomal glycogen load, and could thus be targeted in PD therapy development. Absence of malin (EPM2B) or laforin (EPM2A) has been proposed to impair autophagy, which could reduce lysosomal glycogen levels. Additionally, deficiency of Stbd1 has been postulated to disable lysosomal glycogen import. Furthermore, Ptg deficiency was previously reported to abrogate Lafora body formation and correct neurological abnormalities in Lafora disease mouse models and could have similar effects on PD pathologies. The goal of this study was to characterize the effects of homozygous disruption of Epm2a, Epm2b, Stbd1, and Ptg loci on total glycogen levels in PD mouse model heart tissue, as in severe infantile PD, it is accumulation of glycogen in the heart that results in fatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Gaa-/- mice were intercrossed with Epm2a-/-, Epm2b-/-, Stbd1-/-, and Ptg-/- mice to generate wildtype (WT), single knockout, and double knockout mice. The results indicated that Gaa-/- hearts accumulated up to 100-fold more glycogen than the WT. These mice also displayed cardiac hypertrophy. However, deficiency of Epm2a, Epm2b, Stbd1, or PTG in the Gaa-/- background did not reveal changes of statistical significance in either heart glycogen or cardiac hypertrophy. Nevertheless, since total glycogen was measured, these deficiencies should not be discarded in future discussions of PD therapy, as increasing sample sizes and/or distinguishing cytosolic from lysosomal glycogen content may yet reveal differences of greater significance.

The current study examined the impact of resilience and self-compassion on the relationship between combat exposure and psychological outcomes, specifically post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth. Service members and veterans with combat exposure (N = 143) completed an online survey, through which they were administered a Background Questionnaire, the Combat Exposure Scale, the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Results of a path analysis revealed a positive direct effect of combat exposure on post-traumatic stress symptoms and post-traumatic growth and a negative direct effect of self-compassion on post-traumatic stress symptoms. Furthermore, self-compassion moderated the relationship between combat exposure and post-traumatic growth. Implications of these findings and future directions for research are discussed.

Severe motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) represent one of the most often occurring psychological traumas, and are a leading cause of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, not all persons develop PTSD after traumatic events and a great proportion of patients who show symptoms initially recover over time. This has stimulated research of psychological and biological factors that explain development and maintenance of the disorder. Fortunately, this highly distressing condition can be effectively treated, e.g. via cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). However, brain mechanisms underlying changes due to psychological therapy in PTSD are almost unknown (Roffman, Marci, Glick, Dougherty, & Rauch, 2005). On the other hand there are observations of positive changes following trauma called Posttraumatic Growth (PTG), which have stimulated research of associated psychological processes and factors. However, there is a lack of research about the relation of biological variables (e.g. measures of brain function) and PTG. Theories of brain asymmetry and emotion (Davidson, 1998b, 2004b; Heller, Koven, & Miller, 2003) propose that asymmetries of brain activation are related to certain features of human emotion (e.g. valence, approach or withdrawal tendencies, arousal). Whereas an enormous increase in the understanding of structural and functional abnormalities in PTSD could be achieved in the last decades due to neuroimaging research, there are still numerous unanswered questions. Especially, there is only little research explicitly examining activation asymmetries in PTSD. Furthermore, as mentioned, research is sparse investigating alterations of brain function that are associated with successful psychological treatment of PTSD. Finally, there is no published study examining how measures of brain function are related to PTG. This thesis presents 3 studies investigating electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetries in survivors of severe motor vehicle accidents. The first part of the thesis (chapter 2) is devoted to a literature review about description (chapter 2.1), epidemiology (chapter 2.2 and 2.3), risk factors (chapter 2.4), psychological theories (chapter 2.5), biological mechanisms particularly neuroimaging findings (chapter 2.6), and treatment of PTSD (chapter 2.7.). Chapter 2.8 gives a short review on definition and research of Posttraumatic Growth. Chapter 2.9 provides an overview of models and research regarding brain asymmetry and emotion. In chapter 3.1, a study is presented that investigated hemispheric asymmetries (EEG alpha) among MVA survivors with PTSD, with subsyndromal PTSD, and without PTSD as well as non-exposed healthy controls during a baseline condition and in response to neutral, positive, negative, and trauma-related pictures (study I). Next, the findings of study II are presented (chapter 3.2). This study examined the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on measures of EEG activity. Therefore, EEG activity before and after CBT in comparison to an assessment only Wait-list condition was measured. In chapter 3.3 a correlational study (study III) is presented that examined the relationship between frontal brain asymmetry and selfreported posttraumatic growth after severe MVAs. Finally, in chapter 4 the findings are summarized and discussed with respect to (1) the state/trait debate in frontal asymmetry research and (2) current psychological theories of PTSD and PTG. In addition, the use of neuroscientific research for psychotherapy is discussed. Suggestions are presented for future goals for “brain” research of PTSD and treatment of PTSD. / Schwere Verkehrsunfälle stellen eines der am häufigsten vorkommenden psychologischen Traumata dar, und sind eine Hauptursache der Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTBS). Jedoch entwickeln nicht alle Personen nach traumatischen Ereignissen eine PTBS und bei einem Großteil remittieren anfängliche PTBS-Symptome. Dies stimulierte die Erforschung von psychologischen und biologischen Faktoren, die die Entstehung und Aufrechterhaltung der PTBS erklären. Glücklicherweise kann die PTBS effektiv, z.B über die kognitive Verhaltenstherapie (KVT), behandelt werden. Jedoch sind Gehirnmechanismen, die mit klinischen Änderungen aufgrund der psychologischen Therapie in PTSD einhergehen, nahezu unbekannt (Roffman, Marci, Glick, Dougherty, Rauch, 2005). Auf der anderen Seite gibt es Berichte von positiven Änderungen nach traumatischen Ereignissen, die als Posttraumatische Reifung (PTR) bezeichent werden. Dies hat in kürzerer Vergangenheit die Forschung von verbundenen psychologischen Prozessen und Faktoren stimuliert. Jedoch gibt es kaum Untersuchungen über die Beziehung von biologischen Variablen (z.B Messungen der Gehirnfunktion) und PTR. Diese Arbeit präsentiert 3 Studien, die electroenzephalographische (EEG) Asymmetrien bei Opfern schwerer Verkehrsunfälle untersuchten. Der erste Teil der Arbeit (Kapitel 2) widmet sich einer Literaturrezension über: die Beschreibung (Kapitel 2.1), Epidemiologie (Kapitel 2.2 und 2.3), Risikofaktoren (Kapitel 2.4), psychologische Theorien (Kapitel 2.5), biologische Mechanismen besonders Neuroimaging Ergebnisse (Kapitel 2.6), und Behandlung der PTBS (Kapitel 2.7.). Kapitel 2.8 gibt einen kurzen Überblick über die Definition und Forschung zur Posttraumatischen Reifung. Kapitel 2.9 gibt eine Übersicht zu aktuellen Modellen und empirischen Befunden bezüglich Gehirnasymmetrien und Emotionen. Kapitel 3.1 präsentiert eine Studie, in der hemisphärische Asymmetrien (im EEG-Alpha Band) bei Unfallopfern mit PTBS, subsyndromaler PTBS, und ohne PTBS sowie gesunden Kontrollpersonen ohne Unfall untersucht wurden: während einer Ruhemessung und einer Emotionsinduktions-bedingung (neutrale, positive, negative und trauma-spezifische Bilder) (Studie I). Danach werden die Ergebnisse der Studie II (Kapitel 3.2) präsentiert. Hier wurde die Wirkung der kognitiven Verhaltenstherapie auf Messungen der EEG-Aktivität untersucht. Deshalb wurde EEG-Aktivität vor und nach einer KVT im Vergleich mit einer Warten-Gruppe gemessen. Kapitel 3.3 präsentiert eine Korellationsanalyse (Studie III), bei der die Beziehung zwischen der frontalen Gehirnasymmetrie und posttraumatischer Reifung untersucht wurde. Am Ende der Arbeit (Kapitel 4) werden die Ergebnisse zusammengefasst und in Bezug auf (1) die state/trait-Debatte im Rahmen der Asymmetrie-Forschung diskutiert sowie (2) ein Bezug zu aktuellen psychologische Theorien von PTSD und PTG hergestellt. Außerdem wird der Nutzen von neurobiologischer Forschung für die Psychotherapie besprochen. Dabei werden Vorschläge für zukünftige Projekte für die "Gehirn"-Forschung im Zusammenhang mit der PTBS, deren Behandlung und PTG gemacht.