The effects of a psychological intervention directed at optimizing immune function: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Schakel, L.; Veldhuijzen, D.S.; Middendorp, H. van; Prins, C.; Joosten, S.A.; Ottenhoff, T.H.M.; ... ; Evers, A.W.M. (2017)

Article / Letter to editor

Previous research has provided evidence for the link between psychological processes and psychophysiological health outcomes. Psychological interventions, such as face-to-face or online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and serious games aimed at improving health, have shown promising results in promoting health outcomes. Few studies so far, however, have examined whether Internet-based CBT combined with serious gaming elements is effective in modulating health outcomes. Moreover, studies often did not incorporate psychophysiological or immunological challenges in order to gain insight into physiological responses to real-life challenges after psychological interventions. The overall aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a psychological intervention on self-reported and physiological health outcomes in response to immune and psychophysiological challenges.

• BCG vaccination
• Immune system
• e-Health
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Serious gaming
• Psychophysiology
• Stress
• Cytokines

• All authors: Schakel, L.; Veldhuijzen, D.S.; Middendorp, H. van; Prins, C.; Joosten, S.A.; Ottenhoff, T.H.M.; Visser, L.G.; Evers, A.W.M.
• Date: 2017
• Journal: Trials
• Volume: 18
• Pages: e243
• DOI: doi:10.1186/s13063-017-1983-7
• Link: https://trialsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13063-017-1983-7