Über mich

PD Dr. Phil. Myriam V. Thoma

Mein beruflicher Werdegang

Ich habe an der Universität Zürich (UZH) Psychologie, Psychopathologie und Kriminologie studiert (lic. phil., 2001-2006) und an der Abteilung ‹Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie› promoviert (Dr. phil., 2007-2010). Im Anschluss darauf habe ich in Boston (USA) als Post-doc im Bereich der biopsychologischen Stressgrundlagenforschung gearbeitet (2010-2012). Nach meiner Rückkehr in die Schweiz war ich als Fallführende Psychologin am Sanatorium Kilchberg tätig (2012-2015). Parallel dazu habe ich die postgraduale Weiterbildung in kognitiver Verhaltenstherapie und Verhaltensmedizin abgeschlossen (Master of Advanced Studies, eidg. anerkannte Psychotherapeutin).

Von 2015-2024 arbeitete ich als Oberassistentin und Arbeitsgruppenleiterin (‹Klinische Gerontopsychologie›) am Psychologischen Institut der UZH an der Abteilung ‹Psychopathologie und Klinische Intervention›. Zusammen mit Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Maercker leitete ich zudem die Forschungsgruppe ‹Resilienz› am Universitären Forschungsschwerpunkt ‹Dynamik Gesunden Alterns›. Weiter arbeitete ich als Koordinatorin und Psychotherapeutin an der Abteilung ‹Allgemeine Psychotherapie und Schwerpunkte Trauma, Altersprobleme und Online-Therapie› des Psychotherapeutischen Ambulatoriums der UZH.

Im Jahr 2020 habe ich meine Habilitation erfolgreich abgeschlossen (Venia legendi für Psychologie).

Seit September 2024 arbeite ich als Universitätsdozentin für Klinische Psychologie und Psychopathologie an der Fakultät für Psychologie der Universität Basel.

Zusätzlich unterrichte ich seit Jahren diverse externe Fort- und Weiterbildungsformate in meiner Funktion als Referentin und Dozentin.

Publikationen

Meine aktuellen und bisherigen Forschungsinteressen umfassen folgende Themengebiete: Psychopathologie, Stress, Trauma und Resilienz über die Lebensspanne hinweg sowie die psychologischen Effekte von Musik. In den letzten Jahren habe ich zu diesen Themen zahlreiche wissenschaftliche Artikel, Buchkapitel und weitere Beiträge verfasst.

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  • Publizierte Peer-Reviewed Wissenschaftliche Artikel
2024
Thoma, M. V., Bernays, F., Fuhrer, J., Höltge, J., Salas Castillo, A.N., & Rohner, S.L. (accepted). Predicting intraindividual change in satisfaction with life during COVID-19: A prospective study of Swiss older adults with differing levels of childhood adversity. Journal of Happiness Studies.
2024
Thoma, M. V. (accepted). Trauma und Demenz. In H. Glaesmer, S.B. Gahleitner, Spitzer, Schäfe (Hrs.), Handbuch der Psychotraumatologie, Auflage 4. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart.
2024
Thoma, M. V., Maercker, A., & Rohner, S. L. (2024). Schwierige Erfahrungen in der Kindheit und wie diese zu ganz unterschiedlichen Schicksalen führen. In R. Knüsel, A. Grob, & V. Motier (Hrs.), Schicksale der Fremdplatzierung. Behördenentscheidungen und Auswirkungen auf den Lebenslauf. Schwabe Verlag, Basel, S. 41-55. ISBN 978-3-7965-4902-1.
2024
Thoma, M. V., Balsiger, S.-V., Höltge, J., & Rohner, S.L. (accepted). Investigating stress sensitization and steeling for early-life adversity and recent stressful life experiences: Health and illness in older adulthood. Sage Open.
2024
Mäder, S. J., Thoma, M. V., Salas Castillo, A. N., Dorigo, M., & Rohner, S. L. (2024). Intra- and interpersonal influences on child adjustment and resilience in welfare care: A qualitative study with former caregivers in Switzerland. Children and Youth Services Review, 161, 107653.
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2024
Rusmir, M., Rohner, S. L., Maercker, A., Salas Castillo, A. N., & Thoma, M. V. (2024). Predictors and (in-) stability of ICD-11 complex posttraumatic stress disorder in older adults: findings from a longitudinal study in Switzerland. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 15(1), 2299618.
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2023
Höltge, J., Rohner, S. L., Heim, E. M., Nater, U., & Thoma, M. V. (2023). Differential pathways from child maltreatment types to insecure adult attachment styles via psychological and social resources: a Bayesian network analysis. Journal of interpersonal violence, 38(11-12), 7089-7114.
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2023
McCutchen, C., Hyland, P., Maercker, A., Thoma, M. V., & Rohner, S. L. (2023). The Effects of Social Support on ACEs and Mental Health in Ireland. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 28(4), 377-388.
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2023
Mutuyiama, C., Thoma, M. V., Maercker, A., Sezibera, V., & Heim, E. M. (2023). Caseness and comorbidity of probable (complex) posttraumatic stress disorder and depression in survivors of genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda: The role of social determinants. South African Journal of Psychology, 53(4), 521-532.
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2023
Rohner, S. L., Dorigo, M., Salas Castillo, A. N., Mäder, S. J., & Thoma, M. V. (2023). Child maltreatment in Swiss welfare care until 1981: Former caregivers’ perspectives on the welfare context. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1-29.
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2023
Rohner, S. L., Bernays, F., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2023). Early-life adversity and later-life mental health: a conditional process analysis of sense of coherence and resilience-related resources. Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2, 1213142.
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2023
Rohner, S. L., Salas Castillo, A. N., Michel, J., Maercker, A., Carr, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2023). A socio-interpersonal perspective on the disclosure of childhood adversity: A qualitative comparative approach in Irish survivors. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody and Child Development, 20(4), 507-527.
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2023
Thoma, M. V., Goreis, A., Rohner, S.L., Nater, U. M., Heim, E., & Höltge, J. (2023). Characteristics of health and well-being in former Jehovah’s Witnesses in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Mental Health, Religion and Culture, 26(7), 644-662.
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2023
Thoma, M. V., Salas Castillo, A. N, & Maercker, A. (2023). Psychotherapy for elderly patients. Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik, Medizinische Psychologie, 73(12), 516-528.
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2023
Thoma, M. V., Salas Castillo, A. N., & Maerker, A. (2023). Psychische Störungen im Alter und ihre psychotherapeutische Behandlung. PSYCH up2date, 17(06), 529-543.
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2023
Thoma, M. V., Salas Castillo, A. N., & Maercker, A. (2023). Älter werden vor dem Hintergrund einer traumatischen Kindheit. Die Psychotherapie, 68(6), 405-411.
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2022
Pfluger, V., Rohner, S.L., Eising, C.M., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2022). Internalizing mental health disorders and emotion regulation: A comparative and mediational study of older adults with and without a history of complex trauma exposure. Frontiers in Psychology; Psychology of Aging, 13.
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2022
Pfluger, V., Fischer, S., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2022). Development and psychometric evaluation of the reactions to Somatic Stress Questionnaire (RSSQ). European Journal of Health Psychology, 30(1), 1–16.
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2022
Pfluger, V., Rohner, S. L., Eising, C. M., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2022). Associations between complex trauma exposure in childhood/adolescence and psychopathology in older age: The role of stress coping and coping self-perception. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 15, 539–551.
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2022
Rohner, S. L., Salas Castillo, A.N., Carr, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2022). Childhood adversity and later life prosocial behavior: A qualitative comparative study of Irish older adult survivors. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 966956.
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2022
Thoma, M. V., Rohner, S. L., & Höltge, J. (2022). Assessing the consequences of childhood trauma on behavioral issues and mental health outcomes. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 1101099
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2022
Thoma, M. V., Rohner, S. L., Heim, E., Hermann, R. M., Roos, M., Evangelista, K. W. M., Nater, U. M., & Höltge, J. (2022). Identifying well-being profiles and resilience characteristics in ex-members of fundamentalist Christian faith communities. Stress & Health, 38(5), 1058–1069.
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2021
Thoma, M. V. & Maercker, A. (2021). Traumafolgestörungen im Kontext von Resilienz im Alter. In M. Staats, J. Steinhaußen (Hrs.), Resilienz im Alter. Beltz Juventa.
2021
Thoma, M. V., Bernays, F., Pfluger, V., Eising, C. M., & Rohner, S.L. (2021). An exploratory comparison of resilience profiles of Swiss older adult survivors of child welfare-related maltreatment and controls. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 29(3), 1059–1067.
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2021
Maercker, A., Bernays, F., Rohner, S. L., & Thoma, M. V. (2021). A cascade model of complex posttraumatic stress disorder centered on childhood trauma and maltreatment, attachment, and socio-interpersonal factors. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 35, 446–460.
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2021
Eising, C. M., Voelkle, M., Rohner, S. L., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2021). Lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder in older individuals with a history of institutional upbringing in childhood: The role of social acknowledgement and stressful life events. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 12(1), 1915578.
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2021
Rohner, S. L., Bernays, F., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2021). Examining salutary mechanisms in the relationship between stress or adversity and health and well-being: The moderating and mediating role of sense of coherence – Revised. Stress & Health, 38(2), 388–401.
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2021
Thoma, M. V., Bernays, F., Eising, C. M., Maercker, A., & Rohner, S. L. (2021). Child maltreatment, lifetime trauma, and mental health in Swiss older survivors of enforced child welfare practices: Investigating the mediating role of self-esteem and self-compassion. Child Abuse & Neglect, 113, 104925.
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2021
Thoma, M. V., Rohleder, N., & Rohner, S. L. (2021). Clinical Ecopsychology: The Mental Health Impacts and Underlying Pathways of the Climate and Environmental Crisis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 757.
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2021
Forstmeier, S., Thoma, M. V. & Maercker, A. (2021). Motivational Reserve: The role of motivational processes in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. In G. Sedek, T. M. Hess, & D. R. Touron (Hrs.), Multiple pathways of cognitive aging: Motivational and contextual influences. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 128–C7.P224. ISBN 9780197528976.
2020
Thoma, M.V.* and Kleineidam, L.*, Forstmeier, S., Maercker, A., Weyerer, S., Eisele, M., van den Bussche, H., König, H.-H., Röhr, S., Stein, J., Wiese, B., Pentzek, M. Bickel, H., Maier, W., Scherer, M., Riedel-Heller, S.G.*, and Wagner, M.* (2020). Associations and Correlates of General versus Specific Successful Ageing Components. European Journal of Ageing, 1–15.
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2020
Thoma, M. V.* and Höltge, J.*, Eising, C. M., Pfluger, V., & Rohner, S. L. (2020). Resilience and stress in later life: A network analysis approach depicting complex interactions of resilience resources and stress-related risk factors in older adults. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 14, 216.
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2020
Thoma, M. V., Bernays, F., Eising, C. M., Pfluger, V., & Rohner, S. L. (2020). Health, stress, and well-being in Swiss adult survivors of child welfare practices and child labor: Investigating the mediating role of socio-economic factors. Child Abuse & Neglect, 104769.
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2020
Mc Gee, S. L., Carr, A., Maercker, A. & Thoma, M. V. (2020). “Some call it resilience": A profile of dynamic resilience-related factors in older adult survivors of childhood institutional adversity and maltreatment. Child Abuse & Neglect, 107, 104565.
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2020
Schreier, H. M. C., Kuras, Y. I., Mcinnis, C. M., Thoma, M. V., St Pierre, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Wang, D., Goldblatt, D., & Rohleder, N. (2020). Childhood Physical Neglect Is Associated with Exaggerated Systemic and Intracellular Inflammatory Responses to Repeated Psychosocial Stress in Adulthood. Frontiers in Psychiatry, section Molecular Psychiatry, 11, 504.
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2019
Maercker, A. & Thoma, M. V. (2019). Trauma und Demenz. In G.H. Seidler, H.J. Freyberger, H. Glaesmer, S.B. Gahleitner (Hrs.), Handbuch der Psychotraumatologie, Auflage 3. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart. ISBN 978-3-608-96258-1.
2019
Thoma, M. V., Höltge, J., & Maercker, A. (2019). Kindheitstraumatisierte im Alter – Lebenslektionen und Gesprächsthemen in der Psychotherapie. PiD-Psychotherapie im Dialog, 20(02), 66–69.
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2019
Höltge, J., Mc Gee, S. L., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2019). Steeling in later life: Exploring age-specific effects of varying levels of stress on psychological resilience. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 0(0), 1–17.
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2019
Thoma, M. V. & Mc Gee, S. L. (2019). Successful aging in individuals from less advantaged backgrounds and members of marginalized populations. Clinical Psychology in Europe, 1(3), 1–12.
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2019
Sabik, N., Geiger, A., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Rohleder, N., & Wolf, J. M. (2019). The effect of perceived appearance judgments on psychological and biological stress processes across adulthood. Stress & Health, 35(3), 318–329.
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2019
Thoma, M. V., Höltge, J., Mc Gee, S. L., Maercker, A., & Augsburger, M. (2019). Psychological Characteristics and Stress Differentiate between High from Low Health Trajectories in Later Life: A Machine Learning Analysis. Aging and Mental Health, 24(7), 1098–1107.
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2019
Kunzke, D., Thoma, M. V., & Joksimovic, L. (2019). Pharmako- und/oder Psychotherapie bei posttraumatischer Belastungsstörung. Psychotherapeut, 64, 306–321.
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2019
Fiksdal, A, Hanlin, L., Kuras, Y.I., Gianferante, D., Chen, X., Thoma, M. V., & Rohleder, N. (2019). Associations between symptoms of depression and anxiety and cortisol responses to and recovery from acute stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 102, 44–52.
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2018
Höltge, J., Mc Gee, S. L., Maercker, A. & Thoma, M. V. (2018). Childhood adversities and thriving skills: The sample case of older Swiss former indentured child laborers. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(8), 886–895.
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2018
Höltge, J., Mc Gee, S. L., & Thoma, M. V. (2018). The curvilinear relationship of early-life adversity and successful aging: The mediating role of mental health. Aging and Mental Health, 23(5), 608–617.
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2018
Höltge, J., Mc Gee, S.L., Maercker, A. & Thoma, M. V. (2018). A salutogenic perspective on adverse experiences: The curvilinear relationship of adversity and well-being. European Journal of Health Psychology, 25(2), 53–69.
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2018
Kleineidam, L.* and Thoma, M. V.*, Maercker, A., Bickel, H., Moesch, E., Hajek, A., König, H.-H., Eisele, M., Mallon, T., Luck, T., Roehr, S., Weyerer, S., Werle, J., Pentzek, M., Fuchs, A., Wiese, B., Mamone, S., Scherer, M., Maier, W., Riedel-Heller, S.* and Wagner, M.* (2018). What is Successful Aging? A Psychometric Validation Study of Different Definitions. The Gerontologist, 59(4), 738–748.
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2018
Mc Gee, S. L., Höltge, J., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2018). Sense of coherence and stress-related resilience: Investigating the mediating and moderating mechanisms in the development of resilience following stress or adversity. Frontiers Psychiatry, 9, 387.
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2018
Thoma, M. V., Mc Gee, S. L., Fegert, J. M., Glaesmer, H., Brähler, E., & Maercker, A. (2018). Evaluation of the Revised Sense of Coherence scale in a representative German sample. PLOS ONE, 13(12), e0209550.
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2018
Thoma, M. V., Forstmeier, S., Schmid, R., Keller, O., Xepapadakos, F., Schreiter Gasser, U., Blessing, A., Ropohl, A., Bieri-Brünig, G., Debeer, D., & Maercker, A. (2018). Preliminary evidence for an increased likelihood of a stable trajectory in mild cognitive impairment in individuals with higher motivational abilities. BMC Geriatrics, 18(1), 181.
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2018
Thoma, M. V., Mewes, R. & Nater, U. M. (2018). Preliminary evidence - The stress reducing effect of listening to water sounds depends on somatic complaints - a randomized trial. Medicine, 97(8), e9851.
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2017
Höltge, J., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2017). PTBS im Alter: Erkennen und Behandeln. Psychotherapie im Alter, 14 (4), 399-414. ISBN: 1613-2637
2017
Kuras, Y.I., Assaf, N., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Fiksdal, A. & Rohleder, N. (2017). Blunted diurnal cortisol activity in healthy adults with childhood adversity. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 574.
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2017
Mc Gee, S. L., Höltge, J., Maercker, A., & Thoma, M. V. (2017). Evaluation of the revised Sense of Coherence scale in a sample of older adults: A means to assess resilience aspects. Aging and Mental Health, 22(11), 1438–1447.
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2017
Thoma, M. V. (2017). Resilienz bei Schweizer Verdingkindern. Angewandte GERONTOLOGIE Appliquée, 2(2), 19–21.
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2017
Chen, X., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Fiksdal, A., Breines, J., Thoma, M. V. & Rohleder, N. (2017). HPA-Axis and Inflammatory Reactivity to Acute Stress is Related with Basal HPA-Axis Activity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 78, 168–176.
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2017
Kuras, Y. I., McInnis, C. M., Thoma, M. V., Chen, X., Hanlin, L., Gianferante, D. & Rohleder, N. (2017). Increased alpha-amylase response to an acute psychosocial stress challenge in healthy adults with childhood adversity. Developmental Psychobiology, 59(1), 91–98.
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2017
Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Fiksdal, A., Chen, X., & Rohleder, N. (2017). Stronger hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis habituation predicts lesser sensitization of inflammatory response to repeated acute stress exposures in healthy young adults. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 61, 228–235.
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2017
Maercker, A., Heim, E. M., Hecker, T., & Thoma, M. V. (2017). Soziale Unterstützung nach Traumatisierung. Nervenarzt, 88(1), 18–25.
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2016
Kueffer, A. L., Thoma, M. V. & Maercker, A. (2016). Transgenerational aspects of former Swiss child laborers: do subsequent generations suffer from their parent’s adverse experiences? European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 7(1), 30804.
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2016
Hofer, D., Thoma, M. V., Schmidlin, P. R., Attin, T., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2016). Pre-treatment anxiety in a dental hygiene recall population: a cross-sectional pilot study. BMC Oral Health, 16(1), 43.
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2016
Thoma, M. V., Maercker, A. & Forstmeier, S. (2016). Evidence for different trajectories of delay discounting in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild Alzheimer’s disease. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 72(6), 956–965.
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2015
Thoma, M. V., & Maercker, A. (2015). Psychologische Determinanten gesunden Alterns. Persönlichkeitsstörungen: Theorie und Therapie, 19(2), 106–115.
2015
McInnis, C., Wang, D., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Thoma, M. V. & Rohleder, N. (2015). Response and habituation of pro and anti-inflammatory gene expression to repeated acute stress. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 46, 237–248.
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2015
Breines, J.G., McInnis, C., Kuras, Y., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X. & Rohleder, N. (2015). Self-compassionate young adults show lower salivary alpha-amylase responses to repeated psychosocial stress. Self and Identity, 14(4).
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2015
Skoluda, N., Strahler, J., Schlotz, W., Niederberger, L., Marques, S., Fischer, S., Thoma, M. V., Spoerri, C., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2015). Intra-individual psychological and physiological responses to acute laboratory stressors of different intensity. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51.
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2014
Thoma, M. V., Zemp, M., Kreienbühl, L., Hofer, D., Schmidlin, P.R., Attin, T., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2014). Effects of music listening on pre-treatment anxiety and stress levels in a dental hygiene recall population. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine.
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2014
Gianferante, D., Thoma, M. V., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Breines, J.G., Zoccola, P.M. & Rohleder, N. (2014). Post-stress rumination predicts HPA axis responses to repeated acute stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 49, 244–252.
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2014
McInnis, C. M., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X., Breines, J. G., Hong, S. & Rohleder, N. (2014). Measures of adiposity predict interleukin-6 responses to repeated psychosocial stress. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 42, 33–40.
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2014
Breines, J. G., Thoma, M. V., Gianferante, D., Hanlin, L., Chen, X. & Rohleder, N. (2014). Self-compassion as a predictor of interleukin-6 response to acute psychosocial stress. Brain, Behavior and Immunity, 37, 109–114.
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2013
Thoma, M. V., La Marca, R., Brönnimann, R., Finkel, L., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2013). The effect of music on the human stress response. PLoS One, 8(8).
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2012
Thoma, M. V., Kirschbaum, C., Wolf, J. M., & Rohleder, N. (2012). Acute stress responses in salivary alpha-amylase predict increases of plasma norepinephrine. Biological Psychology, 91(3), 342–348.
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2012
Thoma, M. V., Joksimovic, L., Kirschbaum, C., Wolf, J. M., & Rohleder, N. (2012). Altered salivary alpha-amylase awakening response in Bosnian War refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37(6), 810–817.
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2011
Thoma, M. V., Scholz, U., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2011). Listening to music and physiological and psychological functioning: The mediating role of emotion regulation and stress reactivity. Psychological Health, 27(2), 227–241.
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2011
Thoma, M. V., Ryf, S., Ehlert, U. & Nater, U. M. (2011). Emotion regulation through listening to music in everyday situation. Cognition & Emotion, 26(3), 550–560.
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2010
Thoma, M. V. (2010). Psychobiological mechanisms of the effectiveness of music interventions. Cuvillier Verlag, Göttingen. ISBM 978-3869553627.