The Use of Testosterone/Cortisol Ratio in Response to Acute Stress as an Indicator of Propensity to Anger in Informal Caregivers

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ángel Romero-Martínez ◽  
Luis Moya-Albiol
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Informal Caregivers ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Salivary Testosterone ◽  
Chronic Disorder ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
Cortisol Ratio ◽  
Ratio Response

AbstractCaring for an offspring diagnosed with a psychological chronic disorder is used in research as a model of chronic stress. Indeed, it is usually associated with disturbances in the salivary cortisol (Csal) levels of the caregiver. An imbalance between salivary testosterone (Tsal) and Csal levels is a marker of proneness to social aggression. Given this, we aimed to establish whether the salivary testosterone/cortisol (Tsal/Csal) ratio response to acute stress could be employed as a marker of proneness to anger in informal caregivers of offspring with autism spectrum (ASD). Tsal/Csal ratio and anger responses to a set of different cognitive tasks as well as anger trait and expression were compared in these informal caregivers and controls. Caregivers, particularly those of offspring with ASD, had higher Tsal/Csal ratios than controls in response to acute stress, concretely after the stress in the case of fathers (p = .05) and before stress when analyzing mothers (p = .05). Moreover, ASD fathers and mothers obtained higher magnitude of the T/C ratio response to stress (p = .03 and p =.04, respectively), anger state (p = .02 and p = .02, respectively) and expression scores (p = .05 and p = .05, respectively) than controls. Finally, high Tsal/Csal ratio levels and response to stress were significantly associated with high anger feelings increases (p < .01 and p < .001, respectively), trait (p < .001 and p > .05, respectively) and expression (p < .05 and p > .05, respectively) in caregivers.

scholarly journals Exercise stress assessed by automated measurements of salivary testosterone and cortisol levels and testosterone/cortisol ratio within circadian rhythms in male long-distance runners

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larasati Martha ◽  
Katsuhiko Tsunekawa ◽  
Kazumi Ushiki ◽  
Yoshifumi Shoho ◽  
Yoshimaro Yanagawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Rhythms ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Exercise Stress ◽  
Distance Runners ◽  
Borg Scale ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Salivary Testosterone ◽  
Automated Measurements ◽  
Cortisol Ratio

Abstract Background: Exercise stress promoted cortisol and testosterone secretions that have their own circadian rhythms. It is necessary that the testosterone, cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C ratio) are measured through their rhythms for use in monitoring exercise-induced stress in athletes. Automated measurement has not been applied to salivary testosterone, which requires passive drooling difficult to collect sufficient saliva rapidly. This study aimed to verify whether automated measurements of the testosterone and cortisol concentrations and T/C ratio using saliva collected sequentially can effectively assess exercise intensity differences within circadian rhythms in male athletes.Methods: We investigated the correlations of testosterone and cortisol concentrations measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) between saliva and sera collected from 20 male long-distance runners. We collected the runners' saliva sequentially by passive drooling on two consecutive days involving different intensity trainings in the morning and evening; salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations were measured by ECLIA. Each exercise intensity was measured by running distances, velocities, Borg scale score and maximum pulse rate during exercise.Results: The salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations were positively correlated with the respective total serum hormone concentrations. The runners were divided into low-intensity exercise group (n = 8) and high-intensity exercise group (n = 7), in which five runners were excluded because measurable saliva samples could not be obtained due to low volume and high-viscosity. Sequential saliva collection and automated measurements detected the runners' circadian rhythms of testosterone, cortisol and T/C ratio. The rate of change in the salivary cortisol concentrations were significantly higher and that in the T/C ratio was significantly lower in the evening interval training on day 1 in the high-intensity exercise group which had significantly higher running velocity, Borg scale score, and maximum pulse rate values; this relationship was not shown for salivary testosterone.Conclusions: Automated measurements of the salivary cortisol concentration and the T/C ratio reflected different exercise intensities may be useful for creating appropriate exercise programs for athletes. Conversely, the automated measurements of salivary testosterone and T/C ratio, which require passive drooling to collect saliva, may be less suitable for practical use with athletes than the salivary cortisol-only measurement

Aerodynamic and Acoustic Voice Measures Before and After an Acute Public Speaking Stressor

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (10) ◽  
pp. 3311-3325
Author(s):  
Brittany L. Perrine ◽  
Ronald C. Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Public Speaking ◽  
Stress System ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Subglottal Pressure ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
System Activation ◽  
Speaking Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Pituitary Adrenal Axis

Purpose The goal of this study was to determine if differences in stress system activation lead to changes in speaking fundamental frequency, average oral airflow, and estimated subglottal pressure before and after an acute, psychosocial stressor. Method Eighteen vocally healthy adult females experienced the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to activate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. The TSST includes public speaking and performing mental arithmetic in front of an audience. At seven time points, three before the stressor and four after the stressor, the participants produced /pa/ repetitions, read the Rainbow Passage, and provided a saliva sample. Measures included (a) salivary cortisol level, (b) oral airflow, (c) estimated subglottal pressure, and (d) speaking fundamental frequency from the second sentence of the Rainbow Passage. Results Ten of the 18 participants experienced a hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis response to stress as indicated by a 2.5-nmol/L increase in salivary cortisol from before the TSST to after the TSST. Those who experienced a response to stress had a significantly higher speaking fundamental frequency before and immediately after the stressor than later after the stressor. No other variable varied significantly due to the stressor. Conclusions This study suggests that the idiosyncratic and inconsistent voice changes reported in the literature may be explained by differences in stress system activation. In addition, laryngeal aerodynamic measures appear resilient to changes due to acute stress. Further work is needed to examine the influence of other stress systems and if these findings hold for dysphonic individuals.

scholarly journals Job interview training targeting nonverbal communication using an android robot for individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Autism ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1586-1595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hirokazu Kumazaki ◽  
Taro Muramatsu ◽  
Yuichiro Yoshikawa ◽  
Blythe A Corbett ◽  
Yoshio Matsumoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Nonverbal Communication ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Job Interview ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Interview Training ◽  
Android Robot

Job interviews are significant barriers for individuals with autism spectrum disorder because these individuals lack good nonverbal communication skills. We developed a job interview training program using an android robot. The job interview training program using an android robot consists the following three stages: (1) tele-operating an android robot and conversing with others through the android robot, (2) a face-to-face mock job interview with the android robot, and (3) feedback based on the mock job interview and nonverbal communication exercises using the android robot. The participants were randomly assigned to the following two groups: one group received a combined intervention with “interview guidance by teachers and job interview training program using an android robot” ( n = 13), and the other group received an intervention with interview guidance by teachers alone ( n = 16). Before and after the intervention, the participants in both groups underwent a mock job interview with a human interviewer, who provided outcome measurements of nonverbal communication, self-confidence, and salivary cortisol. After the training sessions, the participants who received the combined interview guidance by teachers and the job interview training program using an android robot intervention displayed improved nonverbal communication skills and self-confidence and had significantly lower levels of salivary cortisol than the participants who only received interview guidance by teachers. The job interview training program using an android robot improved various measures of job interview skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

scholarly journals The Phenotypic Profile Associated With the FMR1 Premutation in Women: An Investigation of Clinical-Behavioral, Social-Cognitive, and Executive Abilities

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nell Maltman ◽  
Janna Guilfoyle ◽  
Kritika Nayar ◽  
Gary E. Martin ◽  
Molly Winston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Biological Motion ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Pragmatic Language ◽  
Cgg Repeat ◽  
Phenotypic Profile ◽  
Related Personality ◽  
Executive Abilities

The FMR1 gene in its premutation (PM) state has been linked to a range of clinical and subclinical phenotypes among FMR1 PM carriers, including some subclinical traits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study attempted to further characterize the phenotypic profile associated with the FMR1 PM by studying a battery of assessments examining clinical-behavioral traits, social-cognitive, and executive abilities in women carrying the FMR1 PM, and associations with FMR1-related variability. Participants included 152 female FMR1 PM carriers and 75 female controls who were similar in age and IQ, and screened for neuromotor impairments or signs of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. The phenotypic battery included assessments of ASD-related personality and language (i.e., pragmatic) traits, symptoms of anxiety and depression, four different social-cognitive tasks that tapped the ability to read internal states and emotions based on different cues (e.g., facial expressions, biological motion, and complex social scenes), and a measure of executive function. Results revealed a complex phenotypic profile among the PM carrier group, where subtle differences were observed in pragmatic language, executive function, and social-cognitive tasks that involved evaluating basic emotions and trustworthiness. The PM carrier group also showed elevated rates of ASD-related personality traits. In contrast, PM carriers performed similarly to controls on social-cognitive tasks that involved reliance on faces and biological motion. The PM group did not differ from controls on self-reported depression or anxiety symptoms. Using latent profile analysis, we observed three distinct subgroups of PM carriers who varied considerably in their performance across tasks. Among PM carriers, CGG repeat length was a significant predictor of pragmatic language violations. Results suggest a nuanced phenotypic profile characterized by subtle differences in select clinical-behavioral, social-cognitive, and executive abilities associated with the FMR1 PM in women.

scholarly journals The Impact of Cannabidiol on Human Brain Function: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Batalla ◽  
Julian Bos ◽  
Amber Postma ◽  
Matthijs G. Bossong
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Psychiatric Disorder ◽  
Human Brain ◽  
Healthy Volunteers ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cognitive Tasks ◽  
Therapeutic Effects

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that the non-intoxicating cannabinoid compound cannabidiol (CBD) may have antipsychotic and anxiolytic properties, and thus may be a promising new agent in the treatment of psychotic and anxiety disorders. However, the neurobiological substrates underlying the potential therapeutic effects of CBD are still unclear. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a detailed and up-to-date systematic literature overview of neuroimaging studies that investigated the acute impact of CBD on human brain function.Methods: Papers published until May 2020 were included from PubMed following a comprehensive search strategy and pre-determined set of criteria for article selection. We included studies that examined the effects of CBD on brain function of healthy volunteers and individuals diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, comprising both the effects of CBD alone as well as in direct comparison to those induced by ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of Cannabis.Results: One-ninety four studies were identified, of which 17 met inclusion criteria. All studies investigated the acute effects of CBD on brain function during resting state or in the context of cognitive tasks. In healthy volunteers, acute CBD enhanced fronto-striatal resting state connectivity, both compared to placebo and THC. Furthermore, CBD modulated brain activity and had opposite effects when compared to THC following task-specific patterns during various cognitive paradigms, such as emotional processing (fronto-temporal), verbal memory (fronto-striatal), response inhibition (fronto-limbic-striatal), and auditory/visual processing (temporo-occipital). In individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis and patients with established psychosis, acute CBD showed intermediate brain activity compared to placebo and healthy controls during cognitive task performance. CBD modulated resting limbic activity in subjects with anxiety and metabolite levels in patients with autism spectrum disorders.Conclusion: Neuroimaging studies have shown that acute CBD induces significant alterations in brain activity and connectivity patterns during resting state and performance of cognitive tasks in both healthy volunteers and patients with a psychiatric disorder. This included modulation of functional networks relevant for psychiatric disorders, possibly reflecting CBD’s therapeutic effects. Future studies should consider replication of findings and enlarge the inclusion of psychiatric patients, combining longer-term CBD treatment with neuroimaging assessments.

Fathers' Heightened Stress Responses to Recounting their NICU Experiences Months after Discharge: A Mixed Methods Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany J. Fronheiser ◽  
Saher Ali ◽  
Fumiyuki C. Gardner ◽  
Alexia C. Hozella ◽  
Gina M. Brelsford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Personal Narratives ◽  
Stress Induction ◽  
Stress Biomarkers ◽  
Stress Responsivity ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
And Coping

Objective The acute and traumatic events associated with having a newborn who requires admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may elicit long-term concerns for parents postdischarge. Cognitive processing of taxing events influences recurring stress responses, which can be inferred via biomarkers such as salivary cortisol (sCort) and skin conductance (SC). In addition, personal narratives provide an important insight into individual perceptions and coping strategies. The current pilot study aimed to (1) test the hypotheses that fathers' sCort and SC would peak in response to stress induction and decrease during recovery, (2) examine associations among stress biomarkers and stress perceptions, (3) explore fathers' narratives using thematic analysis, and (4) integrate fathers' narrative themes with their stress responsivity. Study Design Using a convergent mixed methods approach, we enrolled 10 fathers of infants formerly cared for in NICU who underwent a Trier Social Stress Test including recounting their NICU experience months postdischarge. Stress responsivity was measured via sCort and SC, while stress perceptions were identified by using the Perceived Stress Scale and Distress Thermometer-Parent. Personal narratives were explored by using thematic analysis. Results The significant rise in fathers' sCort and SC in response to stress induction was reflected in narrative themes including loss, worry, and role strain. Subsequently, fathers' sCort and SC returned to baseline, which was illustrated by themes such as role strength, coping, and medical staff interactions. Fathers' stress measured by PSS was lower than that required for mental health referral, and did not correlate with stress biomarkers. Conclusion Salivary cortisol and skin conductance are useful biomarkers of paternal stress responsivity and recovery. Thematic analysis identified fathers' NICU stressors and coping strategies that mirrored their stress responsivity patterns. Further studies are needed to more broadly examine the sociodemographic variables that influence stress reactivity and perceptions in parents of infants formerly cared for in NICU. Key Points

scholarly journals Cardiac and Locomotor Responses to Acute Stress in Signal Crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus Exposed to Methamphetamine at an Environmentally Relevant Concentration

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 2084
Author(s):  
Filip Ložek ◽  
Iryna Kuklina ◽  
Kateřina Grabicová ◽  
Jan Kubec ◽  
Miloš Buřič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Waters ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Concentration Level ◽  
Pacifastacus Leniusculus ◽  
Cardiac Response ◽  
Signal Crayfish ◽  
Nontarget Organisms ◽  
Central Nervous System Stimulant ◽  
Response To Stress

Methamphetamine (METH), a central nervous system stimulant used as a recreational drug, is frequently found in surface waters at potentially harmful concentrations. To determine effects of long-term exposure to environmentally relevant levels on nontarget organisms, we analysed cardiac and locomotor responses of signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus to acute stress during a 21-day exposure to METH at 1 μg L−1 followed by 14 days depuration. Heart rate and locomotion were recorded over a period of 30 min before and 30 min after exposure to haemolymph of an injured conspecific four times during METH exposure and four times during the depuration phase. Methamphetamine-exposed crayfish showed a weaker cardiac response to stress than was observed in controls during both exposure and depuration phases. Similarly, methamphetamine-exposed crayfish, during METH exposure, showed lower locomotor reaction poststressor application in contrast to controls. Results indicate biological alterations in crayfish exposed to METH at low concentration level, potentially resulting in a shift in interactions among organisms in natural environment.

scholarly journals A Combination of Magnesium, B Vitamins, Green Tea and Rhodiola Attenuates the Negative Effects of Acute Psychosocial Stress on Subjective State in Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1796-1796
Author(s):  
Louise Dye ◽  
Jac Billington ◽  
Clare Lawton ◽  
Neil Boyle
Keyword(s):  
Green Tea ◽  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Acute Stress ◽  
Stress Test ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
B Vitamins ◽  
Trier Social Stress Test ◽  
Protective Effects ◽  
Stress Exposure ◽  
Subjective Stress

Abstract Objectives Magnesium (Mg), and green tea and rhodiola extract supplementation have, in isolation, been shown to improve subjective stress perception and mood responses to acute stress. The combined capacity of these ingredients to confer protective effects during exposure to stress has yet to be evaluated. We tested the hypothesis that a combination of Mg (with B vitamins) + green tea + rhodiola would improve physiological and subjective responses to stress exposure in adults compared to placebo and Mg + B vitamins + green tea or rhodiola in isolation. Methods A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel group design was employed. 100 moderately stressed (DASS 13–25) adults (mean age = 25.07, SD = 0.65) received oral supplementation of either (i) Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola; (ii) Mg + B vitamins + rhodiola; (iii) Mg + B vitamins + green tea; or (iv) placebo. After supplementation participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test. Subjective stress (Stress and Arousal Checklist; SACL), mood (Profile of Mood States; POMS) and salivary cortisol responses were collected over 8 hours to ascertain the effects of supplementation on stress responsivity and recovery. Results Analyses demonstrated the superiority of the combined treatment vs the ingredients in isolation and placebo. The combined treatment significantly attenuated subjective stress (SACL), and tension and total mood disturbance (POMS) ratings after acute stress exposure (all P &lt; .05). Effects were found both during the peak stress response and recovery. The salivary cortisol response was unaffected by treatment. Conclusions A combination of Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola significantly alleviated subjective stress and mood responses to acute stress provocation. This preliminary evidence suggests the capacity of these ingredients in combination to confer protective effects under conditions of stress in adults. Funding Sources Sanofi Aventis.

Salivary cortisol as a marker of acute stress in dogs: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 106428 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Chmelíková ◽  
P. Bolechová ◽  
H. Chaloupková ◽  
I. Svobodová ◽  
M. Jovičić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Cortisol ◽  
Acute Stress
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