The Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST): Physiological and Subjective Responses in Anticipation, and Post-stress

No existe consenso sobre el patrón de liberación de cortisol y su relación con la ansiedad subjetiva en situaciones de estrés en población con ansiedad social. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la respuesta de cortisol y ansiedad subjetiva en individuos con ansiedad social sometidos a un estresor psicosocial agudo. 26 universitarios (58.6% hombres), edad media = 21.62 ± 0.43, fueron expuestos a la versión estrés o control del Maastricht Acute Stress Test. El cortisol salival y la ansiedad subjetiva fueron medidos antes, durante y post-estrés. Los participantes mostraron un incremento en los niveles de cortisol durante las fases de estrés y post-estrés, con una respuesta significativamente mayor en aquellos con ansiedad social. Los participantes con alta ansiedad social mostraron, a nivel muestral, mayores niveles de ansiedad subjetiva, especialmente post-estrés. Sólo en la fase de estrés, el cortisol y la ansiedad subjetiva correlacionaron significativamente en los participantes socialmente ansiosos. Los hallazgos apoyan una hiperresponsividad de cortisol en población no clínica y joven con alta ansiedad social. Futuras investigaciones deberían estudiar los factores involucrados y efectos de esta respuesta fisiológica en la salud. Asimismo, se resalta la necesidad de controlar la ansiedad social en experimentos que utilicen un estresor psicosocial de laboratorio. There is no consensus about the pattern of cortisol release and its relationship with subjective anxiety in situations of stress in the population with social anxiety. Our aim was to determine the cortisol and subjective anxiety response in individuals with social anxiety subjected to an acute psychosocial stressor. 26 college students (58.6% males), mean age = 21.62 ± 0.43, were exposed to the stress or control adaptation of the Maastricht Acute Stress Test. Salivary cortisol and subjective anxiety were measured before, during, and after stress. Participants showed an increase in cortisol levels during the stress and post-stress phases, with a significantly higher response in those with high social anxiety. Participants with high social anxiety also showed, as a tendency, higher levels of subjective anxiety, especially in the post-stress phase. Only in the stress phase, cortisol and subjective anxiety correlated significantly in socially anxious participants. The findings support a cortisol hyperresponsiveness in a young, non-clinical population with high social anxiety. Future research should focus on the factors involved and the effects of this physiological response on health. Furthermore, the need to control social anxiety in experiments using a laboratory psychosocial stressor is highlighted.

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An intervention study on the effectiveness of an anti-stress-app on psychophysiological acute and chronic stress (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.11647 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Franziska Lautenbach

Keyword(s):

Chronic Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Physiological Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Trier Social Stress Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Subjective Perception ◽

Face To Face ◽

Acute And Chronic Stress

BACKGROUND Dealing with stress is of central importance. Lately, smartphone applications (apps) are deployed in stress interventions as they offer maximal flexibility for users. First results of experimental studies show that anti-stress apps effect subjective perception of stress positively (Ly et al., 2014). However, current literature lacks studies on physiological stress reactions (e.g., cortisol), although they are of special interest to health issues. OBJECTIVE Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of an anti-stress app in chronic and acute stress reduction on a physiological (cortisol) and psychological level (subjective perception of stress) in comparison to a face-to-face and a control group in a pre-post design, for the first time. METHODS Sixty-two participants took part in the pretesting procedure (drop-out of 53 %). Based on age, gender, physical activity and subjectively perceived acute stress due to the Trier Social Stress Test for groups (TSST-G; von Dawans et al., 2011) as well as based on subjectively chronic stress assessed during the pretest, participants were parallelized in three groups (anti-stress-app: n = 10, face-to-face: n = 11, control group: n = 9). RESULTS After six weeks of the cognitive-based resource-oriented intervention, participants were exposed to the TSST-G for post testing. Results did not show a change of cortisol secretion or cognitive appraisal of the acute stressor. Further, no changes were detected in the chronic physiological stress reaction. CONCLUSIONS Possible causes are discussed extensively. CLINICALTRIAL no

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Salivary Proteome Changes in Response to Acute Psychological Stress Due to an Oral Exam Simulation in University Students: Effect of an Olfactory Stimulus

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22094295 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. 4295

Author(s):

Lorenzo Zallocco ◽

Laura Giusti ◽

Maurizio Ronci ◽

Andrea Mussini ◽

Marco Trerotola ◽

...

Keyword(s):

University Students ◽

Psychological Stress ◽

Social Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Olfactory Stimulus ◽

Oral Exam ◽

Relaxation Phase ◽

Pleasant Odor ◽

Proteome Changes

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a crucial role both in acute and chronic psychological stress eliciting changes in many local and systemic physiological and biochemical processes. Salivary secretion is also regulated by ANS. In this study, we explored salivary proteome changes produced in thirty-eight University students by a test stress, which simulated an oral exam. Students underwent a relaxation phase followed by the stress test during which an electrocardiogram was recorded. To evaluate the effect of an olfactory stimulus, half of the students were exposed to a pleasant odor diffused in the room throughout the whole session. Saliva samples were collected after the relaxation phase (T0) and the stress test (T1). State anxiety was also evaluated at T0 and T1. Salivary proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis, and patterns at different times were compared. Spots differentially expressed were trypsin digested and identified by mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to validate proteomic results. Anxiety scores and heart rate changes indicated that the fake exam induced anxiety. Significant changes of α-amylase, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), and immunoglobulin α chain (IGHA) secretion were observed after the stress test was performed in the two conditions. Moreover, the presence of pleasant odor reduced the acute social stress affecting salivary proteome changes. Therefore, saliva proteomic analysis was a useful approach to evaluate the rapid responses associated to an acute stress test also highlighting known biomarkers.

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Effects of Open-Label Placebos on State Anxiety and Glucocorticoid Stress Responses

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11040508 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 508

Author(s):

Michael Schaefer ◽

Julian Hellmann-Regen ◽

Sören Enge

Keyword(s):

Stress Responses ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Self Report ◽

Control Group ◽

Relaxation Techniques ◽

Open Label ◽

Before And After ◽

Cortisol Responses ◽

Negative Feelings

Stress belongs to the most frequent negative feelings people are confronted with in daily life. Strategies against acute stress include, e.g., relaxation techniques or medications, but it is also known that placebos can successfully reduce negative emotional stress. While it is widely held that placebos require deception to provoke a response, recent studies demonstrate intriguing evidence that placebos may work even without concealment (e.g., against anxiety or pain). Most of these studies are based on self-report questionnaires and do not include physiological measures. Here we report results of a study examining whether placebos without deception reduce acute stress. A total of 53 healthy individuals received either placebos without deception or no pills before participating in a laboratory stress test (Maastricht Acute Stress Test, MAST). We recorded self-report stress measures and cortisol responses before and after the MAST. Results showed no significant differences between the placebo and the control group, but when comparing participants with high relative to low beliefs in the power of placebos we found significant lower anxiety and cortisol responses for the placebo believers. These results show that non-deceptive placebos may successfully reduce acute anxiety and stress, but only in participants who had a strong belief in placebos. We discuss the results by suggesting that open-label placebos might be a possible treatment to reduce stress at least for some individuals.

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Post-stress rumination predicts HPA axis responses to repeated acute stress

Psychoneuroendocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.07.021 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 244-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Danielle Gianferante ◽

Myriam V. Thoma ◽

Luke Hanlin ◽

Xuejie Chen ◽

Juliana G. Breines ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hpa Axis ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Post Stress

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Binary symbolic dynamics analysis to detect stress-associated changes of nonstationary heart rate variability

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-72034-2 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Conrad Spellenberg ◽

Peter Heusser ◽

Arndt Büssing ◽

Andreas Savelsbergh ◽

Dirk Cysarz

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Psychological Stress ◽

Symbolic Dynamics ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Autonomic Regulation ◽

Rr Interval ◽

Cardiac Autonomic Regulation ◽

Acute Psychological Stress

Abstract Psychological stress may have harmful physiological effects and result in deteriorating health. Acute psychological stress acts also on cardiac autonomic regulation and may lead to nonstationarities in the interbeat interval series. We address the requirement of stationary RR interval series to calculate frequency domain parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and use binary symbolic dynamics derived from RR interval differences to overcome this obstacle. 24 healthy subjects (12 female, 20–35 years) completed the following procedure: waiting period, Trier Social Stress Test to induce acute psychological stress, recovery period. An electrocardiogram was recorded throughout the procedure and HRV parameters were calculated for nine 5-min periods. Nonstationarities in RR interval series were present in all periods. During acute stress the average RR interval and SDNN decreased compared to rest before and after the stress test. Neither low frequency oscillations (LF), high frequency oscillations (HF) nor LF/HF could unambiguously reflect changes during acute stress in comparison to rest. Pattern categories derived from binary symbolic dynamics clearly identified acute stress and accompanying alterations of cardiac autonomic regulation. Methods based on RR interval differences like binary symbolic dynamics should be preferred to overcome issues related to nonstationarities.

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The impact of chronic stress and eating types on active ghrelin levels in response to acute stress

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1017/s0029665120004413 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽

Author(s):

Christine Fahrngruber ◽

Kalina Duszka ◽

Jürgen König

Keyword(s):

Chronic Stress ◽

Eating Behavior ◽

Social Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Trier Social Stress Test ◽

Relaxation Techniques ◽

Stress Exposure ◽

The Impact

AbstractChronic stress is associated with impacting eating behavior, namely food choice and energy intake, with a shift towards more palatable and energy dense foods. Additionally, eating behavior is influenced by other psychological factors like mood and emotions. The categorization of people into eating types such as restrained, emotional, and external eaters has gained attraction. Reported changes in eating behavior due to psychological stress are only occasionally accompanied by measures of physiological hunger through ghrelin. The primary objective of this study was to investigate how chronic stress and acute cortisol reactivity affect active ghrelin secretion and how these outcomes account for different eating types. 16 healthy, young males (age: 23 ± 3 years, BMI: 22.5 ± 1.3kg/m2) with low (n = 8) and average-to-high (n = 8) chronic stress level were subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and a control version on two separate days. Active ghrelin, cortisol, glucose, and heart rate were measured throughout the test. Subjects rated their hunger by means of visual analog scale and current mood was assessed with the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS). In addition, participants filled out the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) to account for their subjective eating behavior. Overall ghrelin values where higher on the test day compared to the control day. Ghrelin values were also higher during the time leading up to the stress or control test (TSST) than during the conclusion of said tests. On both days, mean values for active ghrelin where higher in individuals with low chronic stress exposure compare to those with average-to-high chronic stress exposure. While values from test to control day decreased for lower stressed participants, they slightly increased for higher stressed participants. Cortisol responders displayed higher ghrelin values on test day than cortisol non-responders, but this association inverted for the control day. Results indicate that chronic stress influences acute stress response and further alters active ghrelin production, which in turn can influence eating behavior. Replication in a greater group of participants of differing weight and sex could yield a greater understanding of stress induced eating. Factors such as relaxation techniques and coping mechanisms could further improve our knowledge and evaluate treatment possibilities.

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

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa067_023 ◽

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 < .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.

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The effects of exercise training on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and autonomic response to acute stress—a randomized controlled study

Trials ◽

10.1186/s13063-020-04803-3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elin Arvidson ◽

Anna Sjörs Dahlman ◽

Mats Börjesson ◽

Lennart Gullstrand ◽

Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir

Keyword(s):

Exercise Training ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Psychosocial Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Acute Psychosocial Stress

Abstract Background Exercise training is suggested to have a stress-buffering effect on physiological reactions to acute stress. The so-called cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis is one of many theories behind the plausible effects, proposing that the attenuated physiological reaction seen in trained individuals in response to acute exercise is also seen when the individual is exposed to acute psychosocial stress. However, few randomized controlled trials (RCT) are available in this field. Therefore, the aim of the present trial was to study the effects of a 6-month aerobic exercise intervention on the physiological response to acute laboratory stress. Methods A two-armed RCT including untrained but healthy individuals aged 20–50 years was conducted. Assessments included a peak oxygen uptake test and a psychosocial stress test (the Trier Social Stress Test). A total of 88 participants went through both baseline and follow-up measures (48 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group) with a similar proportion of women and men (20 women and 28 men in the intervention group and 18 women and 22 men in the control group). Outcome measures were adrenocorticotrophic hormone, cortisol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate responses to acute psychosocial stress. Results Oxygen uptake and time-to-exhaustion increased significantly following the intervention, while a decrease was seen in the control group. The analyses showed attenuated responses to acute psychosocial stress for all variables in both groups at follow-up, with no differences between the groups. No correlation was seen between amount of exercise training and reactivity to the stress test. Despite the increased oxygen uptake in the intervention group, no differences were seen between the groups for any of the outcome variables at follow-up. Conclusions In this study, the cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis could not be confirmed. Both groups showed decreased reactions indicating a habituation to the stress test. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02051127. Registered on 31 January 2014—retrospectively registered.

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Does Psychosocial Stress Impact Cognitive Reappraisal? Behavioral and Neural Evidence

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn_a_01157 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (11) ◽

pp. 1803-1816 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Maheen Shermohammed ◽

Pranjal H. Mehta ◽

Joan Zhang ◽

Cassandra M. Brandes ◽

Luke J. Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Psychosocial Stress ◽

Social Stress ◽

Acute Stress ◽

Stress Test ◽

Cognitive Reappraisal ◽

Self Report ◽

Trier Social Stress Test ◽

Control Group ◽

Stress Group

Cognitive reappraisal (CR) is regarded as an effective emotion regulation strategy. Acute stress, however, is believed to impair the functioning of prefrontal-based neural systems, which could result in lessened effectiveness of CR under stress. This study tested the behavioral and neurobiological impact of acute stress on CR. While undergoing fMRI, adult participants ( n = 54) passively viewed or used CR to regulate their response to negative and neutral pictures and provided ratings of their negative affect in response to each picture. Half of the participants experienced an fMRI-adapted acute psychosocial stress manipulation similar to the Trier Social Stress Test, and a control group received parallel manipulations without the stressful components. Relative to the control group, the stress group exhibited heightened stress as indexed by self-report, heart rate, and salivary cortisol throughout the scan. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found that reappraisal success was equivalent in the control and stress groups, as was electrodermal response to the pictures. Heart rate deceleration, a physiological response typically evoked by aversive pictures, was blunted in response to negative pictures and heightened in response to neutral pictures in the stress group. In the brain, we found weak evidence of stress-induced increases of reappraisal-related activity in parts of the PFC and left amygdala, but these relationships were statistically fragile. Together, these findings suggest that both the self-reported and neural effects of CR may be robust to at least moderate levels of stress, informing theoretical models of stress effects on cognition and emotion.

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