This meta-analysis reviews 208 laboratory studies of acute psychological stressors and tests a theoretical model delineating conditions capable of eliciting cortisol responses. Psychological stressors increased cortisol levels; however, effects varied widely across tasks. Consistent with the theoretical model, motivated performance tasks elicited cortisol responses if they were uncontrollable or characterized by social-evaluative threat (task performance could be negatively judged by others), when methodological factors and other stressor characteristics were controlled for. Tasks containing both uncontrollable and social-evaluative elements were associated with the largest cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone changes and the longest times to recovery. These findings are consistent with the animal literature on the physiological effects of uncontrollable social threat and contradict the belief that cortisol is responsive to all types of stressors.

http://anthro.vancouver.wsu.edu/media/Course_files/anth-260-edward-h-hagen/acute-stressors-and-cortisol-responses-a-theoretical-integration-and-synthesis-of-laboratory-research-1.pdf

Acute stressors and cortisol responses: a theoretical integration and synthesis of laboratory research.

https://bic.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/Rossi_09_TMS%20safety%20review.pdf

Safety, ethical considerations, and application guidelines for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation in clinical practice and research

The detection of psychiatric illness by questionnaire

http://www.smhc.org.cn/uploadfiles/2014/09/20140929090442442.pdf

A Meta-Analysis of Cytokines in Major Depression

Emotion and Adaptation

Neuroimmune relationships in perspective. Sympathetic nervous system interaction with the immune system. Mechanisms by which cytokines signal the brain. Neuropeptides: Modulators of immune response in health and disease. Brain-immune interactions in sleep. Neuroendocrinology of autoimmunity. Systemic stress-induced Th2 shift and its clinical implication. Neural control of salivary IgA secretion. Stress and secretory immunity. Cytokines and depression. Immunity and schizophrenia - autoimmunity, cytokines and immune responses. Cerebral lateralization and the immune system. Behavioural conditioning of the immune system. Psychological and neuroendocrine correlates of disease progression. The role of psychological intervention in modulating aspects of immune function in relation to health and well being.

Neurobiology of the immune system

The cortisol awakening response predicts a same-day index of executive function in healthy young adults

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multifactorial complex disorder associated with motor signs as well as diverse nonmotor symptoms such as circadian disruption, depression, and cognitive decline. Dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, evidenced by hypersecretion of cortisol, is implicated in such nonmotor symptoms, and elevated levels of cortisol have been documented in PD, especially in the morning. Participation in physical activity may reduce the risk and rate of progression of PD, and endurance exercise may reduce the rate at which the signs of PD progress. Because physical fitness and long-term physical activity are associated with attenuated cortisol secretion in healthy participants, we undertook a feasibility study to examine the effects of high-intensity endurance exercise on diurnal salivary cortisol secretion (as well asmeasures of cognition, structural and functional brain imaging, and blood-derived biomarkers) in patients with PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI). We predicted that 6 months of high-intensity endurance treadmill exercise would generate a measurable decrease in salivary cortisol secretion from baseline levels. Following ethical approval, 8 patients with PD-MCI (5 men), as determined by clinical and cognitive assessment (mean Montreal Cognitive Assessment, 23.75 2.2), who were not exercising at high intensity participated in this study. Mean SD age of the participants was 66.0 8.0 years (range, 53-79 years); on initial diagnosis mean SD disease duration was 5.6 5.4 years (range, 1-13 years); and Hoehn and Yahr stage was 2 0.5 (range, 1-3). Using best practice guidelines (1-1 instruction; written guidelines; electronic monitoring of awakening and saliva sampling collection times), participants collected saliva samples at home on 2 typical consecutive weekdays before and after the intervention. Samples were collected during a postawakening period (0, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 hours after awakening) and a daytime period (3, 6, 9, and 12 hours after awakening) and were assayed in duplicate (Salimetrics, intraand interassay variations < 10%). The intervention involved 6 months of high-intensity treadmill exercise and included 5-10 minutes of warm-up, 30 minutes of exercise at 80%-85% maximum heart rate, followed by 5-10 minutes of cooldown. Participants exercised an average of 2.5 days per week (average number of sessions completed, 75 7). During the first 8 weeks of training, exercise duration and intensity were gradually increased to target levels. Distribution of cortisol data was normalized by square root transformation (raw data illustrated). Multilevel modeling compared 2 days preversus 2 days postintervention. Mean wake time was 6 hours 3 minutes 1 hour 20 minutes, and adherence to protocol was excellent (modal time of first sample, 3 minutes postawakening, and reported effects were consistent with nonadherent samples omitted). A trend for reduced cortisol secretion as averaged across all times was observed with a 19% reduction (P = 0.07); this reached statistical significance for the postawakening period (P = 0.02), but not for the daytime period (P = 0.14). Cortisol secretion in participants with PD postintervention more closely resembled healthy reference data postintervention (Fig. 1). These data support the need for further exploration of HPA axis dysregulation in PD, including its nonmotor symptoms, to understand not only its potential role in the mechanisms underlying nonmotor symptoms of PD, but also its responsiveness to intervention studies such as physical exercise that can improve nonmotor symptoms.

/pdf/endurance-exercise-reduces-cortisol-in-parkinson-s-disease-3b0ykan02h.pdf

Endurance exercise reduces cortisol in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment

The biological impact of living with chronic breathlessness - a role for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?

Purpose – This paper's aim is to explore older peoples' decision making regarding complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and their perceptions and experiences of well‐being.Design/methodology/approach – Qualitative focus groups with 37 volunteers aged over 61 years exploring health and well‐being decision making were held at a community centre in southwest London. Data were content analysed.Findings – Five themes emerged: physical well‐being, impact on activity, emotional issues, community and health services, and keeping positive. A range of CAM was used, most commonly mind/body or physical therapies. The main reason for CAM use was to “keep going” and maintain well‐being. Conventional medicine was perceived as central to well‐being, with CAM used to address its limitations. Decision making was rarely systematic; anecdotal information dominated, and disclosure to conventional practitioners was uncommon. “Keeping going” is important for older people and often promoted by CAM, including manipulat...

/pdf/it-keeps-me-going-older-people-s-perception-of-well-being-11l2mfrv0a.pdf

Angela Clow

Papers

Neurobiology of the immune system

The cortisol awakening response predicts a same-day index of executive function in healthy young adults

Endurance exercise reduces cortisol in Parkinson's disease with mild cognitive impairment

The biological impact of living with chronic breathlessness - a role for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis?

“It keeps me going” – older people's perception of well‐being and use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)