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

In the neurodevelopment of adolescent anorexia nervosa (AN), dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is proposed to be a central component. Furthermore, a therapeutic milieu focusing on affect regulation can contribute much to treatment, given the emotional processing difficulties associated with this disorder. Studies of HPA axis function following such specialist treatments for adolescent AN, however, are rare. This study describes the diurnal pattern of HPA axis activation, including the cortisol awakening response (CAR), in a 16-year-old female diagnosed with AN both during illness and at clinical recovery following milieu therapy with a focus on affect regulation. Specialised single-case study statistics were used to assess whether the patient's data were significantly different from the healthy “norm” at illness and recovery. During illness, her measure of affective problems was outside of the normal range and cortisol and DHEA secretory profiles were significantly elevated across the diurnal period. However, at recovery both her affective state and HPA axis function became comparable to healthy controls. This case study suggests that salivary markers of HPA axis function can be feasibly incorporated into the clinical regime within a specialist adolescent AN residential service and could be used by clinicians to monitor prognosis and interventions.

/pdf/recovery-from-adolescent-anorexia-nervosa-and-associations-1d6flktd2m.pdf

Recovery from Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa and Associations with Diurnal Patterns of Salivary Stress Hormones: A Case Report

Since validation in the late 1990s measurement of cortisol in saliva has revolutionised the study of human stress. Cortisol secretion is controlled by the brain and in addition to being a principal regulator of circadian rhythms, it is the body’s main stress hormone. The use of salivary measures has spawned an exponential growth in studies exploring individual differences in reactions to stress and consequent impact on health and circadian rhythms. Several key features have facilitated this work: saliva samples can be self-collected both within and outside of laboratory settings; stress-free repeated sampling enables examination of short-term changes in concentration. Researchers have utilised these advantages to measure relationships between stress and health and have explored an astonishingly wide array of research questions that have shone a torch on how the way we feel affects our physical and mental health and well-being. In this chapter, we explore the main approaches to using salivary cortisol in human stress research both within the laboratory and in the domestic setting. We highlight crucial methodological considerations when measuring basal diurnal cortisol patterns as well as stress reactivity. Key findings from this body of work will be summarised as well as exciting potential future directions discussed.

Angela Clow

Papers

Recovery from Adolescent Anorexia Nervosa and Associations with Diurnal Patterns of Salivary Stress Hormones: A Case Report

Salivary Bioscience, Human Stress and the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis

Long-term effects of pergolide and (-)-deprenyl on 3H-mazindol and 3H-spiperone binding in rat brain.

Regional and molecular separation of the four bioactivities of 'tribulin'.

Endogenous Urinary Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor: The Benzodiazepine Connection