Neurohormonal changes in medical students during academic stress

Abstract

BACKGROUNDAcademic stress is a good model of psychological stress in humans and is thus useful for studying psychoneurohormonal changes. The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of academic examination stress on activation of the hypothalamus-autonomic nervous system (HANS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, through the measurements of changes in neuro-hormones during final exams as compared to the pre-exam baseline.MATERIALS AND METHODSForty-eight first- and second-year female medical students participated. Plasma leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), nitrite, nitrate, andrenomedullin, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured at baseline and during final examinations.RESULTSPlasma levels of cortisol, ACTH, NPY, adrenomedullin, nitrite and nitrate increased during times of academic stress as compared to baseline levels. However, only plasma leptin level was decreased during the academic stress as compared to baseline, probably through a negative feedback mechanism resulting from sympathetic stimulation. The results indicate that both the HANS and HPA are involved in this type of stress and both are activated at the same time.CONCLUSION: Academic stress induced significant neurohormonal changes. Leptin, NPY, nitrite, nitrate, adrenomedullin, cortisol and ACTH can be considered part of a complex mosaic model of the neuroendocrine system during academic stress.

Plasma mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin levels are inversely associated with anxiety but unrelated to depression: Results from the observational DIAST-CHF study in patients with cardiovascular risk factors

“…Stressors such as major surgery or academic stress in medical students resulted in significant neurohormonal changes including elevated levels of plasma ADM when compared to baseline levels (Fujioka, 2001;Al-Ayadhi, 2005). In military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, MR-proADM was a significant and independent predictor of mortality after adjustment for B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiovascular risk factors, and diseases such as cancer and sleep apnea (Xue et al, 2012).…”

Salivary VIP concentrations are elevated in humans after acute stress

“…The study monitored several hormones in medical students before and after an exam and the results were compared to hormone levels on a non-exam day. Noteworthy changes were in plasma cortisol, ACTH and NPY which were all elevated significantly after exam stress (Al-Ayadhi et al, 2005). Another study reports elevated cortisol levels the day prior to and on the day of a university written examination (Preuss et al, 2010).…”

“…Academic stress can be considered a good model of a natural stress situation in humans. A study by Al-Ayadhi et al (2005) suggests that exam stress is a good paradigm to study changes in neurohormones. The study monitored several hormones in medical students before and after an exam and the results were compared to hormone levels on a non-exam day.…”

Comparison of the Effects of Cytoprotective Drugs on Human Plasma Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol Levels with Continual Stress Exposure

“…18) The stress modulatory system is very complicated 19) and we do not know how the action of sulpiride on D 2 receptor blockage influences plasma cortisol level modulation. Further detailed studies are needed.…”