Reduced Glucocorticoid Sensitivity of Monocyte Interleukin-6 Production in Male Industrial Employees who are Vitally Exhausted

Abstract

In highly exhausted individuals, glucocorticoids exert less suppressive action on monocyte IL-6 release than in nonexhausted subjects. This finding points to altered regulation of monocyte cytokine production as one possible pathway linking exhaustion with atherosclerosis.

Higher overcommitment to work is associated with lower norepinephrine secretion before and after acute psychosocial stress in men

“…As a potential consequence, the stress response is no longer hightened but lowered. Such lowered stress reactivity may result from alterations in tissue sensitivity to stress hormones (Bamberger et al, 1996;Wirtz et al, 2003). For example, excess stress hormone availability can lead to regulatory receptor downregulation in order to keep homeostasis of the interior milieu (Lefkowitz et al, 1984;Burnstein et al, 1991;Wirtz, 2002).…”

“…Recruitment was carried out through advertisement of the study on pin boards at the University of Zurich and by members of the research team who accompanied the mobile blood donation units of the Swiss Cross of the State of Zurich. We intentionally recruited nonsmoking middle-aged men who were in excellent physical and mental health confirmed by an extensive health questionnaire (Wirtz et al, 2003) and telephone interview. Specific exclusion criteria, obtained by subjects' self-report, were: regular strenuous exercise, alcohol and illicit drug abuse; any heart disease, varicosis or thrombotic diseases, elevated blood sugar and diabetes, elevated cholesterol, liver and renal diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, allergies and atopic diathesis, rheumatic diseases, and current infectious diseases.…”

“…Vital exhaustion was assessed by the German version of the Shortened Maastricht Exhaustion Questionnaire (MEQ-s) (Wirtz et al, 2003). We assessed perfectionism by measuring "concern over mistakes and doubts" (CMD, 13 Items on 5-point rating scales for each item, minimum score = 13, maximum score = 65) of the German Version of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS-d, (Frost et al, 1990;Stöber, 1998;Wirtz et al, 2007)).…”

“…According to the concept of vital exhaustion (Appels, 1997), it might be assumed that prolonged stress first leads to heightened hormonal responsiveness. Later, chronic elevations of hormones overtax an exhausted system which then might respond to this load by down-regulating the sensitivity of target tissues (Wirtz, 2002;Wirtz et al, 2003). As a result, reduced rather than increased responsiveness following stressful experience might occur in overcommitted persons.…”

Psychoendocrine validation of a short measure for assessment of perceived stress management skills in different non-clinical populations

“…Vital exhaustion (VE) is a psychological state characterized by mental fatigue, increased irritability, and demoralization. VE was assessed by the German version of the nine item short form of the Maastricht Exhaustion Questionnaire (Kopp et al, 1998;Wirtz et al, 2003;Kudielka et al, 2004b). In detail, the nine items ask about undue tiredness, troubles falling asleep, repeated waking up at night, general malaise, listlessness, irritability, loss of energy, demoralization, and waking up exhausted.…”