Serum Cortisol Response to Incremental Work in Experienced and Naive Subjects

Davis, H.A.; Gass, G. C.; Bassett, J.R.

doi:10.1097/00006842-198104000-00004

Cited by 40 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Both ACTH and cortisol were elevated during first laboratory experience (accommodation), relative to exposure, even though distress was much lower during accommodation. HPA reactivity to novelty, and adaptation with repeated experience, is seen in both healthy and specific phobia participants (Curtis et al, 1976; Davis et al, 1981; Peters et al, 2011). Notably, in this and other data (e.g., Curtis et al, 1976), novelty effects were more striking than HPA responses to the more emotionally distressing fear exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Subsequent work has confirmed that contextual factors like novelty/familiarity, lack of or access to control or coping responses, and availability of social support are more closely linked to HPA axis activation or moderation than subjective distress per se. For example, novelty robustly activates and familiarity reduces cortisol release in animals (Hennessy et al, 1995) as well as humans (Davis et al, 1981; Peters et al, 2011). Lack of stressor controllability and social evaluative threat are potent and reliable activators of human HPA axis activity (Dickerson and Kemeny, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The psychology of HPA axis activation: Examining subjective emotional distress and control in a phobic fear exposure model

Mayer

Snodgrass

Liberzon

et al. 2017

Psychoneuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The HPA axis plays a key role in mediating the effects of “stress” on health, but clarifying mechanisms requires an understanding of psycho-biological linkages. There has long been an implicit assumption that subjective emotional distress (e.g., fear) should activate the HPA axis. Although this assumption was challenged 25 years ago (Curtis, 1976), laboratory studies in humans are limited. In this study we sought to replicate Curtis` findings and extend it by investigating if presence or absence of stressor control shapes HPA axis reactivity in a phobic fear exposure model. We recruited 19–45-year-old specific phobia participants (n = 32 spider/snake phobia; n = 14 claustrophobia) and gradually exposed them to their feared object or situation while measuring hormonal (ACTH and cortisol) and subjective (emotional distress, perceived control) responses. Utilizing a dyadic yoked design, we compared HPA reactivity when the pace of exposure was controlled by participants to identical exposure given to matched participants in the absence of control. Results showed that phobic fear exposure generated intense emotional distress without a corresponding increase in HPA axis activity. Although our actual manipulation of control failed to impact HPA responses, perceived control during exposure was associated with lower cortisol, an effect that was moderated by actual availability of stressor control. Our findings replicate Curtis` findings and challenge the still common but unsupported assumption that HPA axis activity reflects subjective distress. These results also highlight the importance of both perceived and actual aspects of stressor control in understanding what is truly “stressful” to the HPA axis system.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The psychology of HPA axis activation: Examining subjective emotional distress and control in a phobic fear exposure model

Mayer

Snodgrass

Liberzon

et al. 2017

Psychoneuroendocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Secondly, physical activity stimulates cortisol release. Davis et al [101] investigated 'exercise to exhaustion' on a laboratory cycling machine. The cortisol levels rose significantly after exercise, with experienced athletes showing a 78% increase in cortisol and normal volunteers demonstrating a 138% increase in cortisol (note: the acute cortisol release may explain why physical activity and sports are inherently pleasurable).…”

Section: Cortisol and The Bioenergetic Stress Model Of Mdmamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cortisol and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Neurohormonal Aspects of Bioenergetic Stress in Ecstasy Users

Parrott¹

2009

Neuropsychobiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aims: 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) can affect both neurotransmitter and neurohormonal activity. This review will debate the role of the metabolic activation hormone cortisol for the psychobiological effects of ecstasy/MDMA. Methods: The empirical literature on cortisol release following acute MDMA administration and cortisol functioning in drug-free recreational ecstasy/MDMA users will be reviewed. This will be followed by an overview of cortisol as a bioenergetic stress neurohormone, and a debate on how it could be modulating the acute and chronic psychobiological effects of MDMA. Results: Cortisol release is increased by stimulatory factors, including physical activity, thermal stress and stimulant drugs. In laboratory studies MDMA leads to an acute cortisol increase of around 150% in sedentary humans. In MDMA-using dance clubbers, the cortisol levels are increased by around 800%, possibly due to the combined factors of stimulant drug, physical exertion and psychosocial stimulation. Regular ecstasy/MDMA users also demonstrate changes in baseline cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity, with compromised hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity. Nonpharmacological research has shown how cortisol is important for psychological aspects such as memory, cognition, sleep, impulsivity, depression and neuronal damage. These same functions are often impaired in recreational ecstasy/MDMA users, and cortisol may be an important modulatory co-factor. Conclusions: The energizing hormone cortisol is involved in the psychobiology of MDMA, probably via its effects on energy metabolism. Acute cortisol release may potentiate the stimulating effects of MDMA in dance clubbers. Chronically, cortisol may contribute to the variance in functional and structural consequences of repeated ecstasy usage.

show abstract

“…6,14 A "positive outcome expectancy" based on acquired control over a potential threat is the most reliable way to reduce neuroendocrine stress responses. 6 Prior exposure (reduced novelty), 15,16 access to "help" (social support), 17 and past experience suggesting that a challenge can be mastered (control) 18 may all reduce HPA axis activation by enhancing positive outcome expectancies (coping). 6,19 Training in stress management or coping can in fact reduce HPA responses to acute challenge in humans, 20 suggesting that we can perhaps develop specific, teachable techniques to actively ameliorate the detrimental health effects of stress.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Modulation of the Endocrine Stress Response to a Pharmacological Challenge in Normal and Panic Disorder Subjects

Abelson¹,

Liberzon²,

Young³

et al. 2005

Arch Gen Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context:The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis may mediate the deleterious effects of stress on health. It is sensitive to cognitive and emotional aspects of organism-environment interactions, such as familiarity, control, and social support. Scientific study of how such factors moderate human HPA axis activity has been limited. Their relevance to HPA axis disturbances in psychiatric patients is largely unexplored.Objective: To determine whether cognitive manipulation can alter HPA axis activity in laboratory studies and whether patients with panic disorder are differentially sensitive to the manipulated factors.

show abstract

Serum Cortisol Response to Incremental Work in Experienced and Naive Subjects

Cited by 40 publications

References 0 publications

The psychology of HPA axis activation: Examining subjective emotional distress and control in a phobic fear exposure model

The psychology of HPA axis activation: Examining subjective emotional distress and control in a phobic fear exposure model

Cortisol and 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine: Neurohormonal Aspects of Bioenergetic Stress in Ecstasy Users

Cognitive Modulation of the Endocrine Stress Response to a Pharmacological Challenge in Normal and Panic Disorder Subjects

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About