ACTH and beta-endorphin responses to physical exercise in adolescent women tested for anxiety and frustration.
Thirty healthy adolescent women (age: 14 years), high school students without clinical signs of psychiatric or major affective disorders, received psychological and endocrinological examinations. Two psychological tests were used: the Anxiety Score Test for Adolescents and the Pictures Frustration Test for Adolescents of Rosenzweig. On the basis of the results of these tests, subjects were divided into two groups: A (n = 21), normal subjects; B (n = 9), subjects with evidence of anxiety (n = 1), frustration (n = 1), or both (n = 7). Plasma levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and beta-endorphin were measured under basal conditions and after physical exercise (Step Test) in all subjects. Hormonal responses in groups A and B were compared. Basal concentrations of ACTH and cortisol were similar in the two groups, whereas basal beta-endorphin levels were significantly higher in group B than in group A. Exercise induced a slight but significant increase in plasma concentrations of both ACTH (32% increase) and beta-endorphin (60% increase) in group A. A striking increase in plasma ACTH (100% increment) and a slight increase of beta-endorphin (60% increment) levels were observed in group B after exercise. Absolute levels of ACTH and beta-endorphin after physical exercise were significantly higher in group B than in group A. These findings indicate increased levels of adrenocorticotropic and opioid activity in adolescent women with high scores on psychological measures of anxiety and frustration.
Gerra
G
G
Drug Addiction Center, Healthy Unit (USL n.4), Parma, Italy.
Volpi
R
R
Delsignore
R
R
Caccavari
R
R
Gaggiotti
M T
MT
Montani
G
G
Maninetti
L
L
Chiodera
P
P
Coiro
V
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005639:Frustration; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011386:Projective Techniques; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone