title: Endocrine effects of psychological stress associated with neurobehavioral performance testing.
abstract: Twenty-four healthy subjects were submitted to a computer-based performance evaluation system. The set of tests required sustained attention, and the last test was expressly designed to cause a moderate, acute psychological stress. Compared to baseline levels, both serum ACTH and beta-endorphins were increased after psychological testing in all subjects. Serum prolactin showed a slight and statistically nonsignificant decrease compared to baseline values. These results question the belief that psychological stress stimulates prolactin secretion, whereas it suggests that serum ACTH and beta-endorphins are reliable indicators of acute psychological stress.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine and Nephrology, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferroni
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Vescovi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bottazzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Selis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerra
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Franchini
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin