title: Effects of seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels on pain responses under resting and anxiety conditions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated whether hormones and pain perception are associated with exam anxiety, and also whether exam anxiety is affected by seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six healthy males were recruited from a medical college. Anxiety was induced by having participants perform the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Pressure was applied to the participants to induce pain. Pain thresholds, pain ratings, anxiety ratings, blood pressure, heart rate, salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured under resting and anxiety conditions in the spring and summer. Data were collected from 46 participants during the spring (n=25) and summer (n=21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain thresholds and testosterone levels were significantly lower under anxiety than at rest for all participants (n=46), while cortisol levels, pain ratings, and anxiety ratings were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest. In the spring (n=25), testosterone levels were significantly higher at rest than under anxiety, while there was no difference in cortisol levels between resting and anxiety conditions. In the summer (n=21), cortisol levels were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest, while there was no difference in testosterone levels between resting and anxiety conditions. There were no significant seasonal differences in pain and anxiety ratings and pain threshold.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels under anxiety and at rest may affect pain responses. These results also suggest that acute clinical pain may be relieved by managing anxiety that is related to a decrease of testosterone in spring and a large increase of cortisol in summer.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Brain Research Group, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, 20 Ilsan-ro, Wonju 220-701, Korea. jaechan@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors: Jae Chan
authors: JC
authors: Choi
authors: Jong Hyuk
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Eunhee
authors: E
authors: Choi
authors: Myung-il
authors: MI
authors: Chung
authors: Sang Min
authors: SM
authors: Seo
authors: Hyun Kyo
authors: HK
authors: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012621:Seasons; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Cortisol; pain; seasonal differences; testosterone