title: Autonomic markers associated with generalized social phobia symptoms: heart rate variability and salivary alpha-amylase.
abstract: The study of autonomic nervous system changes associated with generalized social phobia (GSP) disorder has increased in recent years, showing contradictory results. The present study aimed to evaluate how young people with GSP reacted before, during, and after exposure to the Trier Stress Social Test (TSST), focusing on their autonomic changes (heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary alpha-amylase (sAA)) compared to a control group (non-GSP). Some psychological variables were also considered. Sex was specifically studied as a possible modulator of autonomic fluctuations and psychological state. Eighty young people were randomly distributed into two counterbalanced situations: stress condition (N = 18 and 21 for GSP and non-GSP, respectively) and control condition (N = 21 and 20 for GSP and non-GSP, respectively), where cardiovascular variables were continuously recorded. Psychological questionnaires about mood and perceived stress were filled out, and five saliva samples were collected to analyze sAA. GSP participants showed higher values on low- and high-frequency ratios (HR domains), compared to non-GSP people, during exposure to the TSST, but no differences were observed after the stressor. Furthermore, the two groups did not differ in sAA. Importantly, positive affect in GSP participants was modulated by sex. The present study suggests that the balance between high- and low-frequency domains of HRV is a key cardiovascular marker reflecting the stress response of GSP people, as well the importance of sex in positive affect when facing a stressful situation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology , University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: García-Rubio
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology , University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Espín
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychobiology IDOCAL , Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Vanesa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.affiliation: b Laboratory of Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychobiology IDOCAL , Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia , Valencia , Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: a Department of Human Anatomy and Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology , University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gómez-Amor
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000072861:Phobia, Social / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases
keywords: Generalized social phobia; alpha-amylase; heart rate; heart rate variability; sex; state anxiety