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NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
LETTERS
including
Psychoneuroimmunology, Neuropsychopharmacology,
Reproductive Medicine, Chronobiology
and Human Ethology, ISSN 0172–780X
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NEL
Vol.24 Nos.3/4, Jun-Aug 2003
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Running
Title:
Stress response in Air Force Academy cadets
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2003;
24:197–202
pii: NEL243403A08
PMID: 14523357
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Effects
of mental stress on cardiovascular and endocrine response
in Air Force Academy cadets
Paolo
Falaschi, Antonella Proietti, Claudio De Angelis*,
Antonio Martocchia, Cesare Giarrizzo, Roberto
Biselli*, Rosaria D’Urso & Raffaele
D’Amelio
Dept.
of Internal Medicine, II Faculty of Medicine, University of
Rome "La Sapienza", Via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189
Rome, Italy.
*Experimental
Flight Center – Dept. of Aviation and Space Medicine,
Pratica di Mare, Rome, Italy.
Submitted:
April 20, 2003
Accepted: May 2, 2003
Key
words:
mental stress, heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones,
psychometric tests, pilots
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
Pilots are exposed to the "stress of flight" and
the chronically activated stress response may play an important
role in circulatory system disease progression. We studied
the effect of an experimental mental stress on cardiovascular
and neuroendocrine activity, in Air Force Academy cadets,
before and after one month intensive course.
DESIGN:
Nine cadets were submitted to a psychometric evaluation before
Stroop test (ST), including Minnesota Multiphasic Personality
Inventory, State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI X1 and
X2 form) and Reaction Scheme Test. After ST, subjects completed
a STAI X1 form. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood
pressure (SBP and DBP) were monitored and serum prolactin
(PRL), growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and
cortisol levels were determined, during ST. The protocol was
repeated at the end of the course.
RESULTS:
No significant differences were evident in PRL, GH and ACTH
levels. Cortisol concentrations were significantly higher
before the course. ST did not modify hormone secretion. ST
induced a significant and reproducible elevation of HR and
SBP. Basal HR, SBP and DBP values were significantly elevated
after the course. Two subjects presented a particular psychometric
profile, a different cardiovascular response to ST and did
not pass the course.
CONCLUSIONS:
acute mental stress significantly activated cardiovascular
response without modifying endocrine responses, in relation
to the psychological profiles. A significant increase of cardiovascular
parameters was present after the course, with enhanced dichotomy
between the endocrine and sympathetic system, suggesting a
careful evaluation and follow-up for circulatory system diseases
in cadets.
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__________________________________________________________
Copyright © Neuroendocrinology Letters 2003
Society of Integrated Sciences
All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or ortherwise,
without prior written permission from the Editor-in-Chief.
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