Human salivary alpha-amylase reactivity in a psychosocial stress paradigm

Autor(en)

Urs M Nater, Nicolas Rohleder, Jens Gaab, Simona Berger, Andreas Jud, Clemens Kirschbaum, Ulrike Ehlert

Abstrakt

Biological indicators for stress reactions are valuable markers in psychophysiological research and clinical practice. Since the release of salivary enzyme alpha-amylase was reported to react to physiological and psychological stressors, we set out to investigate human salivary alpha-amylase changes employing a reliable laboratory stress protocol to investigate the reactivity of salivary alpha-amylase to a brief period of psychosocial stress. In a within-subject repeated-measures design, 24 healthy adults were exposed to the TSST and a control condition on separate days with randomized sequence. Salivary alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol and heart rate were repeatedly measured before, during and after both conditions. Significant differences between psychosocial stress and the rest condition in alpha-amylase activity [F(3.74,86.06)=4.52; P=0.003], cortisol levels [F(4.21,88.32)=12.48; P<0.001] and heart rate [F(1,22)=81.15; P<0.001] were observed, with marked increases before and after stress. The data corroborate findings from other studies that showed increased levels of alpha-amylase before and after psychological stress. We discuss the role of salivary alpha-amylase as a promising candidate for a reliable, noninvasive marker of psychosocial stress.

Organisation(en)

Externe Organisation(en)

Universität Zürich (UZH)

Journal

International Journal of Psychophysiology

Band

55

Seiten

333-342

Anzahl der Seiten

10

ISSN

0167-8760

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2004.09.009

Publikationsdatum

2005

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

501010 Klinische Psychologie

Schlagwörter

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/c3c5fd13-3917-4c97-9114-062a77620396