Altered coordination of the neuroendocrine response during psychosocial stress in subjects with high trait anxiety

Contradicting data are available on stress responsiveness in subjects with high anxiety. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that high trait anxiety is associated with impaired coordination of the stress response, rather than global hypo- or hyper-responsiveness. The sample consisted of subjects with high (n = 15) and with low (n = 12) trait anxiety. Subjects with middle-range levels of anxiety were excluded from the study. After psychological characterization, the volunteers were exposed to a public speech procedure. A spectrum of neuroendocrine parameters was measured before, during and after the procedure and the results were analyzed by exploratory statistics. Psychological characterization of subjects revealed a lower preference for task-oriented but a higher one for emotion-oriented coping strategies as well as lower scores on hardiness in subjects with high trait anxiety. After the speech procedure, differences in selected mood and personality characteristics were observed, with the anxious group scoring significantly higher in scales for stress, tiredness, arousal, anxiety and depression. Factor analysis revealed that one common factor grouped blood pressure, catecholamine concentrations in blood and heart rate in non-anxious subjects, while three distinct factors separated these parameters in anxious subjects. Correlation analysis in anxious subjects showed that lower adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol responses during stress were associated with exaggerated perception of stress and worse mental performance. Our findings indicate that subjects with high anxiety have different relationships between specific neuroendocrine parameters, subjective perception of stress and Stroop test performance.