European Journal of Psychotraumatology (Sep 2012)

Salivary alpha-amylase and cortisol responsiveness following electrical physical stress in bipolar disorder patients

  • Jotaro Akiyoshi,
  • Yoshihiro Tanaka,
  • Yoshinobu Ishitobi,
  • Yoshihiro Maruyama,
  • Aimi Kawano,
  • Tomoko Ando,
  • Shizuko Okamoto,
  • Masayuki Kanehisa,
  • Haruka Higuma,
  • Taiga Ninomiya,
  • Jusen Tsuru,
  • Hiroaki Hanada

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.19419
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 0
pp. 1 – 1

Abstract

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Background : Bipolar disorder (BP) is often associated with altered functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis by chronic stress. In comparison, psychosocial stress-induced activation of salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) functions as a marker of sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity. However, in contrast to salivary cortisol, sAA has been less extensively studied in BP patients. The present study measured sAA and salivary cortisol levels in patients with BP. Methods : The authors determined Profile of Mood State (POMS) and State-Trait anxiety Inventory (STAI) scores, Heart Rate Variability (HRV), and sAA and salivary cortisol levels in 25 patients with BP and 22 healthy volunteers following the application of electrical stimulation stress. Patients with bipolar disorder scored eight points or more on the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) scores. Results : Tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue, and confusion scores in patients with bipolar disorder were significantly increased compared to healthy controls. In contrast, Vigor scores in patients with BP were significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. There was no difference in heart rate variability measures between BP patients and healthy controls. There was no difference in the threshold of applied electrical stimulation between BP patients and healthy controls. There were significant differences in sAA levels between patients with BP and healthy controls. There were significantly higher salivary sAA levels in female patients with BP versus controls. There was a trend toward higher salivary sAA levels in male patients with BP versus controls. Finally, there were no differences in salivary cortisol levels between BP patients and controls. In the present study only three time points were explored. Furthermore, the increased secretion of sAA before and after stimulation could allude to an increased responsiveness to novel and uncontrollable situations in patients with BP. Conclusions : These preliminary results suggest that sAA might be a useful biological marker of BP.

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