6533b851fe1ef96bd12a8e1d

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Depressive symptoms and attenuated physiological reactivity to laboratory stressors.

Andreas SchwerdtfegerAnn-kathrin Rosenkaimer

subject

AdultMalemedicine.medical_specialtySympathetic nervous systemPhysiologyMotivational deficitBlood Pressurebehavioral disciplines and activitiesHeart RateStress PhysiologicalmedicineHumansSpeechPsychiatryReactivity (psychology)Depressive symptomsDepressionGeneral NeuroscienceStressorCold pressor testGalvanic Skin ResponseCold TemperatureNeuropsychology and Physiological PsychologyBlood pressuremedicine.anatomical_structureFemaleSkin conductancePsychologypsychological phenomena and processesStress Psychological

description

There is evidence that depressive symptoms are associated with attenuated physiological reactivity to active stressors. However, it is not known whether blunted reactivity in depressed individuals is stressor-specific. We examined cardiovascular and electrodermal reactivity in non-clinical participants with varying levels of depressive symptoms to different active and passive stressors. Depressive symptoms were inversely related to both blood pressure and skin conductance reactivity during a public speaking task and the viewing of the speech video. However, no effects were found during a cold pressor task. Together these findings suggest that depressive symptoms are related to attenuated sympathetic nervous system reactivity in response to self-relevant stressors.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2010-06-01Biological psychology
10.1016/j.biopsycho.2011.05.009https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21679744