Effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation and blockade on cardiovascular reactivity, affect, and type A behavior.

Abstract

The present study examined the acute effects of drugs that stimulate or block sympathetic nervous system activity on components of Type A behavior, affect, and cardiovascular responses to mental stressors. Either propranolol (a beta-adrenergic blocker), isoproterenol (a beta-agonist), or placebo was infused intravenously at different times in 12 healthy males. In two sessions, placebo (saline) was administered first, followed by a structured interview, challenging mental arithmetic test, and completion of affect scales. The procedure was then repeated with one of the active drugs, presented in counterbalanced order. Results indicated reliable drug effects on both heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) reactivity to the tasks, with change scores to the tasks markedly increased by isoproterenol. Anxiety and hostility ratings paralleled results for HR and BP, with much of this effect being due to higher affect ratings for isoproterenol. The effect of the drugs on Type A behavior was unexpected, with global Type A and several components lowered by isoproterenol and unaffected by propranolol. These data are discussed in terms of the interfering effects of anxiety on Type A speech components. The influence of isoproterenol on affect and reactivity might reflect the physiologic action of a beta 2-adrenergic positive feedback loop which increases release of endogenous norepinephrine, and/or potentiating effects of emotion on reactivity to stress.

The effect of propranolol on behavioral interactions among adult male cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) housed in disrupted social groupings.

“…However, we would cautiously speculate, based on the current study and patient investigations, that chronic beta-adrenergic blockade may have minimal effects on social interaction patterns and on the frequency and type of social behavior (particularly those behaviors which have been identified previously as rendering individuals "coronary prone") typically manifested by otherwise healthy subjects in out-of-laboratory situations. Finally, our data, along with the results of a recent study of Type A characteristics in normal individuals following infusion with either isoproterenol or propranolol (34), offer no support for the hypothesis that the suppression of the peripheral manifestation of sympathetic nervous system arousal modulates social performance or reduces the outward expression of hostility or competitiveness.…”

Trait Anger and Arterial Stiffness: Results From the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

“…There is evidence that certain classes of antihypertensive medication have psychotropic effects, including improvements in tension, anger, and hostility. [23][24][25][26] Thus, among participants who had had long-term exposure to antihypertensive medication, arterial stiffness and the experience of anger might have been mitigated, making it difficult to detect the true association between these two events.…”

Autonomic physiological response patterns related to intelligence

“…PEP, the interval between the Q-wave of the ECG and the initial point of ejection of blood from the left ventricle, reflects cardiac contractility and is supposed to be an index of β 1 -adrenergic activity (Allen, Obrist, Sherwood, & Crowell, 1987;Light & Obrist, 1983). Third, SBP is influenced by cardiac contractility and vascular resistance whereas DBP is primarily influenced by vascular resistance (Krantz et al, 1987;Obrist et al, 1978). The increase of DBP and SBP during the cognitive tasks (Table 2) can thus be attributed to vasoconstriction and, perhaps, β 1 -adrenergic activation of the myocardium.…”