Measurement of Plasma Catecholamine Concentrations

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the value of measurement of plasma catecholamine concentrations as an objective index of anxiety. A preliminary study was undertaken on 11 healthy volunteers (medically qualified), to determine if venous cannulation per se produced any change in plasma catecholamine concentrations. There were no changes in plasma catecholamine concentrations in the 2 h following insertion of an i.v. cannula, suggesting that venous cannulation did not induce a measurable stress response. A second study was performed on 48 surgical patients who were asked to rate their perceived anxiety on a linear analogue scale immediately before premedication and immediately before induction of anaesthesia. Venous blood was obtained at the same time as these ratings. There were no significant changes in perceived anxiety or plasma noradrenaline concentrations following premedication. However, compared with values before premedication, there was a mean percentage increase in plasma adrenaline concentration of 40% before induction of anaesthesia. A significant correlation was shown between mean percentage change in Linear Analogue Anxiety Score and mean percentage change in plasma adrenaline concentrations (r = 0.32).

Assessment of salivary amylase as a stress biomarker in pregnant patients

“…It is known that transfer does not modify the level of self-reported anxiety with questionnaires such as the STAI-state form or by a numeric rating scale, 21,22 an effect replicated in the current study. This reinforces the limited benefit of self-administered questionnaires in this situation and the potential value of an objective biomarker of stress such as SAA.…”

“…Although a sympathetic stress response shown by an increase in plasma concentrations of epinephrine (the measurement of which is complicated and cannot be measured immediately) has been observed between the ward and the OR, the factors responsible for this increase remain to be determined. 22 Since SAA release depends on the activation of beta-adrenergic receptors, this sympathetic response may explain the increase in SAA activity seen in the study.…”

Psychological Stress and Neuroendocrine Function in Humans: The Last Two Decades of Research

“…Fell et al [97]studied 48 patients aged 18–70 years about to undergo minor elective surgery. Two hours before the operation, the patients were asked to rate their anxiety on a visual analogue scale, and a venous blood sample was collected.…”

“…Compared with values before premedication, there was a significant mean percentage increase in plasma epinephrine, but not norepinephrine, immediately before induction of anesthesia. A significant, albeit not strong, positive correlation was found between the increase in plasma adrenaline levels in the period immediately before the operation and the increase in perceived anxiety in the same period [97]. …”

Increased urinary tribulin output in generalised anxiety disorder

“…However, as stated earlier, the most purified MAO inhibitor acts only rather weakly as a BZ receptor binding inhibitor; the presence of a second molecule would explain why the HAR correlated better with the first than the second inhibitory activity ( Table 2). Levels of catecholamines and their metabolites have been shown to correlate significantly with degrees of anxiety (Post et al 1978;Ballenger et al 1984;Fell et al 1985). However, neither of tribulin's activities can be due to catecholamines as it is extracted at acid pH into ethyl acetate.…”