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Taking into account neuroticism and lifestyle variables (smoking and alcohol consumption), cardiovascular and psychological reactions to stressful films were studied in four groups of subjects selected on self-reported levels of recent stressor load and symptom complaints (low-load/low-symptoms: low-load/high-symptoms; high-load/low-symptoms; high-load/high-symptoms). The films were known either to stimulate or to depress cardiovascular activity. The results showed that psychological reactions (distress; deactivation; openness/involvement) were associated with group membership and condition. In addition, high-symptom subjects were characterized by faster resting heart rates and smaller ECG T-wave amplitudes (TWAs), reflective of greater sympathetic tone on the myocard. Further, low-symptom subjects, in particular those labeled as stress-resistant (high-load/low-symptoms), exhibited larger myocardial responses to the cardiovascular-stimulating films than did high-symptom subjects. Low-symptom subjects showed predicted variations in physiological responses to the different films, whereas the responses by the high-symptom subjects showed lesser variation across films. It is concluded that the cardiovascular responses of low-symptom subjects more accurately followed the energetic demands of the body, whereas the high-symptom subjects were in a comparatively enduring state of arousal.

The present study examined resting endocrinological functioning and endocrine responsivity to new challenges as a function of self-reported stress load and symptomatology. Following a baseline period, four groups of male subjects (low-load/low-symptoms; low-load/high-symptoms; high-load/low-symptoms; high-load/high-symptoms) were exposed to stressful films, followed by a rest period. Blood samples were drawn after each film and after the rest condition, and urinary samples were collected during two nights preceding the experimental session. Neuroendocrine variables measured in plasma included adrenaline, noradrenaline, ACTH, cortisol, growth hormone, prolactin, and testosterone. The urinary samples were assayed for noradrenaline and adrenaline (in relation to creatinin). High-symptom subjects had significantly higher plasma levels of noradrenaline and overnight urinary adrenaline levels, whereas their cortisol levels tended to be lower as compared to the low-symptom group. The plasma noradrenaline/cortisol ratio was higher among the high-symptom subjects. However, upon controlling for neuroticism and life style factors (smoking and alcohol consumption), all but the effects on cortisol failed to meet significance criteria. Higher stress load was associated with higher plasma adrenaline responses during the laboratory session, irrespective of neuroticism or life-style measures. These results therefore suggest that in addition to measuring exposure to real-life stressors, it is also necessary to measure outcomes, such as symptoms, and to be aware of the effects of neuroticism and life-style when attempting to understand which specific psychosocial factors effect psychoendocrinological functioning.

In the present study, the relationship between psychological variables and hydrocortisone (HC)-induced immunoglobulin (Ig) production in vitro was investigated. Ninety-five human volunteers were selected based on their extreme (low or high) scores on a daily hassles and a symptoms questionnaire. Four groups were composed: (1) few hassles, few symptoms; (2) many hassles, few symptoms; (3) few hassles, many symptoms; and (4) many hassles, many symptoms. Incubating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for 2 weeks with HC (concentrations ranging from 10(-8) to 10(-6) M), resulted in a concentration-dependent rise in IgM and IgG secretion. In vitro IgM as well as IgG secretion were found to be related to plasma Ig levels. Plasma cortisol levels were positively associated with HC-induced IgG secretion. Furthermore, Ig secretion was found to depend on psychological profile, indicating a differential sensitivity of PBMC to HC for the four groups.