Background: Worry increases risk for long-term health issues by prolonging the physiological stress response. In contrast, relaxation may ameliorate the psychological and physiological burden resulting from worry. This study examined the impact of experimentally induced worry and relaxation on cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV), and inflammation. Method: Participants (N = 75) completed both a worry and relaxation induction (presented in a fixed order) while HRV was collected continuously. Three blood samples were taken (at baseline, after the worry induction, and after the relaxation induction) to measure IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and serum cortisol. Results: There were significant changes in IL-6 (p < 0.001), IFN-γ (p < 0.001), HRV (p < .001), and cortisol (p < .001) but not in TNF-α (p = 0.19) across conditions. HRV decreased significantly from baseline to worry and then increased following relaxation. IL-6 changed significantly between worry and relaxation and continued to increase following relaxation. Cortisol decreased significantly across conditions. Several patterns of covariance between inflammation and HRV and/or cortisol also emerged. Conclusions: These findings offer novel insight into how worry influences the immune system and emphasize the utility of a multi-methods approach to understanding the impact of worry on physical health.

An experimental examination of worry and relaxation on cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory processes / Renna, Megan E; Hoyt, Michael A; Ottaviani, Cristina; Mennin, Douglas S. - In: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0306-4530. - 122:(2020). [10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104870]

An experimental examination of worry and relaxation on cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory processes

Ottaviani, Cristina
Penultimo
Membro del Collaboration Group
;
Mennin, Douglas S
Ultimo
Conceptualization
2020

Abstract

Background: Worry increases risk for long-term health issues by prolonging the physiological stress response. In contrast, relaxation may ameliorate the psychological and physiological burden resulting from worry. This study examined the impact of experimentally induced worry and relaxation on cortisol, heart rate variability (HRV), and inflammation. Method: Participants (N = 75) completed both a worry and relaxation induction (presented in a fixed order) while HRV was collected continuously. Three blood samples were taken (at baseline, after the worry induction, and after the relaxation induction) to measure IL-6, IFN-γ, TNF-α and serum cortisol. Results: There were significant changes in IL-6 (p < 0.001), IFN-γ (p < 0.001), HRV (p < .001), and cortisol (p < .001) but not in TNF-α (p = 0.19) across conditions. HRV decreased significantly from baseline to worry and then increased following relaxation. IL-6 changed significantly between worry and relaxation and continued to increase following relaxation. Cortisol decreased significantly across conditions. Several patterns of covariance between inflammation and HRV and/or cortisol also emerged. Conclusions: These findings offer novel insight into how worry influences the immune system and emphasize the utility of a multi-methods approach to understanding the impact of worry on physical health.
2020
cortisol; heart rate variability; inflammation; perseveration; worry
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
An experimental examination of worry and relaxation on cardiovascular, endocrine, and inflammatory processes / Renna, Megan E; Hoyt, Michael A; Ottaviani, Cristina; Mennin, Douglas S. - In: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY. - ISSN 0306-4530. - 122:(2020). [10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104870]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1441524
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