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Quantitation of stress by catecholamine analysis
Author(s) -
von Euler U. S.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt196454398
Subject(s) - epinephrine , catecholamine , norepinephrine , excretion , adrenal medulla , endocrinology , medicine , sympathoadrenal system , urine , anxiety , urinary system , homeostasis , psychology , dopamine , psychiatry
The relationships between various kinds of physical and mental stress and the activity of the sympathoadrenal system, as measured by the urinary excretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine, are briefly reviewed. Gravitational stress and exposure to cold are mainly associated with an increase in the norepinephrine excretion, indicating the importance of this hormone in circulatory and temperature controlling homeostatic mechanisms. Mental stress involving exhilarating or aggressive reactions is also associated with an increase in the norepinephrine excretion. The types of emotional stress which are moinly characterized by apprehension, anxiety, pain, or general discomfort are regularly accompanied by an increase in the epinephrine excretion. The possibility of obtaining a graded response from the adrenal medulla suggests that mental stress situations may be quantitatively evaluated by urine catecholamine analysis. The importance of obtaining an objective measure of the occurrence and degree of stress in individual subjects is emphasized.