PLASMA VANILLYLMANDELIC ACID LEVEL AS AN INDEX OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS-RESPONSE IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

The relationships between psychological stress responses and plasma le vels of vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol ( MHPG), homovanillic acid (HVA), and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid (5-HIAA) were investigated in normal volunteers. Two questionnaires were used to measure stress: the Psychological Stress Response Scale (PSRS) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Plasma levels of VMA - but n ot MHPG, HVA, and 5-HIAA - showed significant positive correlations wi th PSRS emotional and cognitive-behavioral stress and STAI state anxie ty, Significant positive correlations were also found between plasma l evels of VMA and MHPG and psychological stress responses measured repe atedly in a longitudinal study of an Olympic swimmer. Plasma VMA measu rements, which reflect the level of activity of the peripheral sympath etic nervous system, may provide a useful biochemical index of psychol ogical stress responses in normal subjects.