IMPACT OF THE GULF-WAR ON THE ANXIETY, CORTISOL, AND GROWTH-HORMONE LEVELS OF ISRAELI CIVILIANS

Objective: The authors investigated the impact of continuous and repea ted stress on Israeli civilians exposed to missile attacks during the Gulf War. Method: Study 1 included 26 healthy volunteers aged 28-59 ye ars. Their scores on the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale and levels of p lasma cortisol and growth hormone (GH) were evaluated before, during, and after the war. Study 2 included 13 healthy volunteers aged 25-59 y ears. Their scores on the state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inv entory and levels of cortisol and GH were measured three times daily ( 8:00 a.m., noon, and 6:00 p.m.) at two time points (during and after t he war). Results: Anxiety levels of civilians exposed to the threat of war and later to actual missile attacks were significantly higher bef ore and during the war than afterward. Anxiety during the war reached a peak in the evening. The increase in anxiety was not accompanied by any change from basal morning cortisol and GH levels or by diurnal var iations in these hormones. Conclusions: Anxiety levels during the war were similar to those 1 day before its onset, which can be explained b y the nature of coping processes. During the war, anxiety levels were highest in the evening reflecting the war routine (missile attacks occ urred mostly at night). The unaltered hormone levels and their normal diurnal variations despite the subjects' persistent anxiety were proba bly due to adaptation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypoth alamic-somatotropin axes to continuous stress.