1. The use of the Stroop Color-Word Test as a model of experimentally induc
ed anxiety was evaluated.
2. First, the authors examined the influence of trait anxiety and the type
of instructions on the anxiety state level. Subjects with high trait anxiet
y (above 50 on State-Trait Anxiety Scale - STAI) showed a significant incre
ase in anxiety state only with limited time (2 minutes) and error signal (w
ith a ringing bell) procedures. This increase was blocked by diazepam (DZP)
5.0 mg p.o. both on pre- and post-test measures, but it was not changed by
placebo administration.
3. The public performance simulation (with a video-camera) was effective to
raise the anxiety state on normal volunteers with mean trait anxiety (betw
een 30 and 50 on STAI). This raise was prevented with diazepam 5.0 mg p.o.
but it was not prevented with placebo administration.
4. As a whole, these data suggest that the Video-recorded Stroop Color-Word
Test is an effective anxiety provoking test, able to detect the effect of
standard anxiolytic drug and stressed the importance of trait anxiety level
and the instructions on tests that induced anxiety experimentally.