Cognitive factors and stress-induced changes in catecholamine biochemistry

The purpose of the present research was to determine whether dysfunctional attitudes, a cognitive attribute, predicted changes in catecholamine bioche mistry. A cognitive task was used to induce stress in female subjects (n = 21), and levels of plasma norepinephrine (NE) and homovanillic acid (HVA) w ere measured at three time points: at baseline (T1); immediately after stre ss exposure (T2); and 40 min later (T3). Dysfunctional attitudes were signi ficantly and positively related to levels of plasma NE at T3, controlling f or baseline levels. Dysfunctional attitudes were not significantly related to plasma HVA levels at any time point. Our findings provide initial suppor t for the idea that dysfunctional attitudes, an attribute shown to play an important role in some forms of unipolar depression, predict stress-induced alterations in noradrenergic output. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd . All rights reserved.