Social Anxiety Disorder: Behavioural Characteristics Associated with the Cortisol Stress Response

The present study evaluated the cortisol stress response and its relationship to several behavioural measures in SAD participants. It is hypothesized that SAD participants will show an exaggerated cortisol response to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and differing positive and negative affects compared to controls, as well as correlations between the two measures. SAD (n=12) and controls (n=12) underwent the TSST. Serial plasma cortisol samples were taken and self-report measures were completed. The plasma cortisol levels were numerically higher in SAD at all time points compared to controls but the difference was not statistically significant. Cortisol response correlated inversely with childhood emotional abuse (p=0.01) and directly with positive affect (p=0.02) in SAD participants. Furthermore, SAD participants reported greater negative affect (prior to and after TSST) and more frequent emotional abuse than controls. SAD is associated with changes in HPA axis activity and affective states that differ from controls.MAS