The Relationship of Examination Stress with Serum Cortisol and Prolactin Levels

The primary aim of this study is to find out the relationship of examination stress with serum cortisol and prolatin levels. 20 male medical students participated in this study. Global assessment of recent stress (GARS) scale and SCL-90R were used to measure stress perception and psychopathology. Radioimmunoassay was used to assess serum cortisol and prolactin. Serum cortisol level was significantly higher during exam period than during nonexam period. However, there was no significant difference in serum prolactin level between the two periods. In psychopathology, only interpersonal sensitivity had a significantly negative correlation with serum cortisol level during exam period. On the other hand, stress perception had no significant correlation with serum cortisol and prolactin levels during each of exam and non-exam period. The results suggest that cortisol is more likely to be associated with psychological stress such as examination than prolactin, and that specific psychopathology such as interpersonal sensitivity is more likely to be associated with lower serum cortisol level.ope