Psychophysiological markers of stress in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective: to study psychological (questionnaires data), psychophysiological (electroencephalography and skin galvanic reaction) and biochemical parameters (hormones and cytokines) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in comparison with healthy volunteers.

Materials and methods. The study included 23 patients with confirmed CAD and 25 healthy individuals. All participants underwent: psychological testing (questionnaires PSM-25, Leonova, Jenkins, SACS), biochemical blood analysis (cortisol, ACTH, ACTH releasing factor, neuropeptide Y, etc.), psychophysiological examination (skin galvanic reaction and electroencephalography (EEG) at rest and in response to stress).

Results. Patients with CAD experienced higher levels of acute (91% vs. 52% in the control group, p=0.0033) and chronic stress (p=0.0277) according to the Leonova questionnaire. Biochemical analysis revealed lower levels of ACTH-RF (p=0.0112) and neuropeptide Y (p=0.0011) in patients with CAD. Assessment of autonomic nervous system reactivity using a galvanic skin reaction confirmed a stronger sympathetic response to stress in patients with CAD (the potential difference between two skin areas under stress was 523±178 μV versus 415±169 μV in the control group, p=0.0363). No significant differences were found in other questionnaires (PSM-25, Jenkins, SACS), other hormones and neuropeptides (cortisol, ACTH, prolactin, etc.) and EEG parameters.

Conclusion. This study confirms that patients with coronary artery disease are characterized by a higher level of acute and chronic stress, increased autonomic reactivity to stress (according to skin galvanic reaction), and also revealed changes in regulatory peptides (ACTH releasing factor, neuropeptide Y).

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