Yonsei Med J.  2014 Jan;55(1):216-223. 10.3349/ymj.2014.55.1.216.

Effects of Seasonal Differences in Testosterone and Cortisol Levels on Pain Responses Under Resting and Anxiety Conditions

• Choi JC
• Lee JH
• Choi E
• Chung MI
• Seo SM
• Lim HK

• KMID: 1779909
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2014.55.1.216

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study investigated whether hormones and pain perception are associated with exam anxiety, and also whether exam anxiety is affected by seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-six healthy males were recruited from a medical college. Anxiety was induced by having participants perform the Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Pressure was applied to the participants to induce pain. Pain thresholds, pain ratings, anxiety ratings, blood pressure, heart rate, salivary testosterone and cortisol levels were measured under resting and anxiety conditions in the spring and summer. Data were collected from 46 participants during the spring (n=25) and summer (n=21).
RESULTS
Pain thresholds and testosterone levels were significantly lower under anxiety than at rest for all participants (n=46), while cortisol levels, pain ratings, and anxiety ratings were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest. In the spring (n=25), testosterone levels were significantly higher at rest than under anxiety, while there was no difference in cortisol levels between resting and anxiety conditions. In the summer (n=21), cortisol levels were significantly higher under anxiety than at rest, while there was no difference in testosterone levels between resting and anxiety conditions. There were no significant seasonal differences in pain and anxiety ratings and pain threshold.
CONCLUSION
These results indicate that seasonal differences in testosterone and cortisol levels under anxiety and at rest may affect pain responses. These results also suggest that acute clinical pain may be relieved by managing anxiety that is related to a decrease of testosterone in spring and a large increase of cortisol in summer.

Keyword

Cortisol; testosterone; pain; seasonal differences

MeSH Terms

Adult
Anxiety/*blood
Humans
Hydrocortisone/*blood
Male
Pain/*blood/*physiopathology
Seasons
Testosterone/*blood
Young Adult
Hydrocortisone
Testosterone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Correlation between systolic blood pressure differences and pain rating differences under anxiety and resting conditions (n=46). Horizontal axis: systolic blood pressure (SBP, mm Hg) differences between anxiety and resting conditions (SBP under anxiety conditions-SBP under resting conditions). Vertical axis: pain rating differences between anxiety and resting conditions (pain ratings under anxiety conditions-pain ratings under resting conditions).

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