Anxiety, anger, salivary cortisol and cardiac autonomic activity in palliative care professionals with and without mind-body training experience : results from a pilot study

• Autores: Iglesias, Silvia L.; Azzara, Sergio; Granchetti, Hugo; Lagomarsino, Eduardo; Vigo, Daniel Eduardo
• Año de publicación: 2014
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Fuente: Postprint de artículo publicado en European Journal of Integrative Medicine. 2014, 6 (1)
• Materia: ESTRES; ANSIEDAD; CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS; CUIDADORES; HIDROCORTISONA; ACTIVIDAD AUTONOMA; PROMOCION DE LA SALUD
• Institución: Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina

Fil: Iglesias, Silvia L. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Química Analítica Instrumental; Argentina
Fil: Azzara, Sergio. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Psicología. Cátedra de Metodología para la Investigación Psicológica I; Argentina
Fil: Granchetti, Hugo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Farmacia Clínica; Argentina
Fil: Lagomarsino, Eduardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Cátedra de Farmacia Clínica; Argentina
Fil: Vigo, Daniel Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Vigo, Daniel Eduardo. Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Departamento de Docencia e Investigación; Argentina
Abstract: Palliative care practitioners suffer a considerable burden of stress. Although it is not possible to eliminate stress entirely, people can learn to manage it. Mind/Body intervention help individuals turn maladaptive responses to stress into more adaptive ones. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of mind body techniques in a group of Palliative Care professionals. Methods: We investigated anxiety, anger, baseline salivary cortisol levels immediately after awakening and autonomic nervous system activity in a group of health care professionals from a Palliative Care Unit (n = 22). In addition, we assessed the autonomic response to relax instructions. The participants were divided into two groups according to their regular practice of mind-body techniques.Results: No significant differences between groups were found for anxiety and anger. Baseline salivary cortisol levels were significantly greater in the untrained group (5.23 ± 5.16 μg/dl) when compared with the trained one (0.57 ± 0.19 μg/dl) (Mann-Whitney U Test = 0; p < 0.001). When comparing heart rate variability (HRV) values during relaxation with HRV values at rest within each group, trained subjects showed a significant increase in LF% (z = -2.073, p = 0.038), while untrained subjects showed a significant increase in HF% (z = -2.100, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Subjects who regularly practice mind-body techniques evidenced lower baseline morning cortisol levels and achieved a differential autonomic response to relax instructions.