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The Stress Pathways Study has investigated the psychobiological mechanisms through which psychological stress is thought to contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). One way of investigating these mechanisms is through the use of pharmacological experiments where putative pathways are blocked and effects on cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory stress responses are measured.
The Stress Pathways Study was a randomised controlled trial which assesses the impact of short-term administration of escitalopram (an antidepressant ), propranolol (a beta-blocker; a type of drug that is used as an antihypertensive), and placebo on cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and inflammatory responses to psychophysiological stress tests in healthy volunteers. More specifically, heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol, corticosteroid receptor function, inflammatory cytokines, and markers of endothelial dysfunction are measured during a laboratory session in which participants are exposed to challenging tasks that are known to elicit biological stress responses.
This study is funded by the British Heart Foundation through the programme grant and Amy Ronaldson's PhD studentship. Data collection for this study was completed in 2016 but analyses and publications continue to be produced.
Principal Investigators: Professor Andrew Steptoe and Dr Amy Ronaldson
Contact: Professor Andrew Steptoe (a.steptoe@ucl.ac.uk) or Dr Amy Ronaldson (a.ronaldson@ucl.ac.uk)
