The feasibility of ambulatory biosensor measurement of salivary alpha amylase: Relationships with self-reported and naturalistic psychological stress

▶ A salivary alpha amylase biosensor can be deployed in naturalistic settings. ▶ Higher sAA levels were related to higher concurrent subjective distress. ▶ Higher depressive and isolation symptoms were related to lower sAA during exams. Recent developments in biosensor technology allow point-of-use...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychology 2011-01, Vol.86 (1), p.50-56
Main Authors: Robles, Theodore F., Shetty, Vivek, Zigler, Corwin M., Glover, Dorie A., Elashoff, David, Murphy, Debra, Yamaguchi, Masaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
alpha-Amylases - metabolism
Behavioral psychophysiology
Biological and medical sciences
Biomarker
Biosensing Techniques - methods
Biosensor
Circadian Rhythm
Feasibility Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Heart Rate
Humans
Male
Point of care measurement
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Regression Analysis
Saliva - chemistry
Salivary alpha amylase
Salivary diagnostics
Seasons
Self Report
Severity of Illness Index
Stress
Stress, Psychological - diagnosis
Stress, Psychological - metabolism
Time Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:▶ A salivary alpha amylase biosensor can be deployed in naturalistic settings. ▶ Higher sAA levels were related to higher concurrent subjective distress. ▶ Higher depressive and isolation symptoms were related to lower sAA during exams. Recent developments in biosensor technology allow point-of-use reporting of salivary alpha amylase (sAA) levels while approaching the precision and accuracy of conventional laboratory-based testing. We deployed a portable prototype sAA biosensor in 54 healthy, male dental students during a low stress baseline and during final exams. At baseline, participants completed the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). At baseline and the exam week, participants provided saliva samples at 10 AM, 1 PM, and 5 PM, and rated concurrent subjective distress. Although subjective distress was higher during exams compared to baseline, sAA levels did not differ between baseline and exams. Higher sAA levels were related to higher concurrent subjective distress, and higher depressive and social isolation symptoms on the BSI were related to lower sAA during exams. Results from this study, in combination with previous validation data, suggest that the sAA biosensor is a promising tool for point-of-use measures of exposure to stress.
ISSN:0301-0511
1873-6246
DOI:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.10.006