Is salivary alpha-amylase an indicator of autonomic nervous system dysregulations in mental disorders?—A review of preliminary findings and the interactions with cortisol

• Published in: Psychoneuroendocrinology Vol. 38; no. 6; pp. 729 - 743
• Main Authors: Schumacher, Sarah, Kirschbaum, Clemens, Fydrich, Thomas, Ströhle, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: alpha-Amylases - metabolism; Autonomic nervous system; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - complications; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - enzymology; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology; Behavioral psychophysiology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - metabolism; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hormones and behavior; Humans; Hydrocortisone - metabolism; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - metabolism; Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - complications; Mental Disorders - enzymology; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - metabolism; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Review; Saliva - enzymology; Salivary alpha-amylase; Stress response; Review; Mental disorders; Salivary alpha-amylase; Stress response; Autonomic nervous system; Hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system; Corticosteroid; Endocrine gland; Amylase; Enzyme; Steroid hormone; Interaction; Central nervous system; Antiinflammatory agent; Hypothalamus; Hydrocortisone; Glucocorticoid; Indicator; Stress; Encephalon; Adrenal hormone; Mental disorder; Pituitary gland
• ISSN: 0306-4530; 1873-3360; 1873-3360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.02.003

During recent years, a growing interest emerged in using salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) as a non-invasive, surrogate marker for sympathetic activity. Numerous studies applying stress protocols have demonstrated that sAA is highly sensitive to stress-related changes (in healthy subjects). Additionally, it was suggested that sAA might moreover serve as an index for pathological dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in patients showing psychopathology. Since then, a small but growing literature investigated sAA in patients with mental disorders. This review aims to give an overview of preliminary findings in this field of research. The results of n=15 studies are described in detail and implications for further research are discussed. Although the number of studies and the samples examined were rather small, changes in sAA, reflecting adrenergic dysregulation, could be demonstrated in psychopathology, especially in anxiety-related disorders. This field of research is still in its early stages. However, the studies included in this review revealed first evidence that the employment of sAA, as an indicator of ANS dysregulation in mental disorders, is promising.