High cortisol responders to stress show increased sedation to alcohol compared to low cortisol responders: An alcohol dose-response study

Aims: The present study was designed to examine the relationship between high and low cortisol response to an acute stressful situation and the subjective effects after different doses of alcohol, in healthy social drinkers. Method: Sixty-four subjects (32 men and 32 women) participated in one laboratory session. They performed a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) immediately before consumption of either placebo or alcohol (0.2, 0.4 or 0.8 g/kg). Subjects in each dose group were then divided into high (HCR; n = 32) or low (LCR; n = 32) cortisol responders. Primary dependent measures were self-report questionnaires of mood. Results: The HCR reported increased ratings on Sedation on the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale (BAES) with increased dose in comparison with the LCR. This increase in sedation also correlated to the increase in cortisol levels. Conclusion: We conclude that a high cortisol response to stress modulates the subjective response to alcohol, dose-dependently. HCR subjects experience increased sedative effects of alcohol after consumption of higher doses of alcohol following stress compared to LCR subjects. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.