The Cold Pressor Test – A Measurement of the Cardiac Autonomic Responses in Individuals With Anxiety, Depression and Stress Symptoms

The cold pressor test examines the cardio-vascular reactivity during certain physiological states - rest, stress and recovery. Currently it is a widespread tool for laboratory induced stress in an experimental setting amongst various fields of science. PURPOSE: To systemize the fields of application of the cold pressor test in an attempt to outline the possibilities to analyze cardio-vascular reactivity in connection to symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. RESULTS: Unlike similar experiments (e.g. mental arithmetic test), which actively involve the behavior and motivation of the participants, the cold pressor test is a physical stressor that passively involves the participant. Cardiovascular response (BP, heart rate, aortic pulse wave velocity) to cold pressor test is measured with applanation tonometry - a novel, simple, easy-to-use method. In CONCLUSION, the combination of the cold pressor test with speech task and mental arithmetic test would contribute to the adequate tracking and comparison of vascular and myocardial reactivity during the assessment of psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress). All of this would facilitate the involvement of the individuals with clinical or sub-clinical symptoms of depression and anxiety in experimental studies and would further help in a more precise assessment of the cardiovascular risk amongst them.