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Greg asked: >I realize from reading the past posts on this subject that it has been = >thoroughly dealt with, but everthing seems based on personal experience = >and opinion. I need to know if anyone has any information from a study = >or a medical professional that will corroborate these opinions that = >PWP's have on stress. Greg: Dopamine is one of the catecholamines. Stress invokes the activation of the adrenal gland's production and utilization of epinephrine(adrenalin), which, in turn, stimulates the processes that release the glucose needed for the energy for fight or flight. The amino acid tyrosine (or its parent, phenylalinine, are the source of both dopamine and epinephrine. Obviously, if the production of epinephrine is speeded up, the route to dopamine production will experience a slowdown. The more extreme the stress, the more the dopamine dependent parkinsonian will have movement shut down. As PD advances the simplest acts can produce freezing. My husband, for example, finds something as simple as getting dressed very stressful, and a trip to the doctor will bring on an instant freeze from a fully medicated state. As for scientific references, perhaps the following abstract will help: The physiological measurement of acute stress (public speaking) in bank employees AUTHOR: Bassett, J R; Marshall, P M; Spillane, R International Journal of Psychophysiology. - 5, p.265- 273, 1987 ABSTRACT An evaluation of a number of non-invasive physiological measures of stress was conducted, using bank employees attending a two-week residential course. The stressor involved was the preparation and delivery of a 15-min public lecture. The physiological parameters measured were urinary excretion rates of noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A), dopamine and cortisol, the ratio of NA A, salivary cortisol levels, heart rate and blood pressure. Measurements were taken at 08.30, 10.30, 12.30, 15.30 and 17.30 h on the day of the public lecture and on the following (control) day. The public lectures were given between 10.30 and 12.30 h. The urinary excretion rates of adrenaline and cortisol were significantly elevated immediately following, but not before, the public lectures. The ratio NA A was significantly decreased and the salivary cortisol levels were significantly increased both immediately before and after the public lecture. Urinary excretion rates of noradrenaline and dopamine, blood pressure and heart rate were unchanged by the stressor. Measurement of salivary cortisol levels, as well as providing a simple, stress free, non -invasive collection procedure, more closely reflects in time the changes in plasma levels of the hormone, not suffering from the large lag-time involved with urinary hormone measurements. Salivary cortisol measurement would appear to be the measurement of choice in human stress studies where individual stress factors are to be identified and studied. The significance of the stress-induced elevation in cortisol and catecholamine levels in the link between illness and occupational stress is discussed. (Journal abstract) REFERENCE: Data Copyright by Worksafe Australia, 1996. NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY COMMISSION Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia, 1999 Martha