ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECTS OF A BOTANICAL EXTRACT ON ANXIETY, PERCEIVED STRESS, MOOD AND CORTISOL IN HEALTHY ADULTS

Variation of the Profile of mood states (POMS-2) total score: TMD (Total Mood Disturbance score). The POMS-2 is a scale which includes six mood subscales: Anger, Confusion, Depression, Fatigue, Tension, and Vigor. Each subscale is scored between 0 and 100. TMD is determined by summing the Negative Mood State subscores and subtracting the Vigor subscore (unique Positive Mood State subscale). For each subscale except Vigor, a lower subscore indicates a better mood state. For the Vigor subscale, a higher subscore indicates a better mood state. A lower POMS-2 TMD indicates a better mood state.

Variation of the POMS-2 subscores: Anger, Confusion, Depression, Fatigue, Tension, and Vigor. Each subscale is scored between 0 and 100. For each subscale except Vigor, a lower subscore indicates a better mood state. For the Vigor subscale, a higher subscore indicates a better mood state.

Variation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State) score. Min score: 20; Max score: 80. Higher score corresponds to a higher level of anxiety.

Variation of the anxiety subscore of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-A). Min score: 0; Max score: 21. Higher score corresponds to a higher level of anxiety.

A responder is defined as a participant with a statistically significant reduction of the POMS-2 TMD T-score. A lower POMS-2 TMD indicates a better mood state.

Variation of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10) score (min score: 0; max score: 40; a higher score corresponds to a lower psychological stress feeling)

Variation of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire score (min score: 16; max score: 80; a higher score corresponds to a higher worry feeling)

Variations of the COPE inventory score (min score: 60; max score: 240). A higher score indicates that the subject uses more coping strategies in response to stress.

Variation of the depression subscore of the HADS (HADS-D). HADS-D score is comprised between 0 and 21. A higher HADS-D score indicates a higher level of depression.

Variation of the World Health Organisation Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) score, comprised between 16 and 80. Higher score indicates higher quality of life.

Variation of the performance on serial subtractions tasks: total and correct responses at serials 3s, 7s and 17s. For Serial 3s: Participants will be instructed to count backwards in threes from a given number, as quickly and accurately as possible. For Serial 7s: same task as for serial 3s but with the serial subtraction of 7. Serial 17s: same task as for serial 3s but with the serial subtraction of 17.

Variation of the performance on the tracking task : speed and accuracy. In this task participants are required to use the mouse to move a cursor to attempt to track an asterisk which follows a random on-screen path. The distance between the target and the cursor is then computed every 100 ms.

Variation of cortisone/ cortisol urinary concentrations ratio

Variation of allo-tetrahydrocortisol (THFs)/ tetrahydrocortisone (THE) urinary concentrations ratio

Incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of the salivary cortisol concentration and alpha-amylase activity

Variation of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State) score. Min score: 20; Max score: 80. Higher score corresponds to a higher level of anxiety.

Variation of the perceived stress scores obtained at a Visual Analogical Scale (VAS). Score range: 0-100. Higher score indicates a higher level of anxiety.

Maximum increase and incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of the heart rate

Averaged raw score in microSiemens (µS) during exposure to acute stressor, likely to be comprised between 0.5 µS and 5 µS. A higher GSR indicates a higher stress state.

Urinary metabolites

Change in urine F2-isoprostane