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Abstract: Examples are presented which show that questionnaires can be anunreliable instrument in the assessment of stress in industry. As analternative method the rationale for the use of endocrine (hormonal)tests is presented. It is shown with exampleb that urine levels ofadrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and cortisol increase in artificiallyproduced stress situations in laboratory studies. Data from ourlaboratory showing differences in the correlations between haemodynamicmeasures and hormones during psychological stress and physical effortconfirm the hypothesis that the "fight-flight" hormone response isinappropriate for coping with psychological stress. Epidemiologicalstudies from industries in Europe and Australia show a correlationbetween certain occupations and the incidence of cardiovascular disease.Data from laboratory studies confirm a causal chain from stress throughhormone changes to heart disease. Studies from our group at La TrobeUniversity show differences on adrenaline and noradrenaline levelsbetween workers on automated and manual machines in. the clothingindustry. Other data from fieldstudies in sawmills, with shippilots andpostal workers also show job related changes in .hormones. In anextension of the use of hormone levels as an index of stress, resultsfrom stress management studies with police and managers are presented,which show that at the end of these programs urine hormone levels ofpersons undergoing stress management programs are lower thah thoseof an untreated control group.It is concluded that biochemical measuresare more reliable and valid in relation to the prediction of theoccurence of stress related illness and that their use has been acceptableto both trade unions and management in Australia.

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