An Introductory Guide to Conducting the Trier Social Stress Test

Abstract The Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) is a reliable biopsychological tool to examine the effects of acute stress on psychological and physiological functioning in humans. While the TSST reliably increases hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, amongst other biomarkers, through a combination of social evaluative threat and uncontrollability, the original protocol is limited in methodological detail that has impacted its reproducibility. Although many studies include a mock job interview and surprise arithmetic task, there are large variations in the timing of events, the number and method of biological (e.g., cortisol) sampling, the administration of a glucose drink, set-up of equipment and rooms, and panel composition and interaction with participants. We provide an overview of the potential impact of methodological variations on the stress (cortisol) response. Importantly, we also provide a step-by-step guide as a laboratory manual on how to conduct the TSST. This introductory guide may be a useful and time-saving resource that may also improve the scientific standard and reliability of the reported psychobiological stress effects in future studies.