[Influence of oxprenolol on the affect level in an exam situation. A follow-up study under double-blind conditions (author's transl)].

In a double-blind study on student nurses the curves of three affectivity components and the pulse rate under exam conditions were observed. One group had received 1-(o-allyloxy-phenoxy)-3-isopropylamino-propan-2-ol hydrochloride (oxprenolol, Trasicor and the other group a placebo. In the examination stress the affectivity component "aggression" was particularly obvious. With placebo the states and actions of aggression were more extreme than in the oxprenolol group. It appeared that the severe affectivity inclinations resulted in a reduction of examination performance. Under oxprenolol, in accordance with recently published results, there was no decrease in performance under exam conditions. Quite the opposite: as it seems to curb extreme affectivity inclinations the decreases in performance connected with them are often prevented.