Paired t-tests showed that cortisol, NA, and ACTH levels differed between TP 1 and TP 6 (cortisol: p < 0.0001, NA: p < 0.0005, ACTH: p < 0.05), probably owing to the stress and anxiety that participants felt prior to the venipuncture and the stress test. Here, POMC is linked to Anxiety.