[Role of psychosocial stress in complex diseases]

Rev Med Liege. 2012 May-Jun;67(5-6):234-42.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Complex diseases are chronic diseases where the interrelations between genetic predisposition and environmental factors play an essential role in the arisen and the maintenance of the pathology. Upon psychological stress, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system are activated resulting in release of glucocorticoids and catecholamines. Chronic stress may induce complex diseases where alterations of nervous, endocrine and immune systems are involved. Thus, chronic stress is more likely to induce a range of effects, depending on the capacity of the subject to cope with stress. CRH ("Corticotropin Releasing Hormone") is a key factor in the stress-immunity relationship. In this article, we propose an overview of the interrelations between central nervous, endocrine and immune systems and implications for health and diseases. The objective for the clinician is to propose therapeutic strategies targeting changes in human behaviour to cope with a potentially stressful environment.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Causality
  • Disease / etiology*
  • Disease Susceptibility / diagnosis
  • Disease Susceptibility / epidemiology
  • Disease Susceptibility / etiology
  • Disease Susceptibility / therapy
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / complications
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / therapy
  • Models, Biological
  • Professional Practice / trends
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis
  • Somatoform Disorders / epidemiology
  • Somatoform Disorders / etiology
  • Somatoform Disorders / therapy
  • Stress, Psychological / complications*
  • Stress, Psychological / diagnosis
  • Stress, Psychological / epidemiology
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy