The Concepts of Stress and Stress System Disorders

Abstract

<h3>Objective.</h3> —This article defines stress and related concepts and reviews their historical development. The notion of a stress system as the effector of the stress syndrome is suggested, and its physiologic and pathophysiologic manifestations are described. A new perspective on human disease states associated with dysregulation of the stress system is provided. <h3>Data Sources.</h3> —Published original articles from human and animal studies and selected reviews. Literature was surveyed utilizing MEDLINE and the<i>Index Medicus</i>. <h3>Study Selection.</h3> —Original articles from the basic science and human literature consisted entirely of controlled studies based on verified methodologies and, with the exception of the most recent studies, replicated by more than one laboratory.