A primary effector of the stress response is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, dysregulation of which plays a fundamental role in the development of stress-related pathophysiology.
Chronic stress may contribute to the development of several physical, behavioral and/or neuropsychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and osteoporosis, amongst many others. Stress-related disorders can be viewed as the result of dynamic, compensatory, and proactive adjustments in the activities of chemical mediators of the stress response. Clinical management should therefore focus on improving external coping resources and stress-related physiology, including reducing strain on the bodys adaptive physiological systems and opening windows of opportunity for the brain to repair, adapt, and become more resilient.
Learning objectives:
• Review the role of the brain, HPA-axis and chemical mediators in chronic stress
• Cover the biological characteristics and assessment of stress-related dysfunction
• Review evidence therapies for improving brain structure and function
