A transdisciplinary perspective of chronic stress in relation to psychopathology throughout life span development

Abstract

The allostatic load (AL) model represents an interdisciplinary approach to comprehensively conceptualize and quantify chronic stress in relation to pathologies throughout the life cycle. This article first reviews the AL model, followed by interactions among early adversity, genetics, environmental toxins, as well as distinctions among sex, gender, and sex hormones as integral antecedents of AL. We next explore perspectives on severe mental illness, dementia, and caregiving as unique human models of AL that merit future investigations in the field of developmental psychopathology. A complimenting transdisciplinary perspective is applied throughout, whereby we argue that the AL model goes beyond traditional stress-disease theories toward the advancement of person-centered research and practice that promote not only physical health but also mental health.

How Socioeconomic Disadvantages Get Under the Skin and into the Brain to Influence Health Development Across the Lifespan

“…Both individual SED variables such as occupation, income, and education level as well as neighborhood SED exposure have been associated with elevated allostatic load (Bird et al 2010;Crimmins et al 2009;Geronimus et al 2006;Karlamangla et al 2005;Merkin et al 2009;Schulz et al 2012;Seeman et al 2008;Singer and Ryff 1999). Higher allostatic load predicts elevated morbidity and mortality (Juster et al 2011;Juster et al 2010). …”

Workers’ psychological distress, depression, and burnout symptoms: associations with diurnal cortisol profiles

“…Given that psychiatric symptoms overlap considerably, this opens important avenues for researchers to apply triangulated methodologies (14) that combine psycho-and biometric information to understand complex phenomena. Importantly, the severity of psychiatric symptoms for ill-defined syndromes like burnout is essential, since at times results appear to be positively associated with awakening and morning cortisol among patient populations (15), and yet blunted cortisol concentrations are equally reported in sub-clinical and clinical populations (13).…”

Modelo De Adaptação Em Um Ensaio Clínico Controlado Com Cuidadores Familiares De Pessoas Com Doenças Crônicas

“…It is emphasized that the regulatory subsystem is particularly relevant in family caregivers, as the continuous exposure to stimuli that require adaptation may activate mechanisms that involve the deregulation of the neuroendocrine-immunological axis, including the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to the deregulation or deterioration of organic functions. 28 As the adaptive modes are intertwined, environmental stimuli can manifest in all of them. This means that an adaptive or ineffective response of family caregivers may suggest changes in several of their adaptive modes (physiological function, self-concept, role function and interdependence).…”