title: [Epidemiology of "stress" and the problems it poses in the medical and social fields. The special case of acute psychic reactions to psychologic trauma].
abstract: It is important to distinguish clearly between the terms "stress" and the "breakdown in adaptation" which can result therefrom. Stress may be defined as the alert response of the organism to physical and psychological aggression. We need to expand our knowledge about the physiological and pathological reactions which occur at the onset of stress and study the importance of disturbances thus engendered. The direct and indirect consequences of stress and breakdown in adaptation also require evaluation not only from the general and occupational medicine viewpoint, but also sociologically. At the same time, research should be carried out on ways of avoiding--or at least limiting--the damaging consequences of exposure to stress-inducing situations, and on establishing effective preventive or corrective treatment. Special attention should be given to acute psychotraumatism.
authors.affiliation: l'Université Catholique de Louvain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafontaine
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D003154:Community Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012940:Social Problems; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*
vernacular_title: L"épidémiologie du "stress" et les problèmes qu'il pose sur le plan médical et social. Le cas particulier des réactions psychiques aiguës à un psychotraumatisme.