The debit balance of present day stress research.
Stress often precedes psychiatric disorders. This holds particularly for the group of mood disorders. A crucial question is whether stress is an epiphenomenon or a decisive factor in the causation of (certain forms of) mood disorder. Certainty about this question can only be obtained when it can be demonstrated that stress phenomena may induce changes in brain functioning similar to the ones supposedly associated with (certain forms of) depression. Since the phenomenology of stress syndromes, as well as their emotional intensity, are highly variable, careful diagnosis is a first requirement. In studies into the significance of stress in the occurrence of depression this degree of finesse has not been achieved. The major shortcomings are discussed. Those should be systematically addressed to provide this type of research with the necessary acuity
van Praag
Herman M
HM
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, Academic Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands. h.m.van.praag@vanpraag.com
D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases; D008016:Life Change Events; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*