The psychobiology of stress, depression, adjustment disorders and resilience

Abstract

Objectives: This paper focuses on the psychobiology of stress, depression, adjustment disorders (ADs), and resilience. Since the ADs fall under the rubric in DSM-5 of Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders, essentials of the psychobiology of stress-response syndromes will be reviewed.

Methods: A narrative review of the psychobiology of stress-response syndromes is undertaken, and the implications for our understanding of ADs are discussed.

Results: Advances in our understanding of the psychobiology of stress-response syndromes provide an important foundation for understanding ADs, and for conceptualizing their diagnosis, as well as issues of resilience.

Conclusions: Future investigations of the psychobiology of trauma- and stressor-related disorders may shed additional light on ADs, and ultimately improve their treatment.

Keywords: Adjustment disorder; allostatic load; psychobiology of stress; stress response; stress-related disorder.