Life without stress? Not in today's worldby Heather WoolwinePublic Relations This is the first article in a series of four from the 2004 Update in Psychiatry. It’s impossible to imagine a life without stress. Complicated human behaviors and genetic make-ups paired with even more complicated environments dictate how people handle all types of stress. It is only natural then, given the world’s current social climate, that the Institute of Psychiatry’s 2004 Update in Psychiatry conference June 4 and 5 would address the topics of vulnerability and stress. “It was great to have speakers of such significant stature to offer their insights and related work to the ongoing projects here at MUSC,” said John Oldham, M.D., professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and executive director of the IOP. “They presented interesting material that is at the forefront of the psychiatry field these days. The relationship between stress and vulnerability is important to all of us.” Anecdotes prevail throughout literature, both popular and scientific, noting that stress is bad for you. But new data reinforces a stress/vulnerability model of illness. “Understanding the complex genetics of most psychiatric disorders remains a major research goal in our field, but the bi-directional nature of the gene-environment interaction is now well-established, encouraging us to challenge old assumptions and explore new methods of prevention and intervention,” Oldham said. “Each of us has a unique genetic template that includes risk factors for disease, and stress of a particular type and amount, if sufficient genetic risk is on board, may precipitate that disease.” Oldham addressed the audience and fellow contributors June 4 concerning a stress/vulnerability model, citing work by several investigators in the field. He emphasized that although animal models of illness were once thought to be out of the loop when discussing human behavior, current work in the field with transgentic models suggests otherwise. He mentioned two studies in particular, the first with rat pups and the second with infant monkeys. In both situations, the development of offspring was not dictated by genetics alone, but also by stressors within different environments and how the offspring handled those stressors. Another important aspect of Oldham’s introduction involved the reality of mental illness and that it is not the norm. “Resilience is the rule, not the exception,” he said. “Most people go through life carrying predispositions for psychopathology that are never expressed. Usually, only severe and repeated stressors uncover these vulnerabilities. Single events often cause short-term sym-ptoms, or wake-up calls, but rarely lead to lasting psychopathology.” Oldham closed his remarks relating the concept to the events of Sept. 11 and the current war in Iraq. Stress and Relapse in Addictions
“The notion that exposure to stress-inducing factors in everyday life can cause susceptible people to initiate or relapse to substance use has intuitive appeal,” Brady said. “A number of animal studies as well as human laboratory studies support the positive relationship between substance use, abuse, and relapse. There is so much converging science, it’s really fascinating to follow and I’m thrilled to be involved. We are truly at the cusp of being able to use these studies of neurobiology in developing new paths for treatments.” Brady outlined clinical and animal studies involving stress, substance addiction, and relapse. Several neurobiological connections between the changes produced by stress and the changes produced by acute and chronic substance abuse have been established, according to Brady, but the relationship between stress and substance use has been more elusive. It seems likely that stress and the body’s response to it play a role in the vulnerability to initial substance use, initiation of treatment, and relapse in recovering users. Further exploration of these connections should lead to important pharmacological developments in the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders. Brady cited that many treatment approaches to relapse prevention contain elements aimed at reducing and managing stress and that future approaches should emphasize strategies in patients where a clear connection between stress and relapse exists. She also mentioned the importance of learning not only how to identify
and learn about stress systems and responses within humans, but also how
to increase or strengthen resilience in people, too.
Friday, June 18, 2004
|
|