Stress as a pathophysiological factor in functional somatic syndromes

Autor(en)

Urs M. Nater, Susanne Fischer, Ulrike Ehlert

Abstrakt

Functional somatic syndromes (FSS) are defined by a constellation of symptoms for which after thorough medical examination no structural pathology and no proportional tissue abnormalities can be identified. Pathophysiology of these syndromes has remained elusive and treatment options are limited. Current research efforts acknowledge the importance of stress as a potential risk factor in the manifestation and maintenance of FSS. A substantial body of research has focused on psychological stress factors as well as alterations of the endocrine stress system (the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal, HPA axis, in particular), the immune system, and the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Dysregulation of these systems might explain some of the symptoms of FSS. In this review, we describe studies reporting stress-related findings in three of the most prevalent and well-described FSS, i.e. chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Psychobiological processes which seem to play a role in the translation of stress into functional symptoms and syndromes are discussed.

Organisation(en)

Externe Organisation(en)

Philipps Universität Marburg, Universität Zürich (UZH)

Journal

Current Psychiatry Reviews

Band

7

Seiten

152-169

Anzahl der Seiten

18

ISSN

1573-4005

DOI

https://doi.org/10.2174/157340011796391184

Publikationsdatum

05-2011

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

501010 Klinische Psychologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Psychiatry and Mental health

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/40382c4e-8320-4a4a-a558-6605f9530a54