STRESS - A PROBLEM OF SOCIAL SOCIETIES

The article attempts to give a short survey on present stress research and its importance for the understanding of human diseases. As animal studies show, in contrast to Selye's original stress concept, we have to differentiate two distinct stress responses: 1) Cannon's flight-fight response characterized by activation of the sympathico-adrenomedullary system; this "active" stress is shown by animals actively trying to maintain status and control in dangerous or stressful situations and, on a long-term basis, it leads to hypertension, arteriosclerosis and heart disease. 2) Selye's stress response characterized by increased hypophyseo-adrenocortical activity and immune suppression; this "passive" stress is suffered by animals after loss of control in a stressful situation and is associated with withdrawal behaviour indicative of depression. It may promote the development of diseases due to reduced function of the immune system such as bacterial and viral infections and tumors. Based on a comparison of data from animal research and human epidemiology a general concept is presented, which may explain the relationship between live events, social support and behaviour of individuals and their disease promoting stress responses.