Critical Life Changes

Theorell, Töres

doi:10.1159/000288583

Cited by 26 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Two important causes of allostatic load appear to be isolation and lack of control in the work environment [46]. Theorell [138]has illustrated the effectiveness of programs for improving the ability to cope with difficult life situations, particularly involving the work environment, and to counteracting loneliness among pensioners. A number of psychological treatments have been shown to be effective in health-damaging behaviors, such as smoking [139].…”

Section: Application Of Psychological Therapies To Medical Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosomatic Medicine: Emerging Trends and Perspectives

Fava

Sonino

2000

Psychother Psychosom

130

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Developments have occurred in all aspects of psychosomatic medicine. Among factors affecting individual vulnerability to all types of disease, the following have been highlighted by recent research: recent and early life events, chronic stress and allostatic load, personality, psychological well-being, health attitudes and behavior. As to the interaction between psychological and biological factors in the course and outcome of disease, the presence of psychiatric (DSM-IV) as well as subclinical (Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research) symptoms, illness behavior and the impact on quality of life all need to be assessed. The prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of physical illness include the consideration for psychosomatic prevention, the treatment of psychiatric morbidity and abnormal illness behavior and the use of psychotropic drugs in the medically ill. In the past 60 years, psychosomatic medicine has addressed some fundamental questions, contributing to the growth of other related disciplines, such as psychoneuroendocrinology, psychoimmunology, consultation-liaison psychiatry, behavioral medicine, health psychology and quality of life research. Psychosomatic medicine may also provide a comprehensive frame of reference for several current issues of clinical medicine (the phenomenon of somatization, the increasing occurrence of mysterious symptoms, the demand for well-being and quality of life), including its new dialogue with mind-body and alternative medicine.

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Section: Application Of Psychological Therapies To Medical Diseasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosomatic Medicine: Emerging Trends and Perspectives

Fava

Sonino

2000

Psychother Psychosom

130

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…This resulted 13 in the development of the Social Readjust ment Rating Scale which was administered to populations in North America, Europe and Japan. With such quantitative scaling, these investigators found that individuals with greater life changes were more susceptible to a variety of diseases and physical symptoms [59,60]. Other investigators, however, felt that it was important to understand the mean ing of each specific event and self-report scales limited full understanding of the event and relationship to the unique individual [61].…”

Section: Life H Istory M E Th O Dmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consultation-Liaison Research: The Use of Differing Perspectives

Wise¹

1995

Psychother Psychosom

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Slavney and McHugh have discussed the four perspectives in psychiatry in respect to their strengths and weaknesses. Research in consultation-liaison psychiatry is reviewed by considering the various perspectives that such studies utilize. Early studies utilized the life story methodology and the disease model. The life history approach considers each patient as a unique subject whose developmental vicissitudes have meaningful associations. These studies were often viewed through a psychoanalytic theory. The disease model demands syndromal identification so that etiologic factors, whether biological, psychological or social, may eventually be discovered. More contemporary investigations use the dimensional measurement of intersubject differences that allow better designation of personality. The fourth perspective of motivated behavior offers a method of studying goal-directed activity such as substance abuse, eating pathology, and sleep disorders. Consultation-liaison studies using each framework are reviewed.

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“…12 It has been repeatedly shown that psychosocial stressors (eg, job strain, social isolation, depression, critical life events) can contribute to the development of CVD. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] The political, social and economic changes in the German Democratic Republic (GDR), the so-called 'reunification', brought serious changes in requirements and fully modified the societal environment of the inhabitants. Reunification was a population-based critical life event, which entailed other critical life events.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes of individual perception in psychosocial stressors related to German reunification in 1989/1990 and cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases in a population-based study in East Germany

et al. 2016

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ObjectivesAim was to examine the relationship between individually perceived changes in psychosocial stressors associated with German reunification and cardiovascular effects. We hypothesised that higher levels of psychosocial stress related to German reunification were associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).DesignCross-sectional data from 2 cohort studies in East Germany were used: Cardiovascular Disease, Living and Ageing in Halle Study (CARLA), and Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP).Setting2 populations in East Germany.ParticipantsCARLA study: 1779 participants, aged 45–83 years at baseline (812 women), SHIP study: 4308 participants, aged 20–79 years at baseline (2193 women).Primary and secondary outcome measuresPsychosocial stressors related to reunification were operationalised by the Reunification Stress Index (RSI; scale from 0 to 10). This index was composed of questions that were related to individually perceived changes in psychosocial stressors (occupational, financial and personal) after reunification. To examine the associations between the RSI and each stressor separately with cardiovascular risk factors and CVD, regression models were used.ResultsRSI was associated with CVD in women (RR=1.15, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.33). Cardiovascular risk factors were associated with RSI for both men and women, with strongest associations between RSI and diabetes in women (RR=1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20) and depressive disorders in men (RR=1.15, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.77). The change in occupational situation related to reunification was the major contributing psychosocial stressor. We observed a strong association with CVD in women who experienced occupational deterioration after reunification (RR=4.04, 95% CI 1.21 to 13.43).ConclusionsIndividually perceived deterioration of psychosocial stressors (occupational, financial and personal) related to German reunification was associated with cardiovascular risk factors and CVD. The associations were stronger for women than for men. An explanation for these findings could be that women were more often affected by unemployment after reunification. Morbidity and mortality follow-up of both cohorts could enhance the results.

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Critical Life Changes

Cited by 26 publications

References 27 publications

Psychosomatic Medicine: Emerging Trends and Perspectives

Psychosomatic Medicine: Emerging Trends and Perspectives

Consultation-Liaison Research: The Use of Differing Perspectives

Changes of individual perception in psychosocial stressors related to German reunification in 1989/1990 and cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular diseases in a population-based study in East Germany

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