The psychobiology of stress, depression, adjustment disorders and resilience.

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.