The paradoxical stress response: a possible common basis for depression and other conditions

This paper assumes that there are two types of stress-related pathology, the orthodox and the paradoxical, both depending on a positive feedback mechanism controlling the stress-related sympathetic discharge. The paradoxical stress response is speculated to be the common basis for a group of conditions, including depression, panic attacks, obesity, sexual deviations, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Evidence is provided that trazodone inhibits the stress-related sympathetic discharge. This would provide a rationale for its use not only in depression, but also in other conditions depending on an exaggeration of the orthodox or paradoxical stress response.