Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
04:20
Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
Published on: July 12, 2024
1.7K
Stress, Environment and Early Psychosis
Lida-Alkisti Xenaki1, Stefanos Dimitrakopoulos1, Mirjana Selakovic1
1First Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Eginition Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 72 Vas. Sophias Ave., Athens, 115 28, Greece.
Current Neuropharmacology
|August 18, 2023
Summary
Stress dysregulation and environmental factors are closely linked to psychosis onset. Early life stress can increase vulnerability in genetically susceptible individuals, impacting neurobiology and brain development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Existing literature highlights the strong connection between stress, environmental factors, and the development of psychosis.
- Early life stress can prime genetically vulnerable individuals to later stress, increasing their risk for psychotic phenomena.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes evidence on the neurobiological mechanisms linking environmental insults to psychosis.
- It examines the roles of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, inflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbiome, and brain signaling.
- The review considers the cumulative and repeated effects of early and later-life exposures during critical neurodevelopmental periods.
Key Points:
- Environmental hazards like birth complications, trauma, psychosocial stressors, and cannabis use can disrupt brain development and stress systems.
- These factors interact with life events to precipitate psychosis in susceptible individuals.
- Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for identifying potential targets for intervention.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between stress, environment, and psychosis is dynamic and multifaceted.
- Identifying and modifying risk factors may enhance resilience and influence an individual's susceptibility to psychosis.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
138
Schizophrenia, a complex psychiatric disorder, has been historically misunderstood. Early psychological theories attributed its origins to childhood trauma and unresponsive parenting. However, contemporary research largely rejects these notions, favoring the vulnerability-stress hypothesis. This model proposes that individuals with a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia may develop the disorder following exposure to significant environmental stressors. Notably, studies on high-risk...
138
01:30Stress and Mental Health
180
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
180
01:27Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
142
Stress is a multifaceted response to events perceived as challenging or threatening, highlighting physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral reactions. Physically, stress can lead to fatigue, sleep disruptions, and various health issues such as frequent colds, chest pains, and nausea. Emotionally, it can manifest as anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger triggered by both minor and major life events. Cognitively, it may result in difficulty in concentration, memory, and...
142
01:20Psychological Responses to Stress
74
Psychological responses to stress encompass the various cognitive and emotional reactions individuals experience when faced with challenging or threatening situations, such as a job loss. Prolonged exposure to stressors can disturb emotional balance, increasing negative emotions (e.g., anxiety and sadness) and diminishing positive emotions (e.g., joy and satisfaction). These persistent emotional shifts are associated with an increased risk of both physical illness and mental health issues, such...
74
01:27Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
50
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
50
01:27Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders
743
Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
Researchers have identified genetic factors that increase susceptibility to schizophrenia, underscoring the intricate interplay between genetics and environment in disease development. At the core of schizophrenia's pathophysiology is excessive dopaminergic neurotransmission within...
743