Stress is generally defined as a strain upon a bodily organ or mental power. Depending on its duration and intensity, stress can have short- or long-lasting effects: it has been linked to heart disease, immune deficiency, memory loss, behavioral disorders, and much more. These effects on the individual also have a major impact on health care costs and services, employee productivity, and even violent crime.

The Encyclopedia of Stress is the first comprehensive reference source on stressors, the biological mechanisms involved in the stress response, the effects of activating the stress response mechanisms, and the disorders that may arise as a consequence of acute or chronic stress. While other books focus on specific aspects of stress, this three-volume set covers the entire spectrum of topics, with nearly 400 articles in all.

In addition to the subjects traditionally associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (whereby the brain sends a message to the body to react), the Encyclopedia includes a wide range of related topics such as neuroimmune interactions, cytokines, enzymatic disorders, effects on the cardiovascular system, immunity and inflammation, and physical illnesses. It also goes beyond the biological aspects of stress to cover topics such as stress and behavior, psychiatric and psychosomatic disorders, workplace stress, post-traumatic stress, stress-reduction techniques, and current therapies. The Encyclopedia of Stress makes information easy to find and understand for a broad audience of researchers, clinicians, professionals, and students.

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