Stress: Consequences of Exposure and Risk of Illness

The stress consequences result from the stresses and the various processing strategies. They consist of positive values, namely the quality of life and life satisfaction on the one hand and the complaints with their manifold physical and mental symptoms on the other hand. The sum of all stress consequences shows the disease risk for the patient under permanent stress. Many other parameters, such as physical condition, training status, sexual satisfaction or leisure behavior, are included in the calculation of the risk of disease.The following five topics determine the degree of stress consequences in “stress diagnostics”:

  • Quality of life
  • Life satisfaction
  • Complaints
  • Psychosomatic stress consequences
  • Psychological stress consequences

Quality of life is summarized as the patient’s life conditions as he currently perceives them, positive or negative. When life satisfaction is questioned, it is intended to describe the patient’s individual view of the fulfillment of his expectations of his life. The more positive quality of life and life satisfaction are, the lower the risk of disease. High values in these two subject areas also compensate for high values in the area of mental and physical complaints. If the patient’s disease risks are to be recorded, a very broad spectrum of possible complaints and symptoms in the area of psychosomatic and mental illnesses is queried. A score is formed from the sum of the complaints, which is offset against the degree of life satisfaction and quality of life. Questionnaire surveys are a valid instrument in psychology for recording the extent of complaints. Thus, in the above diagram, the length of the lowest bar in summary reflects the extent of the stress consequences from the “stress diagnostics”. In the same diagram, the calculated results of the stresses (stress) and the negative and positive processing strategies can be read. Figure 3: Calculated overall result from the “stress diagnostics” (example eustress: “strong” stress and “light” stress consequences with high positive coping behavior)

Figure 4: Calculated overall result from the “stress diagnostics” (example Disstress: “very strong” stress with “strong” stress consequences and low positive coping behavior).

The stress consequences are an important parameter for quickly and reliably identifying the risk of illness. The more pronounced the stress consequences are – see bottom bar in the diagram – the higher the risk of disease. The physician has the following steps at his disposal in the case of high risk values:

1st step: analysis of the results of the “stress diagnostics”. Physician and patient learn at a glance whether strains (stress) can be the cause of a possibly increased risk of disease (increased in the overall result lowest bar strain consequences) and whether the processing strategies (resources) are positive or negative and what their characteristics are. In the case of high stress consequences without high strain/stress, other causes for the complaints must be sought. In principle, stress-reducing measures (see below) are indicated in the case of high stress and lack of resources, even if there are not yet any stress consequences (example 2 in Figure 5). Figure 5: Measures for prevention and therapy in the case of high stress levels

Step 2: If the patient suffers from high stress and stress consequences are not present (variants 1 and 2 in Figure 5), the physician can discuss the relevant topics from the results of the “stress diagnosis” with the patient – now if there are indications of missing resources. The physician can then initiate preventive measures. If there is not enough time, this task should be assigned to a psychologist or psychotherapist. In the case of eustress (variant 1 in Figure 5), no measures are usually necessary. Step 3: If increased stress consequences are present (variants 3 and 4 in Figure 5), the physician discusses the results from the last three topic areas of the “stress diagnostics” – complaints, psychosomatic stress consequences, psychological stress consequences – with his patient in detail. If necessary, a specific questioning on the existing mental and physical disorders takes place.In the parallel medical diagnostics, the doctor can recognize whether these disorders are due to the permanent stress or to other causes. Comorbidities such as depression or anxiety disorders become clear in the conversation. The more the negative resources predominate, the more intensively psychotherapeutic strategies are to be applied.