Increased stress responsiveness is a behavioral trait that is present in healthy individuals, and patients with chronic diseases, including inflammatory and functional gastrointestinal disorders.   It is associated with biological alterations in the brain, the immune system and the gut microbiome. In healthy individuals, it increases the risk to develop diseases when exposed to environmental perturbations (exposome). In patients it increases the allostatic load and can affect symptom severity, and clinical course of their disease.  Identifying individuals with increased stress responsiveness makes it possible to personalize treatments for more effective outcomes.

Session Learning Objectives:

1.) Explain the basic physiology of the stress response, including differences in the health effects of acute and chronic stress.

2.) Identify the subgroup of individuals with increased stress responsiveness, based on questionnaires and biological markers.

3.) Describe the personalization of treatment strategies for patients with increased stress responsiveness.