Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 779-784, November 1986

Psychosocial Stress and Reactivity as Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Falkner is Professor of Pediatries and Director, Division of Pediatrie Nephrology and Hypertension, Hahnemann University, Broad and Vine, Philadelphia, PA 19102–1192, where reprints may be requested. Dr. Ragonesi is an instructor in Pediatrics, Hahnemann University

Received 11 July 1985; accepted 4 September 1985.

Article Outline

The relationship of environmental stress to biobehavioral factors has gained recognition in the adult disorders of essential hypertension and coronary artery disease. The pathogenetic dissection of these cardiovascular diseases indicates an interrelationship of multiple biologic factors. It is now recognized that the process evolving into essential hypertension has its onset in the young. The paper discusses the interaction of biologic and psychosocial factors on the cardiovascular system in the young. The patterns of cardiovascular response to various central nervous system stressors in the young with established cardiac risk factors provide insight to the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and also establish a framework from which to develop future interventions.

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PII: S0002-7138(09)60195-3

doi:10.1016/S0002-7138(09)60195-3

Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry
Volume 25, Issue 6 , Pages 779-784, November 1986

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