Afrontamiento en estres

Salud Mental 2009;32:251-258 Aplicación de la terapia de afrontamiento del estrés en dos poblaciones con alto estrés

Aplicación de la terapia de afrontamiento del estrés en dos poblaciones conalto estrés: pacientes crónicos y personas sanas
María Isabel Peralta-Ramírez,1 Humbelina Robles-Ortega, 1 Nuria Navarrete-Navarrete,2 Juan Jiménez-Alonso2
Artículo original

SUMMARY
IntroductionStress is currently considered a health risk factor. Numerous studies have shown that people with high levels of perceived stress present a greater number of complaints at both the physical andpsychological levels. In this context, programs have been developed directed toward adequately coping with stress, and the effectiveness of these programs on the symptomatology of a psychological nature inhealthy persons with a high level of perceived stress has been shown. However, there have been fewer studies that have shown whether this type of therapy affects the somatic symptomatology of healthypeople in any way. On the other hand, programs for chronically ill patients directed toward achieving a better adaptation to their life conditions are equally effective. A population that presentsconsiderably high levels of stress is the one consisting of people suffering from a chronic illness. Thus, through the immunological modulation it produces, the stress may be exacerbating the course of thedisease. One prototype of this is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE is a syndrome whose clinical expression depends on the degree to which there is a convergence of an immune regulationdisorder and a strong genetic base, hormonal influence, and various exogenous agents. SLE can be manifested by general malaise, fever, fatigue, weight loss, skin rashes, joint inflammation, anemia,inflammation of the lymphatic glands, lowering of the defenses against infection, and cardiac, kidney, neurological, and pulmonary alterations. This autoimmune disease is usually associated with high levels...