STRESS - AN OVERVIEW OF THE LITERATURE WITH EMPHASIS ON JOB-RELATED STRAIN AND INTERVENTION

Maintained stress produces a constellation of neurochemical and hormon al changes that involve both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis a nd a variety of brain regions. Long-term stress can produce psychologi cal and physiologic consequences including anxiety, depression, hypert ension, impaired immune system function, and an increased risk of canc er and coronary heart disease. Negative responses to perceived job-rel ated stress usually occur when an individual has relatively little con trol over the means to meet high job demands. Among the approaches to reduce workplace stress, changing the coping strategies of challenged employees, particularly by increasing decision latitude, can significa ntly relieve both the psychological and physiologic consequences. Neve rtheless, behavioral intervention is not invariably successful, and be nzodiazepines are often prescribed to manage inadequately alleviated a nxiety. Evidence that excessive serotonergic neurotransmission may und erlie anxiety has prompted the use of compounds such as buspirone. Thi s partial agonist of the 5-HT1A receptor has been demonstrated to be a s effective as benzodiazepines in controlling generalized anxiety symp toms and to have a more favorable side-effect profile.