Evaluating Allostatic Load

Abstract There is growing awareness of the role of allostatic load (the cost of chronic exposure to fluctuating or heightened physiologic responses resulting from repeated or chronic stress) in the balance between health and disease. When environmental challenges exceed the individual ability to cope, allostatic overload ensues. There are clinimetric methods for assessing allostatic overload, in addition to biomarkers. Such methods provide a characterization of the individual psychosocial environment, which is missing from current clinical diagnostic formulations. There are major implications for the formulation of clinical judgment and for identifying syndromes that are not included in traditional diagnostic classifications. Consideration of allostatic load allows individually tailored interventions to prevent or decrease the negative impact of environmental factors on health.