Allostatic load in bipolar disorder: Implications for pathophysiology and treatment

Current literature on the effects of chronic stress in general health converges to the concept of allostatic load (AL). AL is the bodily 'wear and tear' that emerges with sustained allostatic states. In the field of bipolar disorder (BD), AL offers an important clue as to why patients who undergo recurrent mood episodes are clinically perceived as less resilient. In addition, AL helps explaining the cumulative disruptive health effects of …