What is the Origin of Stress Axis Dysregulation?

This clinical term is a core concept in psychoneuroendocrinology, stemming from the discovery and detailed mapping of the HPA axis as the master stress response system. The concept of 'dysregulation' highlights a functional pathology—a failure of the system to return to a healthy homeostatic set point—rather than a simple deficiency or excess.

What is the Mechanism of Stress Axis Dysregulation?

Dysregulation is typically initiated by chronic psychological or physiological stressors that continuously activate the hypothalamus and pituitary. Over time, the chronic feedback loop is impaired; glucocorticoid receptors may become desensitized, or the central drive may become exhausted. This persistent imbalance in CRH, ACTH, and cortisol secretion profoundly affects the circadian rhythm and disrupts the normal regulatory control over inflammatory and metabolic pathways.

Stress Axis Dysregulation ∞ Area

Stress Axis Dysregulation

Meaning

Stress Axis Dysregulation refers to a state of chronic imbalance and impaired function within the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, the body’s central neuroendocrine system for managing stress. This dysregulation is characterized by an abnormal pattern of cortisol secretion, often manifesting as either sustained hypercortisolemia or a blunted, hyporesponsive profile, leading to systemic consequences including immune dysfunction, metabolic disruption, and accelerated biological aging.