Decades of research have unequivocally shown that life stress is a central factor in the onset and course of almost every psychiatric disorder. However, the processes by which stress influences mental health are complex, and the integration of the myriad of biological and psychological systems involved requires a multidisciplinary perspective. Fortunately, scientists working from diverse vantage points have made huge advances in unpacking the complexities of stress-disorder relations.

The Oxford Handbook of Stress and Mental Health provides a comprehensive, up-to-date overview of the science of stress and mental health. Topics covered include assessment issues, the role of stress in various mental disorders, developmental influences and individual difference factors that predict reactivity to stress, and treatment of stress-related mental health problems. Internationally recognized scholars in the field of stress and stress-related disorders have contributed their diverse expertise, providing both depth and breadth in terms of understanding stress and mental health. Chapters 1 to 4 provide a critical discussion of assessment issues in the domains of stress exposure and stress response. Chapters 5 to 14 review the relation of stress exposures to a broad range of mental health outcomes across the lifespan. Chapters 15 to 25 are concerned with understanding how the stress response unfolds at both psychological and neurobiological levels. Lastly, Chapters 26 to 33 addresses stress adaptation and resilience, as well as evidence-based treatments for stress and stress-related disorder. This volume will constitute an invaluable resource for students, established scientists, and clinicians looking for a comprehensive treatment of the topic of stress and mental health.

Kate L. Harkness' profile page

Elizabeth P. Hayden's profile page

Kate L. Harkness is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Queen's University. Her research program is focused on understanding how stress exposures throughout the lifespan lead to critical changes in biological and psychological mechanisms that cause and maintain depression. She is an Associate Editor for Journal of Abnormal Psychology. Her research has been funded by the Canadian Biomarker Integration Network for Depression, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the Sick Kids Foundation.

Elizabeth P. Hayden is a Professor in Psychology at the University of Western Ontario and the Brain and Mind Institute. Her research interests include understanding the developmental processes that lead to mental health problems across the lifespan, as well as developing novel assessment and measurement approaches to improve early identification of vulnerability to psychopathology. She is an Associate Editor for Psychological Assessment. Her research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and the National Institute of Mental Health.