The vulnerability-stress-coping model demonstrates the composite mechanism of

schizophrenia and provides a useful diagram for optimal combination therapy for
clinical management
. Provides information on psychosocial and biomedical phenomena associated with increased
vulnerability to physical and mental dysfunctions. Animal studies are reviewed that reveal that
developmental stages combined with environmental and psychosocial changes can increase
the susceptibility to medical disorders such as cardiovascular disease. Moreover, human studies
are reviewed corroborating these animal studies and pointing to life events predisposing to
medical and psychiatric disorders. These studies assessed the effects of life events on cancer in
children, ecological vulnerability, and vulnerability to stress involving surgery. Early parentchild
relationships, psychodynamic variables, and family parameters can also increase vulnerability to
disease.
Studied Type A personality (hard driving, persistent, involved in work) as a conditioner of the
effects of quantitative work load and role ambiguity (stresses) on anxiety, depression,
resentment, and heart rate (strains) among 73 male users (mean age, 23 yrs) of a university
computer system that was approaching a 23-day shutdown. Each respondent was his own
control. Stress, personality, and psychological strain were assessed by questionnaire, and heart
rate was measured. Change scores were then analyzed. Role ambiguity was positively
associated with anxiety, depression, and resentment; subjective work load was positively
associated only with anxiety. Anxiety was positively related to heart rate. The relationship
between work load and anxiety was greatest for Type A persons, and a similar but nonsignificant
trend appeared for the effects of anxiety on heart rate. Response and respondent specificity are
discussed.

Type B were more commonly diagnosed with. and had more severe
symptoms of. all personality disorders except Schizoid. With regard to normal
personality dimensions. Type B scored higher on neuroticism, novelty
seeking, and harm avoidance; Case in vital capacity and slower expiratory flow rates.

Physiological changes occur with aging in all organ systems. The cardiac output decreases,
blood pressure increases and arteriosclerosis develops. The lungs show impaired gas
exchange, a decreSome physical diseases are believed to have a mental component derived from
the stresses and strains of everyday living. This has been suggested, for example, of lower back
pain and high blood pressure, which some researchers have suggested may be related
to stresses in everyday life.[5] However, within a psychosomatic framework, mental and emotional
states are seen as capable of significantly influencing the course of any physical illness. Psychiatry
traditionally distinguishes between psychosomatic disorders, disorders in which mental factors play a
significant role in the development, expression, or resolution of a physical illness, and somatoform
disorders, disorders in which mental factors are the sole cause of a physical illness .