The authors present a brief review of the literature on the relationship between anxiety, stressful life-events and stress. Stressful events are described as well as the definition of stressful life-events and the cognitive, behavioral and physiological responses to stress. Neuroanatomy and neurotransmitters involved on the anxiety response to stress are described. Genetic studies on the relationship of stressful life-events as risk factor to anxiety were reviewed. From several studies with adults and adolescents a cause relationship between stressful life events and anxiety is evaluated.
Stress; anxiety; stressful life-events
