Abstract for: Human Stress Response from the System Dynamics Point of View

This paper introduces system dynamics approach to the domain of psychiatric research. We have tried to develop a computer simulation model based on theoretical findings and facts known to clinicians and looked for an answer to the problem of different cortisol reactivity between major depression and PTSD patients with respect to trauma severity, length and proposed genetically based differences in hippocampal volume. Modeling PTSD and depression in one structure is to our knowledge the first attempt to grasp these widely spread disorders with substantial societal and clinical burden. Even though the current model structure is simplified, proposed approach has a powerful predicting potential in clinical practice and social policy. Model structure and model equations are in Appendices 1 and 2.