Behavioural Medicine Webinar

Long-term Consequences of Stress: Not Just Behaviour!

Lecturer: Dr. Stefania Uccheddu

Overview:
Chronic stress in veterinary patients is often viewed solely through the lens of behavioral changes. However, prolonged activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis has systemic implications. This webinar explores how maladaptive stress responses lead to physiological dysregulation, affecting the immune system, gastrointestinal health, and dermatological integrity.

Aims:
● To define the neurobiological pathways that transition acute stress into chronic pathological states.
● To examine the multidisciplinary impact of stress on physical health, moving beyond simple ethological observations.

Learning Outcomes:
● Identify early physiological markers of chronic stress in clinical settings.
● Integrate behavioral welfare assessments into the management of chronic medical conditions.