Stress and psychosis: Professor Murray’s contribution (so far) to the vulnerability–stress model

The vulnerability-stress model and Robin’s epidemiological studies Previous studies in patients with psychosis have demonstrated that stress is an important factor in the development of psychosis, but the biological mechanisms by which stress affects psychosis remain unclear. One model of psychosis, the vulnerability-stress model, posits that predisposing biological factors increase the sensitivity of some individuals to stress and thus make them more vulnerable to develop psychosis under stressful circumstances (Broome et al., 2005; Walker & Diforio, 1997).