[Stress factors and disease].

In the study of psychosocial stress, three different types of factors can be established: external related to the induction of the stress response and pertaining to the environment, such as life events; internal related to the individual response to stressors such as stress reactivity, and modulators, which are not directly related to the induction or response to stress, but which condition, modify or modulate, nevertheless, the interaction of external and internal factors, such as social support or depression. The adaptation of Holmes life-event questionnaire to Spanish and the development of the stress reactivity index are reviewed.