Government Services

Allostatix provides an effective, state-of-the-art early warning system for the prediction and treatment of stress-related disorders, such as PTSD, and syndromes suffered by active duty military personnel and veterans.

Allostatix has developed the Allostatix Load Test™ a unique, predictive test to measure the allostatic load of service men and women and their spouses. We are poised to work with the DOD and VA to implement a multiyear study on the allostatic load of service members before, during and after basic training and deployment.

Using this cutting edge diagnostic test to identify individuals early, particularly those who might be asymptomatic at present but on a negative trajectory, will allow the DOD and VA to engage these individuals in the correct interventions to avoid illness and death.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Stress

Chronic stress is so ingrained in daily living today that we can fail to recognize the slow, small changes in ourselves and our health. Our body automatically reacts to stress with certain physiological responses that have a measurable negative effect on the different systems within the body.

Allostasis is the body’s adaptive responses to external challenges or stressors - maintaining stability through change. The body actively copes with a challenge by expending energy and attempting to return to its initial state. Stress can, and often does, act as the trigger mechanism for allostasis. Research on the multi-system impacts of stress on the body has established allostasis as a base to which measurements of cumulative stress can be referred. Click here to view related allostasis/allostatic load reference articles. 

Allostatic load is a recently documented diagnostic measure that provides statistically significant predictions of a person’s future morbidity and mortality. The concept of allostatic load recognizes that, over time, the body’s response to repeated stress causes wear and tear on the body. The damage from stress builds as we experience day after day of noisy environments, night after night of restless sleep, and weeks filled with demanding responsibilities--until the build-up can undermine overall health.

Military personnel and their spouses with high allostatic load scores (before and after deployment or recruitment) are more likely than those with low allostatic load scores to:

  • Suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Have a higher rate of suicide
  • Have major bouts of depression and or other mental health problems
  • Have more medical expenses
  • Have problematic pregnancies

Quick Facts on PTSD

  • 40% of troops deployed to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have/may acquire PTSD
  • 67,717 vets of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars being treated for PTSD as of January 2008                                                                                                                                           - Of these, about 74% receiving hospital care and 23% receiving counseling center care                                                                                                                                  - 27% enrolled in VA specialized care program (45% in Ohio)
  • 4% of vets had PTSD one month after returning home; 9% four months; 12% seven months
  • 78% of vets with PTSD seven months after returning home showed no signs of PTSD and/or depression at one month
  • 2/3 of troops meeting DoD criteria for PTSD stigmatized from seeking help
  • PTSD rate among Army/Marine ground units nearly 4 times the rate for other units
  • Rate of female-to-male combat PTSD is 2-to-1
  • About 3,800 Iraq/Afghanistan women vets diagnosed with possible PTSD (2.4%)
  • Only 1 in 300 receive pre-deployment mental health assessment by professional (DoD mandated by Congress to assess all deployed troops)
  • 22% of troops referred for follow-up care after flagging by DoD for PTSD
  • Nearly 15% (13.8%) of Iraq/Afghanistan war losses are a result of suicide


For more information on the connection between stress, allostatic load and PTSD download the the presentations and articles below or contact us at getanswers@allostatix.com.