Key result
Acute psychological stress elevates short-term RAAS activity, though links to psychopathology remain inconclusive.
Why the study?
Recent research suggests the RAAS may play a role in the stress response, making it a potential mechanism linking stress exposure or psychopathology to cardiovascular disease risk.
While acute psychological stress elevates RAAS components, there is currently insufficient evidence to support RAAS activity as a mediator between stress and cardiovascular disease risk.
Does not support RAAS modulation for stress-related CVD prevention; leaves open its potential mediation role in psychopathology-CVD pathways.
Background The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is widely recognized for its role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as its involvement in the pathogenesis of certain forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Recent research suggests that, in addition, the RAAS may play a role in the body’s response to stress, making activity of the RAAS a potential mechanism linking stress exposure or psychopathology to cardiovascular disease risk. Purpose This rapid scoping review synthesizes the relevant literature that has been published on this topic over the past 16 years. Methods An original and updated search of the PubMed database resulted in 4632 titles for screening. Of these, 37 articles, reporting on 31 unique samples, met criteria for inclusion. Results The results of this review suggest that acute psychological stress results in short-term elevations in multiple components of the RAAS. Evidence supporting an association between psychopathology and RAAS activity is mixed and inconclusive. No studies have examined whether the effects of stress or psychopathology on CVD is mediated by the RAAS. Conclusions Current evidence suggests that the RAAS is involved in the acute response to psychological stress, and future research should seek to establish the unique downstream health effects of this RAAS activation. There is insufficient evidence to support a mediating role of RAAS activity in associations between stress and CVD risk at this time. Additional systematic reviews of select topic areas within this literature are warranted.
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Eckerle et al. (2026) conducted a review in Stress exposure, stress-related psychopathology, and cardiovascular disease. Psychological stress and psychopathology was evaluated on RAAS activity and cardiovascular disease mediation. Acute psychological stress results in short-term elevations in multiple components of the RAAS, though evidence linking psychopathology to RAAS activity remains mixed and inconclusive.
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