The use of the Psychosocial Index in primary care: clinimetric assessment of allostatic overload and biological correlates

The authors aimed to determine whether the Psychosocial Index (PSI) could effectively identify a distinct subgroup of patients in primary care experiencing allostatic overload (AO) based on psychosocial and biological factors. Their findings indicated that a significant portion of participants classified as AO positive exhibited higher stress and psychological distress, alongside elevated morning cortisol levels, suggesting that PSI-informed assessments can enhance understanding of psychosocial health in clinical settings. This study supports the potential clinical utility of the PSI in recognizing patients with specific psychosocial profiles and biological correlates.