| |
Psychoneuroimmunology
Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of interactions among behavioural, neural and endocrine, and immunologic processes of adaptation.
Interest in the relationship between psychiatric syndromes or symptoms and immune function has been a consistent theme since the beginning of modern medicine.
Walter Cannon, a professor of physiology at Harvard University, looked at the need for mental and physical balance throughout the organism and coined the term, Homeostasis, from the Greek word homoios, meaning similar, and stasis, meaning position.
In his work with animals Cannon observed that any change of emotional state in the animal, such as anxiety, distress, or rage, was accompanied by total cessation of movements of the stomach. These studies into the relationship between the effects of emotions and perceptions on the autonomic nervous system, namely the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses that initiated the recognition of the freeze, fight or flight response. His findings were published from time to time in professional journals, then summed up in book form in The Mechanical Factors of Digestion, published in 1911. Dr. Cannon’s seminal work, Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage was published in 1915.
Picking up on Cannon's work was Hans Selye. Selye experimented with animals putting them under different physical and mental adverse conditions and noted that under these conditions the body consistently adapted to heal and recover. Several years of experimentation that formed the empiric foundation of Dr. Selye's concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome. This syndrome consists of an enlargement of the adrenal gland, atrophy of the thymus, spleen and other lymphoid tissue, and gastric ulcerations.
For a long time, body and mind was clearly seperated in medicine.
But some long-term studies showed that emotions will influence your immune system.
Examples Negative States
Bereavement: Decreased lymphocyte proliferation.
Pessimistic states: Decreased lymphocyte reactivity; decreased T-cell effectiveness.
Academic stress: Decreased NK cell activity; decreased T-cells; decrease in certain immune chemicals; increased susceptibility to herpes virus; decreased immunoglobulin A; increased blood levels of Epstein-Barr virus.
Depression: Decreased T-cells; decreased number and function of lymphocytes; decreased NK cells.
Loneliness: Decreased NK (Natural Killer Cell) activity.
Chronic stress
Decreased T-cells; decreased NK cells; decreased B-cells; increased blood levels of Epstein-Barr virus.
Divorce/separation/poor marital quality:
Decreased lymphocyte function; increased blood levels of Epstein-Barr virus; decreased T-cell effectiveness.
Expressed need for power and control: Decreased NK activity; decreased lymphocytes.
Examples Positive States
Satisfying personal relationships and social support: Increased lymphocyte function; increased NK activity; increased immunity by mitogen tests; increased immune response to hepatitis B vaccine.
Personal sharing and disclosure of traumatic experiences: Increased lymphocyte response.
Humor and laughter: Increased Immunoglobulin A; increased lymphocyte count and activity.
Hypnosis and relaxation techniques Increased T-cell effectiveness; increased NK cell activity; decreased blood levels of stress hormones; decreased blood levels of herpes virus.
Physical exertion and aerobic exercise: Increased number of white blood cells; increase in endorphins; increase in certain immune chemicals; increased NK cell number and activity; increased T-cells; decreased lymphocyte function.
Group intervention and support: Increased NK cell number and activity; increased number of lymphocytes; decrease in T-helper cells. |
|
|
