Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology

by Jorge H. Daruna

Overview

Psychoneuroimmunology investigates the relationships between behavior, psychosocial factors, the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, and disease. Each system affects the others, enhancing and/or inhibiting processes elsewhere in the body. Research in this field has grown tremendously in recent years as science better understands the checks and balances of these interdisciplinary systems and processes. Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology provides the first introductory text for this complex field.

Beginning with a discussion of immune system basics, Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology explores endocrine-immune modulation, neuro-immune modulation, the relationship between stress, contextual change, and disease, as well as infection, allergy, immune activity and psychopathology, and immune function enhancement. This text provides a sound introduction to the field and will serve as a valuable overview to what is otherwise a complex interdisciplinary subject at the junction of molecular biology, genetics, the neurosciences, immunology, cell biology, endocrinology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and the behavioral sciences.

* Provides a wide coverage of topics
* Presents a concise treatment of topics
* Includes concluding comments after each chapter
* Includes definitions of technical terms

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780080535043
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	08/19/2004
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Jorge H. Daruna is a practicing Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Tulane University School of Medicine. He received a Ph.D. in clinical and physiological psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Daruna's primary interest has been the integration of social, psychological and biological approaches to understanding behavior and health. His publications have appeared in journals such as: Brain Research, Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, Psychophysiology, Biological Psychology, Psychosomatics, and Personality and Individual Differences. He has also contributed to edited volumes like: The Encyclopedia of Mental Health and The Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Dr. Daruna teaches a course on Psychoneuroimmunology to medical students and is a strong advocate of healthcare practice that focuses on the whole patient.

Table of Contents

Preface.
Acknowledgements.
Introduction.
Historical Antecedents.
Immune System Basics.
Endocrine-Immune Modulation.
Neuro-Immune Modulation.
Stress, Contextual Change, and Disease.
Psychosocial Stress: Neuroendocrine and Immune Effects.
Infection, Allergy, and Psychosocial Stress.
Immune Activity and Psychopathology.
Immune Function Enhancement.
Integration and Implications.
Glossary.
Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This book presents an overview of psychoneuroimmunology, the most integrative health science discipline, which focuses on the biological processes at all levels that operate to sustain health in the face of diverse challenges posed by changing environments

Editorial Reviews

"This is a book that certainly comes with a ‘Wow’ factor. This updated version from a first edition published in 2004 presents itself as a succession of bioessays structured as units with subunits, so chapters and titled paragraphs. However the structure disappears into the background with the softness and strength in his writing and gently helps you to relax in your seat only to be taken on a journey of discovery of none other than your ‘innerspace’. It truly reads as a novel." —Immunology News, November 2012

"After a historical overview and basic introduction to the immune system and endocrine-immune and neuroimmune interactions, the text discusses the concept of stress and how it influences the neuroendocrine and immune systems; the influence of psychosocial stress on specific diseases, including infection, allergy, cancer, and autoimmunity; the link between immune activity and psychopathology, using examples of autism and schizophrenia; factors that can lead to immune enhancement and protect against disease, such as the role of suggestion, beliefs and expectations, social involvement and emotional expression, sleep, relaxation, exercise, and diet; and implications for healthcare research and practice. This edition has been updated to incorporate new scientific developments, such as research on additional signaling pathways that modulate the impact of stress, genome wide association studies, and the role of exposure to microbes and physical aspects of the environment. Chapters on infectious diseases, allergy, cancer, and autoimmune disorders have been reorganized to introduce the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and genetics of each disorder." —Reference and Research Book News, Inc.

From the Publisher