Psychoneuroimmunology

The Psycho € Immunology ( PNI) or Psychoimmunology is an interdisciplinary area of ​​research that deals with the interaction of the psyche, the nervous system and the immune system. A neighbor area is the psycho € endocrinology, which also involves the interactions of the hormone system.

The research area was established after the American psychologist Robert Ader (1932-2011) in 1974 proved experimentally that the immune system can cooperate with the central nervous system to learn. Since then it has become one of the most important areas of modern medical research.

A foundation is the realization that messengers of the nervous system act on the immune system and messengers of the immune system on the nervous system. Interfaces of the control loops are the brain with the pituitary gland, the adrenal glands and the immune cells. For example, neuropeptides possess the property to attach to immune cells and, for example, to influence the speed and direction of movement of macrophages.

Through this foundation explanations are possible, why psychological and psychotherapeutic processes is detectable effect on bodily functions ( psychosomatic ). The focus is on the effect of the psyche on the immune system, for example, why stress immune factors may adversely affect.

• 4.1 optimism
• 4.2 self-
• 4.3 Self-efficacy
• 4.4 Social bonds
• 4.5 Positive feelings

History

The first indications of psycho € immunological interactions were suspected as early as 1878 by Louis Pasteur. He noted that chickens under stress have a higher susceptibility to infection.

In 1957 Rasmussen demonstrated that stress in mice increases susceptibility to infection with herpes simplex.

1975 discovered the American psychologist Robert Ader, together with the immunologists Nicholas Cohen of the University of Rochester ( upstate New York), the classically conditioned immunosuppressive effect of cyclophosphamide. Her work can be seen as the birth of the PNI be considered.

In the 1980s, most of the cells involved in the immune system were first described. The knowledge about the communication of immune cells with each other and the control and regulation of the immune response laid the basis that neurological control mechanisms of the immune system could be further explored.

To date, however, there is still a wealth of features and interactions with the immune cells that are not fully understood. Thus, the PNI is still in the stage of basic research. The development of new therapies by the findings of PNI is still not in sight.

Dependencies of the immune cells of the psyche

Proved is the decrease in the concentration of secretory immunoglobulin A in saliva and the increased secretion of glucocorticoids ( act as immunosuppressants ) in chronic stress. Corticosteroids inhibit cytokine production, reduce the reactivity of T- and B-lymphocytes and the activity of natural killer cells.

Because of deteriorating immune factors increases the incidence of infection and it may be the emergence or worsening of diseases are favored. This is referred to as "open window " phenomenon, i.e., a weakened immune system is unable to sufficiently eliminate pathogens.

Furthermore, these dependencies are suspected:

• " The tendency to suppress anger " and beta -endorphin
• "Depression " and CD8 T - suppressor cells
• " Curiosity " and CD4 T helper cells
• "Increase the current situational anxiety " and decreasing IL -2 receptors stocking

Negative psychological factors on the immune system

Stress

Clinical and experimental findings indicate that the effects of stress on the immune system are very different. The reason is that there are different types of stress, and they are also perceived differently.

The following properties of the stressors must be distinguished:

• Duration (a few minutes to a long -lasting or chronic stress )
• Have left the traumas in time past stressors
• The subjective perception of the stressor as a challenge or as threatening and demanding situation

Various experiments have consistently shown that acute stress increases the activity of the nonspecific, innate immune system. It can be driven up within minutes and therefore react much faster than the adaptive immune system. In addition, the innate immune system uses less energy. Biological evolution may have been this reaction is advantageous since, minor injuries and thus contact with pathogens occurred more often in dangerous situations where fight or flight were required. An increased readiness of the innate immune system would be a better protection for such situations.

In chronic stressors both a general immunosuppression and malfunctions were observed in both the innate, as well as the adaptive immune system.

Depression

Various studies have shown that depression is associated with changes in immune functions. However, the effects are very varied and, after the current state of research is still no uniform picture. Coincidentally, it is determined that the activity of NK cells is reduced. Hence, a major pillar of the immune system is weakened. After taking the antidepressant activity of NK cells to rise again.

Anxiety

In patients with anxiety disorders have different effects on the immune system have been established. Coincidentally, a reduction of lymphocyte production was observed. Here, further research is still required to enable a more accurate assignment of functional changes in the immune defense to the psychological effects of anxiety.

Positive psychological factors on the immune system

The personality traits that spread a pleasant life, correlate with a better functioning of the immune system.

Optimism

People with an optimistic attitude to life assume that everything will come to an end well.

Various studies have shown that optimism enhances the functions of the immune system and mitigate the negative impacts of anxiety.

Has been demonstrated in several studies that optimism is associated with a slower disease progression in HIV- positive patients. Conversely, a rapid deterioration of the overall condition was observed in patients who have given themselves observed. Long-term studies of HIV -positive patients showed that, for example the NK cells exhibit a higher toxicity and a higher activity.

Self-

Under self-worth is defined as the impression or the rating that you have of yourself.

In one study, it was demonstrated that after a rubella infection correlates the number of antibodies with a higher self-esteem of patients.

Self-efficacy

As self-efficacy refers to the belief that they can perform desired actions successfully themselves based on their own skills. There are similarities to the optimism that generally believes in a good end of all things. When self-efficacy, however, the focus is on the belief in their own ability to bring about the good end.

Studies are also here before in the field of HIV research. It has been demonstrated that patients with a high efficiency even have a lower concentration of virus in the blood, have a less frequent occurrence of symptoms of AIDS and a lower mortality rate.

Social bonds

Attachment theory assumes that people have an innate need to establish close and characterized by intense feelings relationships with people. The experience of social support are recognition, identity, belonging and security.

Through several studies have demonstrated that social support from friends and family correlates with a high number of NK cells as well as a good balance of various cells involved in the immune system. In psychologically stressful situations, good social relations have a stimulating effect on the acquired immunity.

Subjects who were brought into contact with cold viruses, infected with a lower probability of a cold, if they had a greater open-mindedness.

Positive feelings

Feelings of gratitude, cheerfulness, enthusiasm and pride not only have implications for faster healing results after injury or surgery, but also on the efficiency and regulation of the immune system. In HIV- infected men, a lower mortality rate could be detected. In general, a higher resistance to rhinoviruses, the causative agent of colds and flu has been detected.

When negative emotions are predominant, so that a tendency to a loss of balance in the immune system at various points. The result is that the entire system can not work as effectively and therefore infections can not be rapidly identified and addressed.

Even watching a funny video causes an increase in the number of various cells involved in the immune system.