Positive Health Online

Abstract

ROGERS and FOZDAR, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston Massachussetts, USA write that the interactions between the immune system and psychological states are intricate and intriguing and that research at the mulecular level has shed light on the previously poorly-defined area of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI). The authors review (73 references) the PNI of autoimmune disorders, most particularly rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. Research using animal models have been useful in revealing some of the complex PNI interactions. The effect of stress upon the onset and course of autoimmune disorders has also added to our understanding of psychoneuroimmunological interactions, which are bi-directional, as reflected in the autoimmune-mediated neuropsychiatric symptoms of systemic lupus. The authors state that exploring the role of various neurotransmitters and neuromodulators involved in the stress response may have important therapeutic implications for autoimmune disorders.

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References

Rogers MP and Fozdar M. Psychoneuroimmunology of autoimmune disorders. Adv Neuroimmunol 6(2): 169-77. 1996.