Immunosuppression is a state where the immune system's effectiveness is reduced, often due to a breakdown in its functions. This weakened state makes an individual highly susceptible to a wide range of infections, illnesses, and diseases.

Immunosuppression

Psychoneuroimmunology is the scientific field dedicated to studying the interactions between psychological factors, such as stress, and the body's immune system. The term was introduced in 1981 in a book that reviewed evidence of associations between the brain, the endocrine system, and the immune system. The field's development was largely spurred by the discovery of a fundamental connection between the central nervous system and the immune system.

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

Lymphocytes are white blood cells produced by the immune system and circulated in the body's fluid as part of the immune response.

Lymphocytes

A college student is experiencing a week of intense academic pressure, including poor sleep and constant anxiety. Towards the end of the week, they develop a severe cold that lasts much longer than usual. Based on the primary function of the body's defense network, which statement best analyzes this situation?

The immune system functions as the body's surveillance and defense network. It is composed of a complex array of structures, cells, and mechanisms designed to protect the body from invading microorganisms. A properly functioning immune system maintains health and prevents disease by identifying and eliminating harmful agents such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances that could damage tissues and organs.

Columbia University

Google

Research suggests that stress affects immunology mainly through autonomic nerves innervating lymphoid tissue, hormone-mediated alteration of immune cells, or adoption of coping behaviors.

Stress and Immunology

Profoundly negative health consequences can arise when stress becomes extreme or chronic. This prolonged stress is a significant contributor to the onset and progression of various psychological disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, as well as a wide range of physical illnesses and diseases.

Negative Health Consequences of Chronic and Extreme Stress

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

- Stress negatively affects the immune system (more stress → more susceptibility to colds)
- The lack of antibodies in a person’s blood made them more susceptible to colds
   - However, this data was not statistically significant
- Healthy subjects were given one of five types of respiratory viruses in the form of nasal drops
   - These included: RV Type 2, RV Type 9, RV Type 14, respiratory syncytial virus, or coronavirus type 229E
      - Respiratory viruses target the lungs, which leads to airway blockage (i.e. alveoli are unable to conduct gas exchange), wheezing, and other symptoms that affect breathing
   - The control group was given saline nasal drops
   - Those with coronavirus type 229E showed higher stress, thus more infections

Impact of Stress on The Susceptibility to The Common Cold

- Negative life events, perceived stress, negative affect were reliably associated with increased susceptibility to colds
- When only those persons without an infectious roommate were studied, both perceived stress and negative affect predicted clinical illness,  but the association between life events and illness was marginally reliable.
    - bigger sample for more reliable picture
- Negative life events were associated with greater rates of clinical illness (mediated creased symptoms among infected people), while perceived stress and negative affect were associated to increased infection


Negative Life Events, Perceived Stress, Negative Affect, and Susceptibility to the Common Cold

Immune System

Analyze the following scenario and explain a likely physiological mechanism that connects the individual's psychological state to their physical health outcome.

Stress and Immune System Case Study

Cardiovascular disorders, which affect the heart and blood circulation system, are serious medical conditions that are central to the study of psychophysiological health. Extensive research has consistently demonstrated a strong link between these disorders and psychological factors, showing they are significantly influenced by stress and negative emotions like anger, negative affectivity, and depression.

Cardiovascular Disorders

Asthma is a chronic and serious respiratory disease characterized by the obstruction of airways, which makes it difficult to expel air from the lungs. This obstruction is a result of two primary factors: inflammation that causes the airway walls to thicken, and the tightening of muscles surrounding the airways, which leads to their narrowing. Consequently, individuals with asthma may experience recurring episodes of symptoms such as wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and coughing, which often occurs more frequently in the morning and at night.

Asthma

Psychological disorders are broadly characterized as conditions involving abnormal thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. More formally, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines a psychological disorder as a syndrome that includes a clinically significant disturbance in an individual's cognition, emotion regulation, or behavior. This disturbance is understood to reflect a dysfunction in the underlying psychological, biological, or developmental processes of mental functioning and is typically associated with significant distress or impairment in important areas of life.

Psychological Disorders

Tension headaches are a common psychophysiological disorder characterized by a dull, aching pain often described as a tight band around the head. Stress and other emotional factors are known to be significant triggers that can either cause or worsen these headaches.

Tension Headaches

Psychophysiological disorders are physical diseases or conditions characterized by genuine physical symptoms. These symptoms are either initially caused or significantly worsened by stress and other emotional factors. The term itself highlights the interplay between psychological ('psycho') and physiological ('physiological') elements in these conditions.

Psychophysiological Disorders

Based on a comprehensive statistical review of numerous studies, researchers Friedman and Booth-Kewley proposed the concept of disease-prone personality characteristics. This idea suggests that certain personality traits, such as depression, anger/hostility, and anxiety, may predispose individuals to developing physical illnesses.

Disease-Prone Personality

The well-documented link between social class and health outcomes can be partly explained by the concept of perceived control. Research indicates that more affluent individuals generally report better health, a phenomenon attributed to their stronger belief in their ability to manage life's stressors. This sense of control acts as a psychological resource that influences health behaviors and responses to stress.

Relationship Between Social Status, Stress, and Health

The immune system is a primary biological pathway through which psychological stress can lead to or worsen physical illness. An effective analogy illustrates this relationship: stress is not the direct cause of illness (the 'sword that kills the knight'), but rather the factor that weakens the body's defenses (the 'sword that breaks the knight's shield'), with the immune system acting as that shield.

The Immune System as a Mediator Between Stress and Illness

A pioneering 2004 study offered a biological explanation for the 'haggard' appearance often associated with stressed individuals, proposing that chronic stress can hasten the aging process at the cellular level.

Stress-Induced Acceleration of Cellular Aging

Research indicates a connection between exposure to stressful life events and the development of asthma throughout an individual's life. This link is particularly evident with stressors involving parental or interpersonal conflicts.

Link Between Interpersonal Stress and Asthma Development

Numerous studies have provided evidence that stress has a detrimental effect on the body's immune system, weakening its ability to function properly. This compromised immunity is a key mechanism by which stress and emotional factors can contribute to the onset or exacerbation of physical diseases, such as psychophysiological disorders.

Learn Before

Related

Learn After