Over the years, the question has been posed of whether someone feels well because they are healthy, or if they remain physically healthy due to mental and social health. A developing study concerning the links between the mind, behavior and the immune system has come to be known as psychoneuroimmunology (Zachariae, 2009). The study has demonstrated that there is more of a link between all of the systems of the body, including the immune system, than previously understood, and that the biopsychosocial model of health care may have even greater reaches of applicability (Zachariae, 2009). In some cases, studies are highlighting how the mental and social realms either limit the immune system or cause it to respond in a dysfunctional manner. This paper will highlight a few of the ways in which an understanding and application of psychoneuroimmunology has already positively influenced lives.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is one of the most debilitating diseases experienced by man, especially by young adults (Heesen, Kopke, Kasper, Poettgen, Tallner, Mohr, & Gold, 2012). According to data recently released by the Multiple Sclerois International Federation (MSIF) there are approximately 2.3 million people who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MSIF, 2013). One of the challenges with multiple sclerosis is that caregivers are only able to help patients with managing the effects of the disease. Therefore, researchers are always seeking to understand additional options (MSIF, 2013).
Additionally, these studies also investigated physiological responses that the client would not be able to control or manipulate (Heesen, et al, 2012). If negatively powerful life events tend to be present in the lives of so many who are struggling with these illnesses and disorders, then there is reason to recognize that early intervention may be possible if we look for these life events as possible risk factors.
In a number of ways, psychoneuroimmunology has been applied to the treatment of multiple sclerosis. For example, studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance-oriented therapy are useful treatments for multiple sclerosis patients (Heesen, et al, 2012).
Researchers have noted that treatment programs as brief as 8 weeks have improved fatigue, while longer term randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that a 6-month stress management program resulted in a reduction of new brain lesions when compared to the wait group (Heesen, et al, 2012). In other words, simply understanding how to deal with the stressors in their life, including their illness, ultimately improved client quality of life and the disease itself. These therapies challenge some of the cognitions, or the thoughts of the patient, concerning their illness and life events (Heesen, et al, 2012).
Breast Cancer
According to the American Cancer Association, approximately 12% of American women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over the course of their life (ACS, 2013). Additionally, breast cancer makes up 23% of all of the cancer reported worldwide, and is generally the number one killer of women (Kruk, 2012).
Researchers and caregivers have worked very hard to determine means for testing and early detection. However, most of these attempts have been more biological. Research is now showing that there may be avenues available through psychoneuroimmunology that may help caregivers better understand some of the risk factors for breast cancer.
One such study was conducted over a 4-year period, with over 1900 women. The goal of the researchers was to try to understand the possible impact of negatively viewed life events on the potential development of breast cancer (Kruk, 2012). The researchers specifically considered issues such as death of a husband or close family member, divorce or separation, personal injury or illness, loss of employment or retirement as major life events to be tracked (Kruk, 2012). The study found that women who experienced four to six of these specific life events were 5.33 times more likely to develop breast cancer (Kruk, 2012).
Caregivers may choose to consider adding specific questions concerning life events to their regular intake questionnaires for incoming and reoccurring patients in order to begin breast cancer screenings earlier. Hopefully, long-term physician to patient relationships will allow caregivers to track possible cumulative effects of significant life events (Kruk, 2012).
One such study was conducted over a 4-year period, with over 1900 women. The goal of the researchers was to try to understand the possible impact of negatively viewed life events on the potential development of breast cancer (Kruk, 2012). The researchers specifically considered issues such as death of a husband or close family member, divorce or separation, personal injury or illness, loss of employment or retirement as major life events to be tracked (Kruk, 2012). The study found that women who experienced four to six of these specific life events were 5.33 times more likely to develop breast cancer (Kruk, 2012).
Caregivers may choose to consider adding specific questions concerning life events to their regular intake questionnaires for incoming and reoccurring patients in order to begin breast cancer screenings earlier. Hopefully, long-term physician to patient relationships will allow caregivers to track possible cumulative effects of significant life events (Kruk, 2012).
Skin Issues
If there is a connection between the psychological, nervous, and immune processes within the body, it is very likely to have an impact on the largest organ of the body. Researchers have long understood the impact of diet and hygiene on skin issues, but caregivers are also recognizing that psychoneuroimmunology influences the health of the skin (Sanna, Stuart, Pasco, Kotowicz, Berk, Girardi, Brennan, & Williams, 2013).
The most common autoimmune disease appears in the skin. Worldwide, psoriasis affects 125 million people. In the US, a little over 2% of the population suffers with psoriasis, often with regular relapses (NPF, 2013).
A recent study sought to understand the variety of health issues that may result in men who deal with mood and anxiety disorders (Sanna, et al, 2013). Essentially, these are men for whom many of life’s issues become stressful concerns. This particular study found that anxiety disorder is especially common in those who suffer from psoriasis (Sanna, et al, 2013).
An additional study originally published in India worked with 50 patients who were struggling with psoriasis, and had been for at least 6 months (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). The researchers then gathered background information from all of the patients. In addition to the regular socio-demographics the researchers also asked about any stressful life events that the clients had experienced within the previous year. The surveyors also asked if the psoriasis had started with 1, 6 or 12 months of the life event (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008).
The study found that 26% of the patients had experienced at least one stressful life event prior to the onset of psoriasis (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). The researchers also noted that other studies had recorded instances as high as 90% of psoriasis patients having dealt with stressful situations approximately 6 months prior to being diagnosed with psoriasis (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). Essentially, numerous studies have shown that there is a clear connection between psychological, neural, and immunological systems (Freeman, 2009).
A recent study sought to understand the variety of health issues that may result in men who deal with mood and anxiety disorders (Sanna, et al, 2013). Essentially, these are men for whom many of life’s issues become stressful concerns. This particular study found that anxiety disorder is especially common in those who suffer from psoriasis (Sanna, et al, 2013).
An additional study originally published in India worked with 50 patients who were struggling with psoriasis, and had been for at least 6 months (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). The researchers then gathered background information from all of the patients. In addition to the regular socio-demographics the researchers also asked about any stressful life events that the clients had experienced within the previous year. The surveyors also asked if the psoriasis had started with 1, 6 or 12 months of the life event (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008).
The study found that 26% of the patients had experienced at least one stressful life event prior to the onset of psoriasis (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). The researchers also noted that other studies had recorded instances as high as 90% of psoriasis patients having dealt with stressful situations approximately 6 months prior to being diagnosed with psoriasis (Malhotra & Mehta, 2008). Essentially, numerous studies have shown that there is a clear connection between psychological, neural, and immunological systems (Freeman, 2009).
Conclusion
Although some of the research is somewhat deductive, there is still value in the evaluation of the influence of life events on the health and general wellbeing of the human body. Many of the studies must rely upon the patients sharing from self-reported statements. A potential issue with these statements is that they can be tainted by personal perception and memory. However, these questionnaires and surveys are of the variety that physicians and caregivers have used with a high level of accuracy for a number of years (Kruk, 2012). Additionally, these studies also investigated physiological responses that the client would not be able to control or manipulate (Heesen, et al, 2012). If negatively powerful life events tend to be present in the lives of so many who are struggling with these illnesses and disorders, then there is reason to recognize that early intervention may be possible if we look for these life events as possible risk factors.
References
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