By
Jorge Daruna, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Description
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.
Audience:
Advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students in fields concerned with the health sciences. Psychology students would be part
of the audience along with students interested in medicine, nursing, public health, health science research, medical social work, and
others who may be curious about the scientific rationale for a well integrated approach to healthcare.
