title: Stress and the immune system.
abstract: The centuries-old belief that stressed individuals are more susceptible to disease has gained scientific respectability in recent years. A new interdisciplinary science, psychoneuroimmunology (or as it is now more appropriately named, psychoneuroendocrinimmunology) has been born and, judging from the number of articles appearing annually, is thriving. In essence, stressors activate the neuroendocrine axis, which in turn influences the immune system. This is a bidirectional process, since chemicals are released by activated immunological cells which alter the functioning of the endocrine and autocrine nervous systems and influence our behaviour. This article examines these interactions.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Surgeons, London.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Speirs
mesh_terms: D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology; D009490:Neurosecretory Systems / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000276:immunology*