title: Psychological factors affecting physical condition. Endocrine disease literature review.
abstract: Research exploring the relationship between psychological factors and the onset, exacerbation, and perpetuation of endocrine diseases has focused primarily on three diseases: diabetes mellitus (DM), Graves' disease, and Cushing's disease. There is insufficient evidence to support the position that psychological factors directly affect the onset of DM. Recent laboratory studies suggest that stress is associated with changes in glucose regulation in a subset of diabetic patients and that temperament and coping strategies influence glycemic control in diabetic children and adolescents. Relaxation training may improve blood glucose control in non-insulin-dependent DM patients. There is no good evidence that psychological characteristics affect the development and course of thyroid disorder or Cushing's disease. Recommendations are made for future research.
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Beardsley
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004700:Endocrine System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male