title: Review of the literature: integrating psychoneuroimmunology into pediatric chronic illness interventions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Provide an orientation to psychoneuroimmunology, a rationale for including assessments of immune function in intervention studies of pediatric chronic illness, review the current literature, and provide recommendations for future research.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using electronic searches and previous reviews, selected and reviewed published studies in which immunological changes related to psychological interventions were assessed in pediatric samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight studies were identified and included in the review. These utilized a range of interventions (e.g., disclosure and hypnosis) and included a variety of pediatric samples (e.g., those with asthma, HIV infection, or lupus).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that psychological intervention can influence immune function in pediatric samples. Recommendations for advancing our knowledge by studying populations for whom the immune system plays an active role in disease pathophysiology, measuring disease-relevant immune mediators, studying pediatric patients under times of stress, and focusing on interventions aimed at altering the stress system are provided.
authors.affiliation: Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, CORO Center West - Suite 204, 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA. jack_nassau@brown.edu
authors.forename: Jack H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Nassau
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tien
authors.forename: Gregory K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Fritz
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D011598:Psychoneuroimmunology / Q000379:methods*