The effects of guided imagery on the immune system: a critical review.
The research on the effect of guided imagery (GI) on immune system is reviewed and, accordingly, a direction for future research is proposed. Studies suggest that: GI can reduce stress and elevate the immune system; cell-specific imagery affects corresponding WBCs, neutrophils, or lymphocytes; decreases in WBC count occur in the initial stages of GI and relaxation due to fluctuations in WBC production or margination; and changes in WBC count or adherence occur earlier in medical patients. Directions for further investigations: Definition of the ideal WBC count; the effects of long-term practice of GI; and influence of cell-specific imagery on WBCs.
Trakhtenberg
Ephraim C
EC
Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California 94303, USA. trakhtenberg@stanford.edu
D006801:Humans; D019018:Imagery, Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007092:Imagination / Q000502:physiology; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D012063:Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology