Psychoneuroimmunology

At MIU we believe that every consumer should have all of the tools needed for maximum wellness. Because we are a group of scientists, our focus is on tools that can be scientifically validated. One such tool is behavioral modification of the immune response: the classical mind and body connection. Until relatively recently, explorations of this connection have largely been the province of eastern medicine or alternative approaches to western medicine. With the advent of more powerful analytical methodologies and advances in biochemistry, a scientific approach to such a study has become possible. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is the name of the new scientific discipline.

PNI is the study of bi-directional communication among the nervous system, the endocrine (hormone) system, and the immune (disease fighting) system. Many chemical messengers have been identified. The psychobiology of stress and psychological status on immunity and neuroendocrine modulation of the immune system have been studied in relationship to disease onset and progression. Effect of humor and laughter on immune function and resilience to stress have also received attention.

Modern scientific approaches to behavior modification of immune responses date back about 20 years to Ader and Cohen (1) who performed fascinating classical conditioning experiments to investigate immune modulation. Since that time, both conditioned immunosuppression and immunoenhancement have been shown. Before 1985, there were no PNI citations listed in MEDLINE (the worlds' most powerful medical database). In the last two years there have been over 100 publications.

Although there is a clear two-way connection between the mind and the immune system, it is not known to what extent cognitive processes can modify the immune response. Nor is it clear how to best effect that response. Nevertheless, there are important clues in the scientific experiments that have already been performed. As to be expected in any new scientific field, there is considerable work to be done.

It is interesting to speculate on the relationship of the placebo effect to PNI. A placebo can be used in two ways. One way is as a therapeutic procedure devoid of all specific activity that is given deliberately to have an effect on a patient, a symptom, a syndrome, or a disease. The second way is as a substance that is inert in relationship to a desired effect, but otherwise indistinguishable in appearance from a substance to be tested. Placebos create beneficial clinical results at rates that vary widely and are often much higher than the frequently quoted 33% (2). Similar to active medications, they have time-effect curves, peak, cumulative, and carryover effects. In a review of clinical studies, Benson and Friedman (3) have found beneficial results from placebos in 60 to 90% of diseases. Surgery can also produce substantial placebo effects. Researchers have identified three common factors that contribute to the placebo effect: 1) positive expectations by the patient; 2) positive expectations by the health care provider; and 3) a good trusting relationship between the patient and the health care provider.

MIU has compiled two packages on aspects of PNI. Collection A is a set of 6 excellent reviews plus a MEDLINE PNI bibliography with abstracts, where available, from 1994 to the present month. Collection B is a set of 6 excellent review articles on the placebo effect, plus a MEDLINE placebo bibliography with abstracts, where available, from 1994 to the present month. To order your copies, please transfer to the PNI Collections Order Form.

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1. Ader R, Cohen N. Behaviorally conditioned immunosuppression. Psychosom Med 1975 Jul-Aug:37(4):333-40.

2. Turner JA, Deyo RA, Loeser JD, Von Korff M, Fordyce WE. The importance of placebo effects in pain treatment and research. JAMA 1994 May 25;271(20):1609-14.

3. Benson H, Friedman R. Harnessing the power of the placebo effect an renaming it "remembered wellness". Annu Rev Med 1996;47:193-9.