Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) - the interactions among
the mind, nervous system, and immune system - is a new
discipline that has emerged only in the last fifty
years. Even more recent but no less important have been
the many advances in and applications of psychology to
PNI, the contributions of which are essential to the
vitality of the rapidly growing field. The Oxford
Handbook of Psychoneuroimmunology comprises perspectives
on the state-of-the-art applications of psychological
theory to PNI. Chapters in the volume represent the
entire range of levels of analysis in
psychoneuroimmunology. Genes within cells, cells within
organs, organs within individuals, and individuals
within both close social groups and large social
structures are considered. Furthermore, chapters address
the effects of psychological factors on markers of
chronic, low-grade, systemic inflammation, which can
indicate risk for many disorders including
atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, frailty, and some
cancers. The volume provides specific applications of
psychoneuroimmunological models to fatigue, cancer,
neuroinflammation, and pain - and a superb review of the
ways psychotherapeutic approaches integrated with
psychoneuroimmunological knowledge can mitigate against
adverse health outcomes. This volume samples from the
best and most sophisticated applications of psychology
to PNI, whether those applications arise from affective
science, development, behavioral neuroscience, or
clinical psychology. |
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