Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology

Psychoneuroimmunology investigates the relationships between behavior, psychosocial factors, the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, and disease. Each system affects the others, enhancing and/or inhibiting processes elsewhere in the body. Research in this field has grown tremendously in recent years as science better understands the checks and balances of these interdisciplinary systems and processes. Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology provides the first introductory text for this complex field. Beginning with a discussion of immune system basics, Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology explores endocrine-immune modulation, neuro-immune modulation, the relationship between stress, contextual change, and disease, as well as infection, allergy, immune activity and psychopathology, and immune function enhancement. This text provides a sound introduction to the field and will serve as a valuable overview to what is otherwise a complex interdisciplinary subject at the junction of molecular biology, genetics, the neurosciences, immunology, cell biology, endocrinology, pharmacology, biochemistry, and the behavioral sciences. * Provides a wide coverage of topics * Presents a concise treatment of topics * Includes concluding comments after each chapter * Includes definitions of technical terms