Introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology

By Jorge H. Daruna

Book Overview

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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0122034562
• ISBN13: 9780122034565
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Academic Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Classic in the Field

Daruna does an excellent job of explaining the mind-body connection, that is, how the immune system interacts witg and affects the nervous system and vice versa. Daruna explains the basis of the study of psychoneuroimmunology and provides a concise understanding of the immune response.