T1 L19 Psychoneuroimmunology

Question 1

What is psychoneuroimmunology?

Answer 1

Link between psychological states and immune function

Question 2

What does stress activate?

Answer 2

The sympathetic nervous system and the HPA

Question 3

What does activation of the sympathetic nervous system by stress lead to?

Answer 3

Production of catecholamines by adrenal medulla
Increase breathing rate
Increase BP via vasoconstriction
Increase HR
Blood diverted to muscles
Digestion slows

Question 4

What does activation of the HPA by stress lead to?

Answer 4

Production of corticosteroids by adrenal cortex
Increase protein and fat metabolism
Increase access to bodily energy stores
Inhibition of inflammation
Inhibition of antibody formation

Question 5

What is general adaption syndrome?

Answer 5

3 phases
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion

Question 6

Describe the alarm phase of the general adaption syndrome

Answer 6

Body is mobilised against the stressor

Question 7

Describe the resistance phase of the general adaption syndrome

Answer 7

Arousal stays high as body defends / adapts

Question 8

Describe the exhaustion phase of the general adaption syndrome

Answer 8

Resources are depleted, resistance may collapse

Question 9

Why is short term stress good?

Answer 9

It improves the immune system

Question 10

What is the allostatic load?

Answer 10

Physiological costs of prolonged exposure to fluctuating or elevated neural or endocrine responses
Prolonged stress causes allostatic load to accumulate.

Question 11

What are the measures of allostatic load?

Answer 11

Decreased cell-mediated immunity
Inability to shut off cortisol in response to stress
Elevated epinephrine levels
Reduces hippocampus levels

Question 12

What is stress

Answer 12

Negative experience accompanied by predictable changes aimed at altering the stressful event and/or accommodating its effects

Question 13

What is the transactional model?

Answer 13

There is not a simple link between the stressor and stress response

1) Stressor
2) Primary appraisal
3) Secondary appraisal
4) Stress

Question 14

What is the primary appraisal?

Answer 14

Is it a positive, negative or neutral event?

Is it harmful, threatening or challenging?

Question 15

What is secondary appraisal?

Answer 15

Can coping abilities / resources meet the harm, threat or challenge?

Question 16

What is the link between perception / expectation and experience of stress?

Answer 16

High amounts of stress and perception that stress harms health are both associated with poor health and mental health
Individuals who perceived that stress affects their health and reported a large amount of stress had significantly increased risk of premature death

Question 17

What is the reactivity to stress?

Answer 17

Magnitude of autonomic, neuroendocrine and immunological response to stress

Question 18

Describe the sex differences in reactivity to stress

Answer 18

Men have higher levels of reactivity response when their physical competence is challenged
Women had higher levels of reactivity response when their emotional aspects are challenged

Question 19

What is coping?

Answer 19

Actions people take to reduce stress

Process sued to manage perceived discrepancies between demands of a situation and their perceived resources

Question 20

What are the 2 major models of coping?

Answer 20

Emotion - focused

Problem - focused

Question 21

What is emotion-focused coping?

Answer 21

Engaging in activities that distract attention from the stressful situation such as comfort eating, alcohol, drugs, emotional support from friends

Question 22

What is problem-focused coping?

Answer 22

Aimed at reducing demands of the situation and/or increasing resources to deal with the stressful situation

Question 23

Describe how the different responses to stress can moderate the effects on immune function

Answer 23

Expressive writing enhances mood, immune function and health
Relaxation / self hypnosis / guided imagery may mute effects of stress on the immune system
Problem solving and stress management can reduce effects of stress on immune function
Physical activity can reduce effects of stress on cortisol

Question 24

What are the direct effects of social support?

Answer 24

Via psychosocial influences on endocrine and immune function

Question 25

What are the indirect effects of social support?

Answer 25

people with better social support are more likely to adhere to medication and more likely to use health services

Question 26

Describe the link between depression and immunity

Answer 26

Negative emotions impair immune function
Greater susceptibility to infections
Slower wound healing
Altered immune function

Question 27

Describe how the immune function is altered in depression

Answer 27

Reduced number and function of lymphocytes
Reduced number and function of NK cells
Changes in pro-inflammatory cytokines
Increases in IL-6 (mediator of fever and inflammation)

Question 28

Depression is linked to a more rapid progression of what diseases?

Answer 28

HIV / AIDs

Cancer

Question 29

Describe the link between positive mood and immunity

Answer 29

Positive moods and personalities are related to enhanced immune function
Positive events and moods may have longer-lasting effects on immune function than negative events.